Evening star., 1921-04-06
SFIR RINERS AND ELKS LIKELY =
TO HOLD CONVENTIONS HERE
Commerce Chamber Directors Told OF
Gatherings Which Will Bring 100000
Visitors to Washington.

Washington, the ideal convention
city, received n boost last night at a
meeting Of the board of directors of
the Washington Chamber of Com
merce, when it was brought out that
the District would probably be the
place selected by both the Elks and
Mystic Shriners for conventions in
the future.
$ The Mystic Shriners are now in ses-
sion at Des Moines, Iowa. San Fran
cisco has been selected for their 1922
convention. with strong prospects of
Washington being chosen for the
1923 session. The Elks, according to
Harry King, a member of the board,
are strongly in favor of Washington
f1uenced to hold their 1922 convention
here.
Conservative estimates of the num-
Der of people that the two conveI.-
tions would bring to this city range
from 100000 to 100000. If the Shrin-
ers meet here in 1923 it is estimated
that that session alone will bring
trict Tor one week.
Circus Also in Prospect.
If the proposed plans go through
Ringing Brothers will bring their
circus to the city for that week.
Major league base ball games will
be so arranged that the Washington
club will play here during the en-
tire week. One thousand Pullman
cars will be parked on the sidings
to furnish sleeping quarters for the
large number of people attending
the convention, and it is thought
possible that even tents will have
to be set up to accommodate the
overflow. 1t is proposed to have the
session provide a gala week in the
annals of the city.
Frank Milburn, a member or the
board of directors, who will attend
the Des Moines convention of the
Shriners, has been authorized by the
chamber to extend cordial INVITA-
ton to hold the convention here.
Robert N. Harper, former presi.
dent of the chamber, has completed
his motion picture of Washington
a comprehensive affair, which shows
the city in all its beauty. and 1T VIII
be taken by delegates to both the
Elks' and Shriners' conventions, te
assist them in arriving at a decision
Cites National Guard Need.
Gen. Anton Stephan. commander o!
the District National Guard, pointed
out to the directors the urgent neeC
of new quarters for tie organization
He characterized their present armor1
as a poorly built structure, unsafe. q
firetrap and with no provision fol
drilling-a feature of the Nationa
Guard training
Mr. Harper then proposed that part
of the Emery building. at 1st and
streets, on which the chamber has ar
option, and which is proposed as q
convention hall, be remodeled to sui
the needs of the National Guard. q
was stipulated that a drill hall vii
be provided and all the needs of the
guard will be looked after.
Gen. Stephan indicated that tht
guard desired a permanent home. but
that the offer of the chamber woult
be accepted. at least as temporar,
substitute.
The Emery building, on which tht
chamber expects to make extensive
improvements, is to be made adapt
able to the largest conventions tha
may be held in this city. The grount
comprises $4,000 square feet, will
nearly seven -eighths of this space be
ing occupied by the building proper.
The auditorium, when remodeled
will accommodate approximately 400
people, leaving plenty of room in othe
parts of the building for the guar
and various other civic activities.
Financing of the project, Mr.. Harpe