Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-10
SOUNDS WARNING
TO BUSINESS MEN
Head of Convention Bureau
Urges Them to Prepare
for 1888 and 1894.

A warning that Washington business
men must look ahead to guard against
lean convention years in 1888 and 1884
following the banner year of 1882, when
the National Capital will be host to
countless thousands during the celebra-
ton of the 200th anniversary of The
birth of George Washington, was given
last night in a radio talk over station
WMAL by Augustus Gumpert, director
OF the Washington Convention Bureau.
Mr.. Gumpert, whose talk was ar
ranged under auspices of the Chamber
of Commerce, told how the Washing
ton Convention Bureau Is cooperating
with the Bicentennial Commission in
arranging for programs during the
great 1882 celebration and in bringing
conventions to Washington during that
year.
The Convention Bureau, he said, no
doubt can be able to assist in finding
suitable hotel accommodations for the
thousands of visitors coming to Wash
ington in 1882. There are upwards of
$4,000 transient hotel rooms available
for visitors, he pointed out, and this
does not include apartment and room
ing houses.
Should Look Ahead.
Although he said nothing will be left
undone to make 1882 the outstanding
year in our history" Mr.. Gumpert said
there was another angle to which bust
ness men should give their attention.
After what has been done we want
to look ahead" he said. 1--WE have
seen that 1882 bids fair to be banner
convention year in Washington. After
we have secured all the conventions
possible for 1882 the Convention Bureau
is anxious that we should not forget
1888 and 1884 and the subsequent years
I desire strongly to stress the fact that
usually after city has had similar
press of business such as worlds fair
or an outstanding anniversary celebra-
ton, the years that follow are nearly
always dull, for the reason that the
high pressure methods used to bring
people to the city for the specific cele-
bration are necessarily relaxed, and
there is a corresponding relaxation in
convention business. AS director of the
Washington Convention Bureau I am
particularly concerned that this condi-
ton does not prevail in Washington in
1888 and 1884"
Mr.. Gumpert said he particularly had
in mind such conventions as held by
the National Real Estate Board, the
American Bankers Association. the
American Bar Association, and fra
ternal organizations such as the Elks,
Knights of Columbus, Masons and
others.
Urges Members Get Busy.
eff the members of these and similar
associations will start now to issue an
invitation for their national organiza-
tions, who are not planning to meet
here in 1882. to meet in the Nations
Capital in 1888 or 1884, we will stand a
fair chance of securing a number of
them" he said. "It must be borne in
mind that no matter how energetic the
efforts of the Convention Bureau may
be, In most cases it will meet with little
success unless 1t has the loyal help
and support of the local branches of
these national organizations.
Mr.. Gumpert said that about $4,000
national and State conventions are held
in the United States every year. and
the sum of approximately $255, 000, 900
is spent by the delegates and visitors
to these conventions.
I'VE are getting, and will continue to
get, our share of this business" he
said, land with the proper cooperation
from Washingtonians we will get more
and more. No matter how many of
these conventions meet in Washington
in 1882, there will be left many for us
to entertain in 1888 and 1884"