Evening star., 1941-08-13
Hotels Oppose
|Cance|ing
Conventions
Tell Henderson
They Are Able to
Meet All Demands

The Hotel Associa ton of WASH N
ington, answering Price Administra-l
tor Leon Henderson's request that !,
conventions already booked for
Washington be Cancelled wherever
this can be done without grave in
convenience, today declared that !
such action would not be necessary. H
Pointing out that with the eX-
ception of the traditional spring 4
rush, the hotels of Washington 4
were able to meet all demands dur \
ing the last II months" even in II
the face of an unprecedented con- A
vention business" the associs ton, I
through its executive secretary.
Arthur Harnett, told Mr.. Henderson
in letter: \
There is no reason to believe
that they will not be able to handle
all business for the next IL months, I.
particularly in light of the fact that I
conventions booked for thai period /.
are considerably less in number and
IN anticipated attendance.
Urged Convention Ban. b
The price administrator asserted !,
last week that his agency will. if
necessary, support movement for
complete discontinuance of conven- .
tions here for the duration of the I
emergency. He contended that
presence of conventions in WASH 1
ington contributes to general con-
fusion and is bound to interfere
with effective functioning of impor-
tant Government business.
Mr.. Henderson had requested that
steps already taken to minimize en-
couragement of conventions in the
next year be continued and that
conventions already scheduled be
Cancelled wherever convenient.
In answering Mr.. Hendersons let
ter, the Hotel Association declared:
The publicity given your letter.
both in the local press and through
out the Nation, has created the
widespread and unfortunate impress
sion that all convention bookings in
Washington are to be Cancelled We
do not understand your letter to
make such request and within our
knowledge of foreseeable demands
upon the hotels during the next l2-
month period, we do not believe
such a course would be necessary"
Policy to Attract Citizens.
Mr.. Harnett said Washington has
become established as an outstand-
ing convention city, and that the
policy of the Government itself has
been to attract citizens to the
Nations Capital.
Many of the conventions which
are scheduled for Washington have
a direct bearing upon the develop
ment of the Nations defense pro-
gram" Mr.. Harnett declared. Many
delegates attending conventions IN
Washington have business with
Government agencies to be trans
acted at the same time. Many
conventions held in Washington are
inspired and sponsored by govern
mental agencies. Certainly all dele
gates attending the city at this time
carry back to their own neighbors
an interest in the defense program
which is being administered in the
Nations Capital. Patriotic organi-
zations should not be discouraged
from holding their meetings at the
seat of Government"
Mr.. Harnett disclosed that the
Greater National Capital Commit
tee of the Board of Trade and the
hotel association have set up a
clearing house to collect and dis
tribute to hotels information re-
garding groups being brought to
Washington on defense matters by
Government agencies so that ar
rangements can be made for their
accommodation.
He also pointed out that the as
sociation is meeting with success in
moving conventions from the buster
periods in the early part of the
week to the week end when there
are ample accommodations the year
round.
Pledges Cooperation.
This work is being continued and
conventions which have been booked
are being carefully analyzed with
the view to meeting anticipated de-
mands on hotel facilities, both for
normal and defense activities"
He pointed out that hotels have
generally adopted policy of pro-
viding Government conferences with
available public assembly rooms
without charge, and added:
You may be sure that we. will
maintain close contact with the de-
mands upon individual hotels and
will recommend and put into effect
such measures as may be found
necessary to assure the fullest serv-
ice to the Government in its defense
work.
The hotels are mindful OF their
responsibility In the carrying out
of the defense program and of the
necessity that adequate accommo-
dations be available for persons
coming here to transact business
with the Government and to con-
duct other necessary defense work"
the letter continued. They have
taken steps to see that this respon-
sibility Is met.
I'VE are convinced that arrange
ments can be worked out whereby
ample accommodations will be avail
able for those who who must come
to Washington on defense business
and also for those coming here as
rnS,uov,fin,, HaIaratan