Omaha daily bee., 1921-07-18
Omaha and It's
Conventions
BY JACK LEE.

BY JACK LEE.
Just now great deal of praise is being showered
upon Des Mones for the splendid way in which it put
over the national conclave of Shriners. The whole
country is ringing with compliments to Des Mones and
there will always be place in the heart of Shrinedon
for Des Mones because of the welcome and entertain
ment given its members during the big convention
Omaha undoubtedly could have done we'll. But
those who ask why don't have conventions and
why don't go after the reputation Des Mones has
convention city, forget that there is bitter with
alive to the promotion of their city, and by staging we'll
planned conventions has received much good publicity
/ Des Moines, for years, has made special effort
/ to draw conventions there. It's Convention bureau
II would be difficult to surpass The Chamber of
Commerce and all business organizations look upon the
convention the real thing in the matter of beterng
business publicity The financial system for bringing
about conventions highly organized and financial sup
port for any big convention is usually forthcoming.
i Right here it is well to instruct the Omahans who
sigh for conventions Conventions do not come of
their accord and they not be obtained for
nothing Like anything else city wants, they require
money. Ofttimes the price comes high.
/ Here's the real dope on the Shriners' convention
in Des Moines. The figures have been supplied by
Ralph Faxon, former secretary of the Des Mones Cham
ber of Commerce and secretary of the Mississippi
Valley association.
It cost Des Mones $160,00O to entertain $4,000
Shriners and their wives four days. The money was
obtained from the nobility, the Des Moines Chamber of
Commerce. Za-Ga-Zig Temple, of Des Moines business
organizations and by private donations. When the
smoke had cleared away for anyone who was there will
admit the sands were warm in Des Mones the enter
tainers found themselves about $4,000 in the red.
Mr.. Faxon declared that in spite Of the $4,000 vs-
tors in Des Mones, there perceptibe increase
in bank cearngs street railway receipts for the week.
These usual barometers of prosperity may have been
off at that time for thousands of automobiles
placed at the disposal of the visitors and the bulk OF
the money spent at hotels and restaurants was cash.
entering the Des Moines clearing house There is
doubt that Des Mones received valuable publicity
through its Shrner convention Whether the publicity
was worth $160000 is question.
Naturally there are two sides to the convention
question. If Omaha is to have larger conventions,
Omaha business must make the demand and the
Chamber of Commerce will of necessity accede to the
demand Des Mones and Kansas City raise large funds
for conventions Omaha could do the same.
It is admitted that Des Mones gets more big
ventons than Omaha, yet that does not signify that
Omaha has been asleep. While Des Moines has con-
centrated it's efforts conventions and has been
cessful Omaha has concentrated it's powers on enlargng
it's trade territory, being content with steady stream
of small conventions throughout the year. Statistics
will show that Omaha has also been successful and is
not in debt
Some years ago business adopted the plan Of
Hatfield president the National Association ot Convention
and of the ST. Louis Chamber Of Commerce
who has IS years as convention specialist to his credit At the
Atlanta Mr. Hatfield asked point blank what he thought Of
big conventions
the smaller type Convention BY far the best would add
that which undertakes these great conventions should be
The policy bringing steady Of small Il
being followed The bureau publicity Of the
Omaha Chamber Commerce spends $4,000
tons This provides visitors with badges meeting places invita-
ons and other Special funds Of not than $4,000
$4,000 raised by subscription to entertain such v
tors the University of Nebraska Students members of agrcul
tur clubs state editors and school teachers Omaha has about
100 annually total $4,000 The
visitors entertained conveniently the city not crowded and
everybody is comfortable Not bad after ALL The visitors
go away with feeling for Omaha. Il
attending big think Of the large
crowds and the publicity the city receives They think less Of the
expense until it brought their attention When city in
vests conventions must necessarily be Of its investment
If there thing private citizens hate to do
it making deficits Big conventions often deficits
The matter Of conventions the Chamber Of Com
This body would not think Of entertaining the National
Association of Rotary clubs unless the local club desired such
convention Names of belonging association
file the Chamber Of Commerce Many times they asked
Omaha Many conventions turned because members
of the particular association do not want them.
There other things entering protest against large
conventions for Omaha There is large meeting place. The
auditorium is too small for large gathering There only
3277 available this city Of 100000 Eating houses
would be taxed far beyond their facilities. i
If Omaha really big conventions they
Here's how DONE Omaha subscribe
far for this purpose than they have
before Private citizens must be their homes
visitors. Automobile be willing
Men and must abandon eating downtown
the visitors chance in the eating houses There
other necessary prvatons too numerous to mention.
But conventions wanted there that thing spirit
OF Onward Omaha which will not at obstacles and the
conventions II