The Washington times., 1922-11-13

preparations TOR the entertain
ment of the imperial council OF the
Mystic Shrine have progressed TO
the point where ii Is now possible
TO make a comprehensive and fair
est innate OF the situation that Will
confront Washington next spring.
This estimate will give the public
picture of the huge event, point
out the responsibility resting on
the individual WashinCtonian ard
account for the extraordinarily early
opening Of the campaign of or
ganiZation.
Leonard p. Steuart, the poten.
tate of Almas Temple, the head of
the incorporated committee which
is responsible for the undertaking,
has had from the beginning a busi-
ness mans view and conception OF
what the imperial session means TO
Washington.
"The result Is a compact, team
working company of expert work
ers, each Of whom has his task
set out for him, and the fruition
is to be an accomplishment which
will reflect permanent credit upon
this, the only metropolitan center
Of the land where the residents have
no vote.
THE newspapers, too, from the
beginning have seen the immensely
Of the undertaking and have COM
pretended with that sagacity of in
telligence characteristic of their
loyal and public. spirit. the civic
value OF the imperial session as an
opportunity to demonstrate Wash.
ington's rightful position as the ma
tion's leading convention city.
Will Bring 100000 Persons.
"A logical approach to the sub.
ject must take into account the
attitude of the country towards
the imperial council session before
considering Washington's situation
and responsibility, for IL is obvious
that the responsibility must be pro.
portionate to the size Of the multi.
tude that is to come here.
"Washington's greatest assem-
blages of people have been on In
augural occasions, with never more
than 100, 900 out-of.town visitors fer
a day or two. The Shine session will
bring at least 100000 persons here
for week. And for a period of
two weeks the population will be
swelled far beyond its normal num-
Der.
figures? San Francisco this year,
with ninety.six temples registered,
had 100, 900 Shriners and their wives
present, with 250,OO0 other visitors,
not Shriners, daily who came 70
witness the events of the session.
San Francisco parked only ninety.
nine Pulmans. With SIS per cent OF
the Shrine membership east of the
Mississippi, San Francisco had 100,.
900 mobiles and their wives and $50,
| 900 others each day. These visitors
| left 1922 100000 in San Francisco.
washington has at this date 10f
temples booked for attendance, with
applications for parking space tC
park 276 Pullmans (official parties
| alone. Within a nights ride OF
Washington are forty-eight temples
with membership of zoe, 900. East
of the Mississippi are eighty.four
temples with a membership of $40,
900.
"If Washington were no NOR,
than large city, with a large city's
conventional attractions, there would
he reasonable foundation for the an
ticipation of crowd greater thar
that which San Francisco enter
tained. For the city Is contiguous
70 great pophlous centers and Il
within easy access to all the tenn
pies with large memberships.
Capital Attracts.
"But something else IL attractin,
both Shriners and the public gen
orally to Washington. II is the fac
that this IL the National Capital.
80 a calm consideration and esti