Evening star., 1921-04-20
CONVENTION HALL MOVEMENT
GIVEN IMPETUS BY PRESIDENT
Mr.. r.~Harding's Endorsement of Memorial
Building Revives Interest-Nesd of
Auditorium Emphasized.

President Harding's Endorsement of
mortal Association to erect a large
auditorium and convention hall at
7th and B streets has produced an
active revival of interest in that prof.
ect. The President. last week. told
Mrs. Henry F. Dimock, who has been
pushing Washington S memorial build
ing fight for years. that he would
send her a letter expressing his deep
interest in the matter. 1nasmuch as
other memorial movements have
failed to materialiZe, the project
ladnched by Mrs. Dimock. with the
Presidents backing. is expected now
to receive the support of all elements
that have been urging the capitals
need of a convention building.
This was indicated today when Col
E. Lester Jones. who has been promi-
nently identified with three memorial
building undertakings. came out in
support of the Washington Memorial
Association plan. Col. Jones was a
member of the American Legion COM
mittee which has been considering
chairman of the delegation, which
sought to bring the national head
quarters and auditorium of the Amer
lean Legion to Washington, and also
was one of a committee of two to
recommend a site for the Knights of
said today that these latter projects
apparently have failed.
Lack of Interest DepIored.
"It is deplorable," said Col. Jones,
that the nations capital should be
without a single building that is
adapted for the use of veteran con-
ventions, or that provides for a
wholesome meeting place for the
many posts and camps made up Of
men who took part in our wars.
The national headquarters and au-
ditorium of the American Legion were
lost to the city due to a prejudice
against Washington, as evidenced by
a majority of delegates at the Minne-
apolis convention. The knights of CO.
lumbus offer is evidently lost to this
city. also. Now the remaining spark
of encouragement appears to lie in
this renewed talk about the Washing
ton memorial.
Extensive Need Shown.
Vhere are, probably, $4,000 men
who served in the civil war. the Span
ish war and the world war, residents
of this city or here on special duty,
that are directly or Indirectly con-
nected with one of these veterans
organizations. Yet I am thoroughly
familiar with the fact that there is
not single room or building avail
able which suffices as a permanent
meeting place for the various units.
Where there are quarters that are
wholesome and large enough. the re-
strictions on them are such that it is
almost impossible to secure them, and
if they are secured the rules and
regulations are so exacting that the
m en-. feel that they are deprived of the
things which tend to make these
meetings all they should mean to
them. I refer especially to the privf-
lege of serving refreshments, smoking
and other harmless diversions.
Other Cities Have Given Support.
81 feel strongly that our capital
should lead the way in providing, in
some manner, an auditorium or hall
with large convention room suffi-
cient to house at least 5000 people,
and. in addition, a number of small
rooms that would take care of the
regular meetings Of the various units
connected with these veterans or
ganizations. In many of the large
cities of New York. Washington and
other states erection has already
been started of permanent headquar-