Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-06-18
sIDELloHT VIEWS
Odd Phases Of the Republican
convention--The Women From
Kansas and Some other
Women--uses OF the
Coliseum
BY GEORGE NOx MCCAIN

BY GEORGE NOX MCCAIN
THERE were sidelights on the Chi
l. cago convention that in a way were
quite as interesting as anything con
nected with the big show itself.
Against side wall about half way
down the wide vestibule of the Coliseum
Annex was n rallied inclosure containing
a fiat top desk with pad and telephone,
and half dozen or so chairs. A po-
liccman was never absent from the desk
and chair. Occasionally a lieutenant
with velvet collar and gold star ap-
preached and whispered some word of
instruction or inquiry.
Three and sometimes four women,
fashionably but unobtrusively dressed,
occupied chairs inside.
They were female detectives.
What's the idea ?" inquired a
Washington newspaper man of a po-
liceman who furnished the information.
They'll be handy in case of any
trouble in which women might be in
volved." replied the officer. This
crowd il a mighty fine place for female
'dips' to work. If one Of them is
caught these lady members Of the force
would make the examination to dis
cover If she had any stolen leather on
her. 'Tisn't mans job. SeeT
nNE ~ the noticeable figures in the
" annex was a man pretty we'll up in
roars who slouched about in shirt
sleeves with unbuttoned vest and swing
ing a cane.
For the most part he sat in n chair
tilted against wall surveying the
crowds with a contemptuous and blase
ryc He was one Of the permanent at
taches of the building,
Whats this building used TOR be-
sides national conventions! he was
asked.
Most everything. Y'sce. this place
used to hp what was known as Ander-
Sonyille Prison. They took down the
old prison after tho Civil War and
brought il IN here. The company built
the stone walls around it and it was a
show place for a long time.
There was no roof to it then. After
n while the show played out and then a
company bought 1t. put roof on 1t
and made il Just what you see.
'Thprc's somcthin' going on most
eyerv week mere. p'tiCularly in winter.
The Barnum circus shows here when it
comes to town." he concluded.
"Is tho Barnum circus much different
from the ono they've got here now|'
inquired his interlocutor, attempting to
be funny.
ing reply. They got real animals
there"
At THE last session of the convcn-
n tion on Saturday afternoon couple
Of hatlcss women in the gallery lmme-
diately behind the newspaper section
twirled n corncraik at every mention OF
.Johnson's s name.
4 cornCraik is wooden ratchet on
n handle. which. when whirled around,
PRODUCES an unmusical racket.
It became particularly annoying. but
rcpcatcd cries of Cut it out. Can
tho racket" and the more emphatic
.'Shut up :" failed to produce any effect
in mitigating the nuisance.
You cant do anything with them.
remarked an eastern correspondent
after a while; "they're from Kansas
How do you know" inquired a
skcptcal ncighbor.
Il saw one of them eating half a pie
as she held it in both hands while ago.
Tint showed they were from Kansas.
eats pie that way out there
yr,uE women who were in evidence as
L delegates and speakers made par
ticularly fine impression. With one
exception.
As for the female orators. they caught
tho crowd. Not because they were
women. but because Of the manner in
which they sustained their part.
They were dignifod, self possessed,
smoke slowly and distinctly, INDUCED in
no pxtravagant gestures or sex artiticcs
of direct appeal. /
All of them had taken a leaf out Of
the experience of the most successful
nublic speakers. They confined them
selves to the matter in hand and spoke
briefly.
The one exception was when the
women delegates and alternates went
parading around the aisles, bare headed
and sandwiched in among the men doing
the lock step and yelling shrilly for their
candidate.
II was anything but dignified or
edifying picture.
THERE was one woman who, next
l. to Theodore Roosevelt's sister. Mrs.
Robinson. attracted instant and re-
spectful attention. The announcement
of her name was lost in a babel OF sound
as she stepped forward on the platform.
She seconded the nomination of Her
bert Hoover.
At distance she seemed little more
than n girl az she stood patiently wait
ing for the hubbub and hurrah to sub.
side. After n few moments she raised
both hands above her head, and at that
instant one might have fanCied she was
some DruidiC priestess waiting to make
her Obeisance to the sun god.
Her hair was worn straight back
from her forehead and gathered in an
old fashioned bag net.
She wore a straight robe Of some
soft, creamy material. bOrdered around
the bottom with a two inch band of
blue and gathered loosely at the waist
with q belt of the same material.
Suspended at the back and reaching
below her waist was a Hussar cape of
the same material and border. She
spoke less than FIVE minutes in a rich
voice OF moderate pitch and in impecca
bic English.
She was the unique figure among
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