Evening star., 1939-04-19

| cAAC uAAVS VIVA "a $sVSVVV ~ k0A
cent over last year-are investing
their money, not giving it away.
An increase of 20 per cent in
funds over last year is needed, it
was explained today, because an
unusual opportunity exists this year
to bring in new visitors en- route to
the New York Worlds Fair.
The $50,0O0OOO to 0OOO 900 an
nually brought to Washington pock-
cts, cash registers and bank ac-
counts by the tourist trade an
annual income for the District Sec
ond only to the Government pay
roll-doesn't just happen. In order
to keep 1t coming the Greater
National Capital Committee, backed
by Washington. must sell Washing
ton to the country and the world,
they said.
1000 Prospects Get Cards.
Thomas j. Groom, chairman OF
this years drive for funds, told
more than 80 members of the COM
mittee that 1000 cards had been
sent out to prospects and that selling
the idea of investing" money in
the committees war chest was now
the job OF committeeman. He
called the first drive progress re-
port meeting for May 2.
People putting money into the
fund of the Greater National Capt.
tai Committee, unlike other funds
for the public good. are not letting
go of 1t, but investing it with the
expectation Of profit from increased
tourist and convention trade" he
said.
Just prior to Mr.. Groom's state
ment, George Pitt. ST., who started
the Greater National Capital Com
mittee in 1890, made similar state
ment. Contributions to make up
this $4,000 are good investments"
he said.
Addison Tells Of Gains.
Francis G. Addison, jr., president
Of the Board of Trade, in a previous
talk, told of how in years past
Washington had had no facilities to
promote conventions and tourists
coming here. Due chiefly to the
work of this committee. Washington
now has a $50 ,000, 900 convention and
tourist trade.
But competition is stiff and we've
got a real job to do" he said.
Edgar Morris, chairman of the
Greater National Capital Commit
tee, told those present that WASH
ington has no industrial pay roll and
that "the visitors industry" takes
its place. 1T is up to us to keep
the visitors dollar rolling in as regu-
larly as possible" he said.
In order to do this it is vital to
the District that the Greater Ma
tional Capital Committee be prop
erly financed he added.
Curtis Hodges. director in charge
OF promotion for the committee, told
Of the job of selling Washington to
the country and the world by means
or free publicity. I'VE can't use
paid advertising. as do other COM
munities. therefore we must have
free publicity through radio, the
press. the transportation companies.
the theater. the travel agencies and
other vehicles" he said. We must
also kill of false reports of trou-
bles waiting for the tourist on his
way to Washington" he added.
Convention Effort Needs Told.
Russell Schneider. convention
manager for the committee, told the
group that conventions don't Just
happen" but are persuaded to come
here only after promotion work has
had its effect. He cited one case
of a large convention which missed
coming to Washington by a single
vote in a meeting of the convention
Board of Directors. We're up
against so to 60 cities equipped for
service to conventions and several
hundred resort hotels that can and
do have conventions. We can't rest
q minute" he said.
To show the scope of the COM
mittee's work. Mr.. Groom distrib-
uted among those present a mimeo-
graphed sheet telling briefly of the
committees work. 1t reported:
During 1898 more than 5000 900
persons visited the Nations Capital:
the committee aided all the 213 con-
ventions held in Washington: it dis
tributed over 200 900 pieces of litera-
ture; it inaugurated 400 broadcasts
and distributed 564 pictures and lis
cuts to various publications; it sent
more than 1000 news releases to
out-of-town newspapers and was re-
sponsible for the circulation of 40
motion pictures on Washington
which were given 800 showings in
various parts of the country.
(S.:L@e l.k 1--:.-