Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-06-09
DOROTHY DIX AT
CURTAIN RAISING
She Says Everything Was Chaos
When the G. Q. P. Convcn-
ton Got Under Way.
Special Dispatch to Every Evening
BY DOROTHY DIX.
copyrighted by Wheeler Syndicate


Chicago, H., June Q.
One of the most comforting things about
national conventions is the fact that they
never start on time. 1t fully justities us
women in being late to such picayllnish
nlaccs ms theatres and concerts when
the big political figures of the day, who
saw Behold me, / am n marvel of etil-
cheney. a beau ideal of punctuahty, can
he fortv-fve minutes behind time as they
were here in calling TO order gathering
in solemn conclave assembled to select q
candidate for chief executive.
Four years of anticipation and four
months of preparation didn't make the
opening of the Republican convention
any less chaotic. Not that any bedy ex-
pected it to be. for conventions are as
alike as the Siamese twins and their
traditions are as moss bound as the old
oaken bucket.
Long after the bishop of Louisville
finished his invocation delegates and
delegates female relations were milling
around trying to find their places; But
no sooner does a delegate get seated at a
convention than he seems to remember
that he forgot something and must get
right tlp and 60 out after 1t SO the process
sion kept up in spite Of the Chicago go
and the crisis down In front
LODGES SPEECH.
Senator Lodges address certainly left ''em
cold. We didn't hear much OF It, though
goodness knows it was long enough, and
the new telephone devices which have
been installed since the last convention
succeeded in wringlng the last drop OF
human feeling from the senator's voice
But people applauded at dlscreetly-
timed intervls Most of the demonstra-
tions occurred when the senator launched
some barbcd shaft at President VII
son.
Blasco Ihanez. famous Spanish author,
rot IN and lett, accompanied by his inter-
prefer. when the senator began to talk
about the Mexican situation.
The convention itself Is mainly given
over to the movie industry. camera
clicked busly NIL during the prayer, and
the Peruvian minister, Senor Pezet. who
had Il seat on the extreme edge Of the
platform had to sit with his feet Up to
avoid kicking over n tripod.
The pity Of il is that the physical record
Of such magnificent utterances as Lin
coins Gettysburg address should he lost
10 posterity. while such tommyrotlc
mouthings as the average POLITICAL speech
are preserved in celluloId
There is something very beautiful and
inspiring in the sight Of the great hall Of
the coliseum the vaultcd arch flag draped
raftcrs studded with electric light the
Ginning of the Cathedral clock next door
the band that plays the score from At
lantis," seems a fitting setting for the
solennb and dignifed function Of select /
ing head for hundred million people.
Its the people themselves who spoil it. /
They drink in any old bromide, swallow /
anv old platitude, and give three cheers /
for any candidate, till you wonder how
anv sane and sensible people could hit !
up on this mountebank way Of choosing an !
executive. OF course nobody listened 10 the /
speeches the first day or the endless an /
nouncements of committees They buzzcd /
around and chatted with each other about /
the health Of Mary and John and Aunt /
Susie. till the hall looked for all the world I
like the house Of represen, n,ativeS on busy
morning.
Nero Fiddled While Rome Burned.
| saw people surrepttiousy reading
newspapers during Senator Lodges ad-
dress and one delegate must have been
adding up his expenses account. He was
busy with pencil and memorandum blanks
The man who sits next TO me promised
TO bring his copy OF ihe ethics OF Confucius
for the next session so / could pass away
the time with a 1--we one
The women delegates were all present.
and punctual. Mrs ]. B. Hume Of Cal
fornia, looking the picture of tailored
American womanhood. escorted Senator
Lodge 10 the platform.
4 lot Of favored sisters were already
parked there.
Delegate Huffman, Of Texas. paid
the women q pretty compliment by pre-
senting each with a real Texas Magnolia
bloom brought from che Lone Star State.
CURTAIN UPON BIG SHOW
Chicago. IL. June S.
With the curtain up on the only