The Washington times., 1920-06-28
AIR !
TOCONVENT|ON
Begui|ing Beauty of California
Calls to Play Rather Than
To Politics.
BY MARLEN Z. PEW.
Interna tIosaI News Service.


AUDITORIUM, SAN FRANCISCO.
Cal. June 2S.-Whent the curtain
went up today on the''erst brief
scene of Democracy's grea., quad
rennial convention spectacle. the
1865 delegates and alternates ASST n
bled under j. Brue Kremer's polisH,.
redwood gavel committee, mainly toy
listen to the eloquence of Homer 8.
Cummings in his remarkable key
note address, were still in confusion
in respect to the party standard
bearers. Gov. James M. Cox of Ohio
was much on their lips, and William
Gibbs McAdoo was the talk Of the en-
tire convention, but no one seemed
seriously tosGaresrfor 9ifes tMafcrnia
sun had risen in the magic splendor
Of his gossamer of gold, and it was
only human to snap fingers at fate
and smile back at such smiling ma
ture.
The early indication was that to-
days session would last only about
three hours.
ing of the call for the convention by
4. q. Hoffman, secretary of the Ma
tional Committee; announcement of
the temporary organization, listen to
the Keynote address of Temporary
chairman Cummings, accept routine
resolutions from the delegates, call
the roll OF States, present selections
Tor the convention committee devise
an order of business for the perma-
ion
airy vice presidents and secretaries.
MORE LIKE BIG FETE.
Today's session was indeed much
more in the atmosphere of a colossal
fete than a political assemblage with
grave business in hand.
Even the stern. staccato words of
the chairman of the Democratic ma
tional convention as he pictured the
part OF the Administration in the
great world war and bitterly whip
lashed Republican antagohism to the
sick Presidents peace plans did not
seem entirely to Danish from the
minds of his auditors the alluring
call OF the semi-tropic outdoors to
come and play and forget the sordid
busi ness of partisan state affairs.
1t would be misleading and unfair
Democratic convention was character
lied by any significant political
apathy, lack of public spirit or
skimped partisan enthusiasm. On the
contrary. this representative host
gave evidence of high spirit and
pluck to fight,
However, the visiting deleg gations
felt the very air was charged with
holiday frivolity, brewed OF the chat
ter of happy women and children. the
gaiety of bright summer dress, the
crystalline atmosphere, lazily wav-
ing date palms, the gorgeous set
ting of the white city hedged by
dreamy. hszy, purple hills and a pea
green sea so softly bathing the silver
shore, an extravaganza OF giant
climbing roses, OF sweet peas bright
enfng cottage and palace, of mignon-
ette in prodigal array, OF vast helds
glistening with buttercups and mile
long stretches of purple and blue and
red wild flowers, born to bloom seen
and spend their fragrance on a city's
air, and of succulent fruit in every
shade Of color known to the magic
of the sun and dew.
Such was the contrast struck be-
tween the conventional. old.time, dark
and dreary. suffocating dyestuff and
wheezing political pow-wow. and this
modern show in the mighty empire OF
the West which seems to take its in
itial honors in the active business Of
Federal Government delightedly OPEN
armed, Hospitality as good son In
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