Evening star., 1937-05-23
CONVENTION FUND
DR|VE|SLAUNCHED
Greater National Capital
Committee Stresses Value
of Activity.

Claude w. Owen, chairman OF the
Embarrassing Committee Of the
Greater National Capital Committee
Of the Board Of Trade, last night
opened his drive for 100000 to carry
on the operations of the organiza-
ton with plea to business and
professional men to increase their
investment in the committee
To inspire support for his drive,
Owen pointed to recent increases in
the number OF tourists, conventions
and delegates brought to Washington,
al of whom circulate large sums Of
money in businesses channels here.
The Greater National Capital Com
mittee devotes its attention to bring
Ing the visitors to the Capital
Business conditions everywhere
are improving, and more people are
travelling" Owen said. Past results
show that investments in the COM
mittee are beneficial 1t is obvious
that on the same basis increased con-
tributions to the committee will mean
increased profits"
Meeting to BE Tomorrow.
The first general meeting OF the
campaign workers will be held to-
morrow at 1890 pm. in the Willard
room OF the Willard Hotel The
initial report on contributions will
Be read at this meeting.
During the II months ending May
Washington was host to 1856 con-
ventions which brought to the city
sl2,555,00o," Owen said. In the
same period 2,7o2,l84 tourists left
behind them here 32,426 ,2O8, and
$4,000 business visitors brought in
$l0,000,000. This is a grand total OF
more than $50,000,OO0.
With the exception OF the Gov
ernment pay roll, the convention and
tourist business, it is readily seen, is
the largest enterprise in the city. 1t
has been largely through the efforts
OF the Greater National Capital Com
mittee, Of which Curtis Hodges Is
executive director, that the business
has been steadily increasing.
Because this is such a lucrative
business more cities are establishing
convention bureaus, and the. COM
mittee here has found steadily grow
Ing competition. Unless this devel-
opment is combetted with full
strength, the fruitful work of the
committee during the past six years
may be quickly nullifed.
While the committee does not take
all credit for the number Of visitors
here, 1t does cultivate the field thor
oughly and successfully. .Discontin-
uation Of the committees activities
would, within several years, result in
loss OF millions of dollars to busi-
ness interests. There would be also
decline In population, for many
persons who come here for visits re-
turn as permanent residents"
Much Information Distributed.
During the last year the commit
tee has distributed $4,000 pieces Of
literature or Washington, arranged
~ national broadcasts, circulated so
motion pictures shown to 750, 900 per-
sons, distributed 1900 newspaper and
l20 trade paper releases reaching
100000 persons, communicated with
5000 conventions, $500 of them by
personal canvass
The following members Of the Fund
raising Committee are assisting Owen
IN his work: Thomas N. Beayers.
David Bethune, Robert E. Buckley.
B. B. Brgunder, Edward F.
Coladay. president Of the Board
OF Trade; James E. Collif1ower. Col
l., c. Crawford, John H. Davis. W. w.
Everett. Thomas J. Groom, Granville
Guide.
Arthur B. Heaton, Joseph D. Kauf-
man Wayne Kendrick. Percy Klein,
Julius Lulley, L. Gardner Moore. E,
X. Morris, Edgar Morris, Thornton
Owen, Chauncey @. Parker, 1r.: John
Saul, Frederick P. H. siddons, Marcv
l. sperry, Lloyd B. Wilson, chairman
o. the Greater National Capital Com
nrttee; c. Wohleemuth, IT,; Francis
g. Addison, IT,, treasurer, and Robert
!. cottrell, secretary.