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Spaceways, v. 3, issue 5, June 1941
31858063101350_024
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24 SPACEWAYS ADVERTISEMENTS [[handwritten number 8]] THE WASHINGTON MANIFESTO It appears to be to the best interests of fantasy fandom that its annual convention in the United States should alternate between the west of the Mississippi and the east. At the 1940 Chicago Convention, when Denver for 1941 was being considered, it was unofficially and very tentatively agreed that the 1942 convention should be back int he East, and even more tentatively supposed that 1943 might be Los Angeles' year. We have already had conventions in New York and Philadelphia, so having another one there would be of no great interest to us. Because of the large meetings of active clubs in those cities, another convention in those places would contribute little extra toward bringing in new Philadelphia or New York fans. An active group exists in Boston that might like to put on a convention, but the Strangers have no hinterland from which to draw additional support for a convention there; any support in arrangements beyond what the Stranger could supply would have to come from New York. Moreover, a look at the map will show that Boston is extremely far east, making for more expensive trips, even to easterners such as the Philadelphians. The new Southern fandom would like to have a convention. They display the enthusiasm and willingness to work that are necessary in putting a convention over, but seem mainly deficient in experience in fandom. A city in the deep South would meet the same objections of distance that apply to Boston. But Washington, D. C. is a southern city, southern states to north and south of it, and yet is within a day's distance of any place in the east. Rothman and Speer, particularly Rothman, have had previous experience in managing fan affairs (the Chicago costume party, the OSA Powwow, Philadelphia Conferences), and in addition have a good many hears' experience in fandom behind them. Government workers, they are able to bear the little expenses of correspondence and traveling around in the vicinity. Lester del Rey is a resident of Washington and can help in the dirty work. Hagerstown, Baltimore, and Estmot, Va., with active fans, are no farther distant from Washington than Bloomington from Chicago; fans from these places could assist in the work of getting a convention ready. If war comes, or the emergency deepens, which seems likely, more fans will probably be coming to Washington to work, and can help in the arrangements. It must, of course, be assumed that a convention can be held under war or near-war conditions, so that we can plan for it. Should world conditions make a convention impossible, no harm will have been done by planning it. Such science fiction personalities as Skylark Smith and L. Ron Hubbard have lived and worked in Washington; the immortal Skylark of Space was written here. There are the dormant remnants of a Weird Tales club here, including Seabury Quinn. The city itself has unique attractions for the visitor who can stay longer than the actual convention days. We recommend that the Denvention designate Washington as the site for the 1942 convention. Washington, May 11, 1941. [[signatures]] Jack Speer Janis[[?]] Russell Chauvenet Rimon[[?]] Felipe SanJuan Maria Silvo Entico[[?]] Alva[[?]]-del Rey Milton W[[?]] Rothman P D S[[?]]
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24 SPACEWAYS ADVERTISEMENTS [[handwritten number 8]] THE WASHINGTON MANIFESTO It appears to be to the best interests of fantasy fandom that its annual convention in the United States should alternate between the west of the Mississippi and the east. At the 1940 Chicago Convention, when Denver for 1941 was being considered, it was unofficially and very tentatively agreed that the 1942 convention should be back int he East, and even more tentatively supposed that 1943 might be Los Angeles' year. We have already had conventions in New York and Philadelphia, so having another one there would be of no great interest to us. Because of the large meetings of active clubs in those cities, another convention in those places would contribute little extra toward bringing in new Philadelphia or New York fans. An active group exists in Boston that might like to put on a convention, but the Strangers have no hinterland from which to draw additional support for a convention there; any support in arrangements beyond what the Stranger could supply would have to come from New York. Moreover, a look at the map will show that Boston is extremely far east, making for more expensive trips, even to easterners such as the Philadelphians. The new Southern fandom would like to have a convention. They display the enthusiasm and willingness to work that are necessary in putting a convention over, but seem mainly deficient in experience in fandom. A city in the deep South would meet the same objections of distance that apply to Boston. But Washington, D. C. is a southern city, southern states to north and south of it, and yet is within a day's distance of any place in the east. Rothman and Speer, particularly Rothman, have had previous experience in managing fan affairs (the Chicago costume party, the OSA Powwow, Philadelphia Conferences), and in addition have a good many hears' experience in fandom behind them. Government workers, they are able to bear the little expenses of correspondence and traveling around in the vicinity. Lester del Rey is a resident of Washington and can help in the dirty work. Hagerstown, Baltimore, and Estmot, Va., with active fans, are no farther distant from Washington than Bloomington from Chicago; fans from these places could assist in the work of getting a convention ready. If war comes, or the emergency deepens, which seems likely, more fans will probably be coming to Washington to work, and can help in the arrangements. It must, of course, be assumed that a convention can be held under war or near-war conditions, so that we can plan for it. Should world conditions make a convention impossible, no harm will have been done by planning it. Such science fiction personalities as Skylark Smith and L. Ron Hubbard have lived and worked in Washington; the immortal Skylark of Space was written here. There are the dormant remnants of a Weird Tales club here, including Seabury Quinn. The city itself has unique attractions for the visitor who can stay longer than the actual convention days. We recommend that the Denvention designate Washington as the site for the 1942 convention. Washington, May 11, 1941. [[signatures]] Jack Speer Janis[[?]] Russell Chauvenet Rimon[[?]] Felipe SanJuan Maria Silvo Entico[[?]] Alva[[?]]-del Rey Milton W[[?]] Rothman P D S[[?]]
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