Evening star., 1926-06-19
BY G.. #. Ia VIGNE.

are the greatest travellers of the world
See America First" is familiar
slogan, and there should he added
See Your own Capital First" 1t Is
the ambition of every citizen TO sup
plement every other form of education
with that of journeys into new neigh
borhoods, far and near.
The convention system has become a
dynamic factor in this movement.
Especially during the last IL years has
convention and tourist traffic de
veloped into a booming, important in
dustry, controlling expenditures of
fifteen million or more Americans an
nually, on business intent and pleas
ure bent. involving a total volume of
commerce and trade designated by the
billion dollar sign. You can't keep
folks home. This flow of new money
into convention centers is as ceaseless
and constant as that of the historic
Potomac River, expanding on its trip
into Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic
Ocean. The value of properly han
died conventions to any city is indis-
putable. They pay big dividends at
once. in cash. a select circulation from
special channel outside the regular
and usual assets depended upon for
prosperity and growth in given
place.
OHeF fFOnOtlOn Means.
They represent the balance of trade
and. in addition, afford the most effec-
tive, direct. and rapid method of pro-
noting a city. Every one profits. No
matter where convention dollars are
first rung up in the till. they eventu-
ally spread over the entire city.
The convention route affords real
opportunities to "sell' the city and its
wares. to advertise and display it's at
fractions and virtues as no other sys-
tenn does. 1t is the cinema in which
visitors see screened all of the activ-
tiles of the city which go to create
more business and greater love for the
hest place in the world. The visitor is
the most immediate potential prospect
for permanent residence-he Is the
unit upon which to build an increase
of population.
There are some people, of course.
and some cities that do not understand
just what this means. They seem to
think that convention delegates walk
right in, turn around. and walk right
out again.
Fifty Cities i'm Field.
At least so outsta nding progressive
cities of the United States recognize
the industry at it's full value. They
seek and care for visitors through
every legitimate form of publicity. in
vitation and entertainment. Hun
dreds of thousa nds of pieces of liter
ature describing their convention IA
cilities are sent out by cities constant
ly and hundreds of thousa nds of dele
gates are the reward.
An international association of con-
vention bureaus with high standard
and code of Convention-g getting ethics,
itself holds an annual convention.
Systematic. persistent, high-pOwered
machinery operates in these so cities
in the business of getting conventions.
Financial budgets for operating this
machinery vary from $4,000 in
smaller communities up to Sl57,00
and more in others.
This annual fina ncing is generally
measured today on the basis of invest
ment and not contribution. The gen
eral fact is that dividend returns have
been exceeding large. The steadily in
creasing list of cities entering into the
competitive market for conventions is
proof on the profit side thereof.
Washington formally assumed its
place on the list on May i, 1925.
Forces which come to touch the life of
Washington, which Is the heart of our
Nation, touch Concurrently it's outer
most bounds The great significance
of our National Capital is the impor-
tance over life that it exercises in the
Nation, especially those lives that have
had f1rst.hand opportunity to analyze
the personality and the soul of it, and
TO discover for themselves its charms,
its dignity, its solid worth.
City Is National Center.
Already the nerve center of our
body polite. it is rapidly tending to
become also the national spiritual
powerhouse, the citadel of finest
things in art, science, education and
law. With a President Of the United
states and his distinguished aides
always here and the diplomatic repre-
sentatives of all foreign nations. we
are concededly leaders in the literary
and social affairs of the country.
ashington is destined to grow and tn
become not only one of the Nations
largest cities, as 1t already is one Of
the world loveliest. We do not want
or need boom tactics-a steady sub
stantial development is under way
and that is the preferable kind OF
growth. With all of these marvellous
practical advantages actually on the
side Of the city of Washington, is
there anything that need he done to
make II Americas convention center?
Yes. there is real responsibility in
this matter resting upon the citlzenry
of the National Capital which may
take form according to their attitude
as to whether or not they desire the
profitable business to be secured
through proper effort in the conven-
ton world.
Convention visitors are daily select
ing for their meeting places those
cities whose representatives are on the
alert in the field Of invitation, service
and action. Washington has the
beautiful, the artistic, the refined and
everything that goes to make a good
city. Its convention facilities compare
fsvorably with all cities of it's size,
and with most of the large cities as
we'll It seems an accurate statement
that Washington today has more hotei
rooms than any other city In the coun-
try excepting New York, Chicago and
Atlantic City.
Meets Big Demands.
At the close of a great convention
in Washington only recently it was
stated by the business manager that
he was satisfied that no other city in
the country could have met the de-
mand any better. There was provided
here for that event frst-ciass room
reservations, single. double and suites,
to accommodate more than twelve
thousand persons: at least 60 audi
toriums and assembly halls for daily
hour-to-hour assemblies, seating from
30 persons up to 5000 persons
each; at least 55 banquets. dinners.
breakfasts. and luncheons were han
died at the same time.
: Despite these extensive provisions,
the facilities of Washington We're not
wholly exhs usted. This brief detail
denotes perhaps sufficiently our po-
sltion and resources to meet require
nients of great gatherings. In ad-
-ahion to enumerated facilities. Wash
-fngton has attractions unsurpa ssed, a