Evening star., 1924-06-03
1000 REALTORS HERE
AT OPENING SESSION
Keith's Theater Crowded to Lobby
With Delegates to Annual
Convention.
CANADA IS REPRESENTED
Program So Varied Visitors Baf1ed
to Enjoy All Events.

Amid a patriotic setting, and an
international aspect given by the
singing of THE Star Spangled Ban
ner" and God Save the King" the
latter in honor of the delegates from
the British Empire. the National AS
sociation of Real Estate Boards
assembled at Keiths Theater at 8
o'clock this morning, beginning its
seventeenth annual convention, which
will continue until Friday afternoon.
The house was jammed with real
tors, their wives and daughters, and
many waited outside to get in. The
Hobbies were crowded with repre-
sentatives from various cities seek
ing the next convention, and during
the proceedings corps of realtors
marched in singing their town songs
to advertise their cities.
Program of Wide Appeal.
The program of the convention is a
full one, with a general session each
morning. eight divisional meetings in
the afternoon and numerous enter
tainment features provided not only
by the Washington Real Estate Board
but by boards from other cities.
There will not be dull moment dur
ing the convention, and the great
problem will be to take in every
thing. In fact. H. U. Nelson, national
executive secretary, asked the real
tors to examine the program closely
that they may get the most out of
the convention. He suggested that
cities having more than seven dele
gates assign one to each of the meet
ings so that when they return home
they will be able to make a full re-
port of the proceedings.
There are real estate boards from
the continental United States, Canada
and Hawaii present, and up until
noon the registration had passed the
1000 mark. This is expected to in
crease. as realtors came in on later
trains.
The invocation was pronounced by
DR. James Shera Montgomery, chap
President HI. r. Ennis presided.
WeedOn Gives Welcome.
]. C. Weldon, president of the
Washington Real Estate Board, de-
livered the first address of welcome.
"As president OF the Washington
Real Estate Board" he said, lit is a
genuine pleasure to extend a cordial
greeting to you. Since you are here
in the National CAPITAL let me call to
your attention that the National City
should hold for you both a response
bility and an ownership, because you
help to pay our taxes Because of
this. I sincerely hope that you have
a delightful time. We come to ex-
change ideas. We have accomplished
great things in the past, and expect
great results from our gatherings in
the future"
John L. Weaver of this city. past
president of the National Associa-
ton, also delivered an address of
welcome, in which he pointed out
that Washington was created as the
home of the United States govern
ment.
Coolidge Il Conplimented.
1T is specially provided for in the
Constitution. 1t is the home of tens
of thousands of government en-
ployes and officials, many of whom
have been selected by you to do your
bidding. 1t is the home also of the
superhuman men, who at times are
chosen to be President. One of these
is the present incumbent, wise, pa
tient and fearless Calvin Coolidge"
He told the realtors that Washing
ton has few industries. Freight cars,
he said. come in laden and frequently
go away empty. Washington, he de-
clared, is a place where the hospital
1ty of the nation is dispensed, and Is
exemplified in the invitations extend
ed to foreign nations. He said 1t is
the repository of moneys, securities
and records belonging, to the nation,
and added that the National Capital
is the most beautiful city in the
western hemisphere, but, unfortu-
nately, he concluded, there are still
many things to be done 60 complete
it's beauty.
THE visit to Washington, the first
American city to have a city plan,"
President Ennis said, lis a wonderful
opportunity for realtors whose work
is 80 intimately connected with city
building. Every American has a pride of
ownership in this city, the Capital city
Of the greatest nation on the face of the
earth. The impressions Of beauty
lContinued on Page s, Column 2.)
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