Evening star., 1935-02-17
First Report on Shrine Drive
For Contention to Be Made Soon
Leaders in sl50,000 Campaign Viii
Meet Tuesday-Co-operation to Make
Meeting Success Urged by Others.

First reports of the success of the
Finance Committee of the 1885 Shrine
Committee on the campaign to raise
Sl50.000 for the entertainment Of the
National Shrine conclave here in
June will be made at report meeting
at the Willard Hotel Tuesday, Francis
c. Addison. finance chairman, said
yesterday. Robert P Smith, poten-
tate of Almas Temple, is director gen.
eral of the Shrine Committee and
headquarters has been established at
AlmaS Temple, 1915 K street north
west.
The convention which is to be held
June BIS, inclusive. is expected to
bring more than 100000 visitors to
Washington. Between 80 and 40
temples have already notified head
quarters of their intention to attend
and at least enough more are assured
to bring this number up to 80. &C
cording to Shrine officials. This would
mean between 80 and 40 thousand
ShriLers. in addition to their families.
and, according to figures from past
conventions. the additional visitors
attracted by the display would bring
the number well above the 100000
mark.
Whole-hearted support of the drive
was urged yesterday by prominent
citizens, including the president of
the Board of Commissioners, heads of
department stores and the presidents
of two public utilities. 1t was pointed
out that the Finance Committee ex-
poets that all or large part of the
guaranty fund will be repaid.
Hazen's Appeal.
In the statements regarding the ne
cessity of making the convention a
success, the citizens said:
Commissioner Melvin c. Hazen: 1T
is an outstanding honor for any city
to be selected as the convention city
of the Mystic Shrine. Washington
had this honor in 1928 and will have
it again in June of 1885. 1 am sure
that the distinction that thus comes
to the city is greatly appreciated by
all of our citizens
ness: "Washington's hospitality is
well known. 1t is no mere happen-so.
1t endureS because our citizens are
careful to keep it in good repair. 1t
is memorable because its spirit has
been sustained with effective sub
stance.
Next June Washington will again
welcome the Ancient Order OF the
Mobiles of the Mystic Shrine. To make
thousands of shriners and tens of
thousands of other visitors feel at
home is a job that must begin months
before the week of the convention.
TT takes money to play the host.
A finance committee, headed by Fran
els G. Addison, jr., is working to raise
a guaranty fund of S150,000. The
committee expects that all or major
part of the fund will be repaid. Sew
eral millions of dollars probably will
be spent by the Shriners themselves,
and the crowds of visitors attracted
by their national convention.
"A subscription to the guaranty
fund is an investment which should
yield dividends as convincing in their
substance as in their refreshing reve-
lation of the underlying fraternity of
American citizenship"
Recalls Last Meeting.
John H. Hanna, president Of Cap
ital Transit Co.: I'VE all remember
the Shrine convention of 1923, which
was held in Washington. We remem-
Der it's colorfulness, its pageantry and
its gaiety. We are now making plans
for another similar convention, to be
held in Washington, June 9-15, this
year. We of the National Capital
must see that the program presented
in June will be second to none that
has been given at any other city. We
must shoot close to the mark set in
1928. We are all interested, and
there must be no slip-up in the prep
arations that are being made now.
We must cooperate fully with the
committee"
William Mcclellan, president, Po-
tomac Electric Power Co.: "The Mys-
tic Shrine is an organization of world
wide renown; its conventions, marked
by brilliance and pageantry, give the
inspiration that is necessary in carry
ing out its philanthropic work and
its good fellowship. Washington
again has the honor of entertaining
the Shrine convention in June of this
year. This responsibility is accepted
with pleasure. Every citizen, I am
sure, will do his share in preparing
for the reception that will be accorded
the thousands of distinguished Wis
itors who will come to spend a week
in the National CAPITAL"