Evening star., 1924-01-21
TALKS and TALES
With and About
CAPITALS GUESTS

chambers of commerce, boards OF
trade and other civic organizations
is to let the world know just what
this or that city, town, village or
hamlet has to offer that might induce
the stranger to settle within pro-
gressive territory.
"Scroggins Shoot Needs You!' See
Broken Bend and STAY" DISMISS
Your Car at Peppermintville, Your
New Home" and similar inviting
signs greet the tourist at every
crossroad. The mighty state of Cali
fornia alone will expend more than
3l,250,000 this year TO let the rest of
the country know what the great
commonwealth has to offer, while
Pennsylvania, Maine, Georgia, Flori-
da and other rapidly growing locali-
ties are hard at work competing
huge booster campaigns.
Is Washington, the great heart of
the nation lacking in this respect
She is not! True, no vast sums are
being subscribed by her poor little
voteless residents to propagate the
wonders of their beautiful city, yet
innumerable movements are quietly
under way by representative organI-
cations which cannot help cheering
those who dream of the greater Dis
trict
For instance, Saturday night about
hfty men sat around the festive board
at the Hotel Shoreham to honor
young Russell Conn, assistant man
ager of the house. retiring president
OF the local chapter of the Greeters
of America. who during his term of
office had managed, through untiring
effort, TO secure for Washington the
mammoth convention of the national
organization, which will convene here
next July. and ing to the city three
or four thousand prominent hotel en-
ployes IRON every state in the Union.
Nor did the mere announcement
that Washington had won the big
Prize satisfy some of the guests at
the banquet, for at the table sat
such battle-scarred old greater city
enthusiasts as Edgar c. Snyder. sill
our Incompatible District. who pre-
sided as toastrnaster; Edward f..
Colladay. president of the Board Of
Trade: Isaac Cans. intrepid chief Of
merce: \. +. Seymour. its secretary
Townley Mckee. president of the
Washington Hotel Mems Association;
Frank S. Hight. managing director of
the New Willard Hotel; Paris Gordon,
Hotel La Fayette; Laurence Mills
editor of the National Hotel and
Travel Gazette; William f. Shana-
han, Lee House: Edward Hammer.
Hotel Raleigh. and G. NJ. Collins Of
the Shoreham.
Secretary of Labor James J. Davis.
Engineer Commissioner J. Franklin
Bell. Sam Fairweather Dutton of
Denver. originator of the Seeing
America First" movement. and George
Wrightson of the Hotel Rennert.
Baltimore. also were among those
present. but are clustered apart from
those mentioned in the previous para
graph, a S they in no way contributed
70 the broadside Of discomfort hurl-
ed by the majority OF the first named
because OF their unfranchised status
= 4 !:
Approaching the tremendous ad-
vantage enjoyed by the alert hotel
clerk to slip over telling propaganda
for national representation for the
District. Messrs. Colladay, Cans and
Snyder never overlooked q bet. and
when time came for the happy gath
ering to adjourn there wasn't an
employe at the party who hadn't
pledged to do his utmost to acquaint
all incoming hordts with true con-
ditions OF the community.
Hammer IL home. boys cried Mr.
Colladay. as he unified the enthusi-
asn. Never lose chance. When
q guest remarks on the beauty OF
the city. say Yes, but we don't
vote II they inquire about the
population, tell them, and add. but
SentativeS UP on the Hill, honorable
men, who really and truly believe
that we don't want the vote. Dis
illusionize them, convince those or
their constituencies who Wit your
hotels that their representatives at
Washington are smoking the wrong
brand. Boost the town. tell of it's
wonders, stress it's rapid increase in
growth. but never forget to add, We
haven't any vote"
Determined not to overlook such
a golden opportunity, Marshal Snyder
and President Cans picked up the
thread where the Board of Trade
leader left off and they, too, took u
shot at the injustice Of di&franchise-
nlent
Mr.. Mckee told Of the wonder
full in1pres- ion Washington had made
on the 200 European hotel men who
visited the city several months ago,
they being particularly delighted at
the reception rendered them by the
President of the United States. and
the speaker congratulated the Greet
ers for the splendid cooperation now
being enjoyed between that body ana
the Hotel Mems Association.
MesSrS. Hight and Gordon assured
the organization that every possible
assistance would be extended for the
asking in aid of the forthcoming con-
vention, and Mr.. Hills paid tribute to
Mr. Conn for his success in securing
pecially when it is remembered that
your local organization has only been a
member of the national body little
over three years.
Secretary Davis and Commissioners
Bell confined their remarks, for the
most part, to personal experiences in
various hotels of the world, and pro-
voked loud laughter by the recital OF
their "reminiscences.
Sam Dutton. known from coast
n No tInf flv b.
er of the seeing g-America-first" idea.
and a Greeter from the top Of his
head 70 the soles of his feet, deplor-
cd the lack of initiative displayed
by certain communities which. he
said, were rich with points Of in
terest, and declared that since he had
turned his Albany hotel at Denver
over to his brother he would devote
his time to having established gov
ernment-controlled department Of
tourist travel. -..
Stunned by all the nice things said
about him and blushing like sweet
girl graduate, Russ" Conn, as those
who frequent the Shoreham know
the popular assistant manager,
thanked his associates for the honor
extended. announced that the local
organization had gained 800 per cent
during the past year and that the
coming convention would be one of
the most pretentious affairs ever at
tempted by the national body.
After several dances by Camille
Little and Charlotte LIE Beau. Jack
Harringer, Shoreham chef, was hus-
tied from the kitchen to be thank
ed for the repast, and with few
closing remarks from Walter Paul of
the Hotel Arlington, the incoming
president of the Washington Greet
ers, the gathering dispersed with
everybody boosting.
X X y S
And. in conclusion. let 1t be asked
il consideration is always shown
hotel employees encountered on our
travels?