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Show GOING AFTER BILLION DLLAR Iff EL PLUM Wancn Boyer There's a billion dollar tourist melon ripening in America every year that is divided instead among European Euro-pean countries. And all the time travel authorities here at home shout themselves hoarse: "See America First!" The golden vine which nourishes the travel-melon ,may be rightly considered con-sidered as the railroads and motor highways criss-crossing the United States, yet neither these- transportation transporta-tion avenues nor the tourist centers share to an appreciable degree in the division of these tourist dollars. Why? They're spent abroad! But all this is going to be changed, in part if not in its entirety, by the American Travel Development Association. Asso-ciation. For more than a score of influential tourist authorities from all parts of the nation gathered in St. Louis recently at the call of the American Travel Development Association Asso-ciation and decided, among other things, to enlist the aid of the United . States government in "selling America Amer-ica to Americans." Guided by Harry N. Burhans of Denver, president of the American Travel Development Association -and I secretary of the Denver Tourist Bureau, Bur-eau, the matter of creating a $5,000,- U0O advertising and publicity fund will be put squarely up to congress, with the idea of government recognition recog-nition and financial assistance, following fol-lowing another meeting of the association asso-ciation March 21-23, next, in Chicago. Chi-cago. - The travel direci.cr' brieve fiuiL " --congress --congress should be just as much interested in-terested in seeing that Americans travel through their own country first and make use of .their own national na-tional parks, forests and other playgrounds play-grounds as the lawmakers in Washington Wash-ington are concerned in the comfort of Americans traveling abroad through the inducements offered by the United States Shipping Board. To this end the travel experts pledged pledg-ed their united support in "selling" America and in recognizing only one competitor, namely, Europe. Mr. Burhans was re-elected president presi-dent of the Association, Charles F. Hatfield, manager of the St. Lewis Convention and Publicity bureau succeeds himself as secretary, and Hugh J. Gray of Grand Rapids, secretary-manager of the Michigan Tourist and Resort association, was elected treasurer. Railroads, coastal steamship lines and tourist booking agencies were praised for their co-operation with travel bureaus. Mr. Burhans was designated as chairman of a committee com-mittee empowered to confer with these transportation carriers in drafting suitable recommendations looking to the government for financial finan-cial aid, and Secretary Hatfield was named chairman of a publicity committee com-mittee to enlist the cooperation of the national press, magazines, news wire associations and other mediums, in "keeping the home dollars in circulation cir-culation among Americans" thru travel attractions that in themselves are superior to the sights in foreign countries. The association recommended that all auto camps be placed under state regulation, that an entrance fee be charged, and that whenever possible, adequate provision be made for hotel accommodations for motorists. It was urged that the Interstate Commerce Com-merce commission recommend to congress the enactment of legislation for the regulation of the motorbus industry in-dustry and for edequate protection to the traveling public during interstate travel of this kind. Among the vire presidents elected is ('. G. Millham. executive secretary of the Ail-Year Club of Southern California. Los Angeles. Joseph H. Ilayburn. seeietary of the Salt Lake City Chamber of Commerce Com-merce is one of (he directors of the association. |