Evening star., 1922-02-06
Capitak Convention Magnet
Except for Lack of a Hall

too strong to be resisted.
Washington, as q convention CEN
ter, does not rely altogether on tns
material side Of caring for z con-
dition to being the seat Of the ma
tional government, 1t Is the mecca OF
the tourist. and the ideal OF those who
seek beauty In art and nature. with US
parks. drives. museums ana attractive
natural attributes.
Washington Ii unquestionably the
Ideal convention city from every
standpoint. 1t is rapidly being recog-
nized as such by the educational. IN
dustrial and political organizations
which feature the annual convention
In addition to its national entertaining
and educational assets: government de-
partments of research such as the
federal research laboratories. operated
by the Department OF Agriculture ana
bureau OF standards. make Washing.
ton e-eminent In attractions Aof
scientific gatherings.
National organizations throughout.
the country have already recognized
this fact and a large number Of them2
have established either headquarters
or branches in Washington. the
Chamber of Commerce of the United
States, the National Association of
Manufacturers the American Asso-
citation of Engineers. the American
Drug Manufacturers Association.
! American Federation Of Labor. the
Association of Railway Executives.
National Association for the Moving
Picture Industry and many others. too
numerous to mention, have represen-
tation here. Political. Industrial and
educational associations can no longer
ignore Washington as one or the
smaller cities" 1t Is rapidly taking
a larger and greater place in the
world affairs.
Conventions not only pay well for
the city, but they make a convention
hall a profitable investment. The
present method of financing the ma
jority of conventions held here -
about as follows:
The convention committee secures
the necessary space in various hotels
in the city where the convention Is 70
be held. Space is then rented out I"
manufacturers who wish to display
their wares to the convention visitors.
If it happens to be medical con-
vention. for example. practically all
manufacturers of surgical goods find
! it profitable to have large and expen-
sive displays of the most modern and
| up-to-date Instruments. These manu-
facturers rent the space from the
1 convention managers lfliS
| in turn supports the convention.
with a large convention hall-and
| there is every hope that there will be
| one erected in Washington at an early
=: date--booths and spaces would be
provided for these manufacturers
! exhibitions. In this way the conven-
| tion hall would soon pay for Itself.
X X
| In summing up. 1T is shown that
Washington has plenty Of hotel ac-
Communications: restaurants enough to
care for crowds of visitors: govern
| ment departments which are eager
to cooperate with any organization
| which wishes to delve deep into some
particular field: offers exceptional
opportunities for political, educational
| and Industrial organizations and. be-
sides. is the capital of the United
| States and the center of governmental
activities.
/ All these facilities. lacking only an
| adequate convention hall. are offered
| to those organizations which wish to
| make Washington their meeting
place. And 1t is the determination
| of leaders in Washington's civic life
( that the one absent essential to con-
| vention comfort shall not long be abb
cent.