Evening star., 1922-06-04

~ eratory are restless and in
~ uuisitive. inventive and re-
sourceful, and these traits.
combined with ether characteristics.
are responsible, to a great degree,
for the suecess of the nation. The
lure of the great outdoors and the
desire to explore are responsible for
the organization of the Tin Can
Tourists" body whose membership
roll numbers 100000 citizens of the
country This body, having as Its
slogan 400, 900 members by January
/. 1928, is the chief exponent of see
America first"
The Tin Can Tourists" was Or
ganized at Tampa, Fla. by James
NJ. Morrison. who holds the title OF
past royal tin can opener. The first
convention was larger in enthusiasm
than in numbers, but the. second
gathering of the organization at
Gainesville, Fla, demonstrated that
the. idea was popular one.
From the nucleus of automobile
nomads there rapidly grew an or
ganization that has done much for
have not only been instrumental in
the building of better roads through
out the country. but they have also
caused many former stay-at-home
citizens to take to the road in order
that they might secure an intimate
view of their country.
4 *
THESE nationwide travellers have
been instrumental in giving the
people of the United States an idea Of
how government affairs are conducted.
for nearly all of these automobilists
spend considerable time in Washington
at some time during the year. They are
close observers, and when they resume
their journey to north, south. east or
west they carry with them the impress
sions they have gained. Their descrlp-
tions of Washington and the manner in
which government affairs are conducted
have resulted in thousands OF people
visiting this city.
The Tin Can Tourists are not only
responsible for automobilists making
Washington their objective. but they
have been. the cause of many delega-
fions from schools and colleges visit
ing here. In fact. they have been Nv
ing. talking. advertising for the
nations capital. and instead of nav
ing to camp at one of the poorest
parks in the United States they
should be provided with a field that
affords every comfort and con-
yenience.
Col. She rrill and his assistants have
provided the Tin Can Tourists with
all the conveniences possible, consid-
erins the very limited amount OF
money that was appropriated II
Congress can find time to give the
matter sufficient thought there is mt
tie doubt that Col. Sheriff. will be
able to provide a suitable camping
ground for these boosters of Wash
ing:on.
Contrary to the belief of some. the
tin can tourist does not work MS
way through the country. The vast
ma jority of them are people who nave
incomes and spend considera Ole
money az the different points they
visit during the year. The majority
of them do prepare their own break
fasts in the camp. but their luncheohs
and dinners are often purchased at
hotels or restaurants. for the main
portion of their time during the day-
light hours is spent in going to points
of interest in the cities they WISH.
One of the officials of the. orsanlza-
tion is responsible for the statement
that there are more than twenty men
rated as millionaires who are duly
enrolled members of the association
it is true that many MEM
w bers of the organization drive
"tin lizzies" and carry their camping
outfits attached to the running board
or deposited on a trailer. a majority
of the T. C. T's possess higher-priced
cars. In fact. some of these vehicles
are handsomely appointed.
The local camping ground is stu
ated Just east of the railroad tracks
leading south. 1t adjoins the war
gardens and runs almost to the south-
ern drive of the speedway. 1t Is Just
an ordinary lot with a few con-
yeniences placed thereon. but with
the appropriation of small sum OF
money it could be made into an ideal
SPOT. On the site is a small edihce
which contains shower baths for both
men and women, newsstand, and
sort of miniature commissary depot,
run by Clyde Avery. where one can
secure potted goods, canned meats
and vegetables and other emergency
rations, as well as newspapers, maga-
zines and road maps, to say nothing
of the little odds and ends that ap-
near to be so necessary while travel
ing, The prices are no higher than at
the frst-cIass stores in the city.
Adjoining the building are two
washstands where the tourist may
reuove the mud or dust from his car,
and at the other end of the structure
are concrete repair pits where cars
may be tuned up" preparatory to the
of the journey.
All tin can tourists are required
TO register upon their arrival at the
camping grounds, giving name. home
address, make of car, where from
and destination. In the registration
book there is also space left for
remarks, and many of these COM
ments are of an intensely interesting
nature.
IRON April 5 to December 81 of last