Arizona republican., 1922-05-18
BY FREDERIC j. HAskIN

WASHINGTON, May Is - That
Washington may soon win the title
of Convention City is the prophecy
of some old inhabitants. They say
that convention meetings in the ma
tional capital grow in size and num-
ber every year.
No one keeps an official record of
the organizations and their delegates
that visit the city, but according to
street car conductors, White House
guards, and watchmen in the govern
ment buildings, this spring is prov
ing a record breaker for delegations.
There is no season of the year
when Washington Is not entertaining
visitors who have gathered from the
ends of the country to discuss by
laws and election of officers and to
take a look at the government in ac-
ton. But spring is the most favor
able time for seeing Washington,
and therefore spring always brings
an unusually large assortment of
convention followers The capital,
with its trees bursting into pale
green, its cherry blossom drive along
the tidal basin. and its gay flower
beds, is at it's best. Later, Washing
ton settles down to hot weather.
though the chamber of commerce
never admits ii, and now and then
displays impressive statistics and
comparative reports of the weather
bureau showing that the capital with
its 1850 trees, its 5000 acres of
parks, and its river breeze is not so
hot as it is sometimes represented.
In spite of these encouraging bulle-
tins. spring continues to be the FASH
ionable convention season in Wash
ington.
Already. this year. the Daughters
of the American Revolution and the
Daughters of 1912 have advanced
upon Washington with fluttering
badges. The League of American
Penwomen has gathered together its
collection of literary notables and
celebrated its twenty fifth anniver
sary with a book fair. breakfast
carnival ball, and other functions.
And with less pomp and ceremony,
1000 oculsts and several other scien-
tific groups have been comforting in
odd corners of the city between ban
quets and important sessions of
sightseeing
Serious Sightseeing
Sightseeing is serious business
for the visiting delegate. There is a
combination exposition, circus, state
fair, and liberal education perpet-
ually available in the government
buildings. There is the cultural
benefit to be derived from hearing
the roll call in the senate, and there
are great opportunities for exercise.
Anyone walking up the 800 steps OF
the Washington monument has to
admit that there's nothing exactly
like it anywhere either for reducing
or for breath control.
Then, too. nowhere else are there
such chances of hobnobbing with the
great There are famous folk on
display in other cities but strangers
are distinctly discouraged from try
ing to shake hands with them. The
President and congressman do ex-
pect to shake hands It is part of
the job of being a public official
The American people like it and de-
mand it. Accordingly. celebrities in
Washington can generally be counted
on to go through their stunt of shak-
ing hands and registering delight for
convention parties. After which. the
hand that shook the Presidents or
Senator Blanks can write home de-
scribing the emotions of mingling
with the nations elect.
President Harding is building up a
reputation as handshaker. 1t is
estimated that he shook hands with
more than 5000 people in two weeks
around Easter. On several days he
grasped 1000 hands and smiled 1900
times. Other days there was a slump
to 400 or 500 visitors. due to the
pressure of presidential business
rather than to a falling off in the
number of callers at the White
House.
Not all of the White House visi-
tors get TO the Presidents office at
that During the peak of the con-
yention and school vacation crowds
thousands of people pour into the
White House during the hours when
the state rooms are open to the pub
lie. One guard said that it was not
unusual for 100 or even 200 people
to come along just at closing time
and explain anxiously that this was
their only chance to see where the
President lived.
The President and Mrs. Harding
sturdily withstand the strain of
greeting the numerous delegations.
The President and his wife have to
learn to minimize fatigue in observ-
ing the democratic custom of shak-
ing hands with long lines of strang-
ers Mrs. Harding, for instance. uses
her left hand when her right grows
weary at state receptions, and all
officials learn to grasp the callers
hand first and to pass him on with
a dexterous sweep OF the wrist so
that the next person in line can move
up without undue delay
Efficient Handshaking
The amount of efficiency that can
be, and is, injected into the simple
rite of shaking hands is best real