Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-05-09
WASHINGTON'S NEW ASPIRATIONS
BY Frederic J. Hn,kin


washington. May s,-That Wash |
Iuxton may soon win the title OF Con-
CITY IA the prophecy "f some |
old Inhabitants. They say that CON
vention meetings in the National
Capital grow in size and number every |
year.
No one keeps an official record OF
tho organization and their delegates
that visit the city. but according 70
street car conductors, white House
guards. and watchmen In the gov
ernment buildings. this spring Is prov
ing n record breaker foe 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 bylaws
and election Of officers and TO take
look at the Government in action.
But spring IL the most favorable tipe
for seeing Washington. and therefore
spring always brings an unusuniiy
lnrge assortment of convention fol-
lowers. The Capital. with Its trees
bursting into pale green, It's cherry
blossom drive along the tidal basin,
and It's gay fawer beds. is nj its best.
Later, Washington settles down TO
hot wcather--thouRh the Chamber OF
Commerce never admits It, and now
and then displays impressive ststis-
ties and comparative reports Of the
Weather Bureau showing that the
Capital with It's 10000 trees. its 5000
ncres Of parks, and it's river breeze IS
not so hot as II is sometimes repre-
sented.
In spite OF these encouraging bull
letlns, spring continues TO bo the
fashionable convention season IN
Washington.
Already. this year, tho Daughters
Of the American Revolution and the
Daughters Of 1912 have advanced up
on Washington with fiuttering badges.
The League Of American Penwomen
has gathered together its collection
OF literary notables and celebrated It's
twenty ffth anniversary with a book
fair. breakfast. carnival ball. and other
functions And with less pomp and
ceremony, / 900 oculists and several
other scientific groups have been con-
lferrlng In odd corners Of the city be-
tween banquets and important ses-
sions Of sightseeing.
Serious sightseeing.
Sightseeing is serious business fol
the visiting delegate. There is 3
combination exposition. circus, state
fair. and liberal education perpetually
available In tho Government build
: ings. There is the cultural benefit q
be derived from hearing the roll cal
In the Senate. and there are grea
opportunities for exercise. Anyon
walking up the 900 steps Of tho Wash
: ington monument has tn admit tina
:, there's nothing exactly like IL any
where either for reducing or for breat
control.
. Then. too. nowhere else are ther
, such chances Of hobnobblng with IN
great. There are famous folk on di'
:, play In other cities but strangers 81
.s distictly discouraged from trying
= shake hands with them. The Pres
!. dent and Congressman do expect
- shake hands II is part of the Job
being public official The America
\ PDEpio saHf a. Titt hfHtHHd H.
4, ingly, celebrities In Washington ca
y generally be counted on to go throup
"A their stunt Of shaking hands ar
registering delight for conventic
parties. After which. the hand TIL
shook the Presidents or Senat
/ Blanks can write home describing u
emotions OF mingling with tn. n
tions elect.
President Harding Is building up
- reputation as handshaker. Il
estimated that he shook hands wi
more than 5000 persons in two wee
around Easter. On several days
grasped 1900 hands and smiled is
To times. other days there was a slun
to 400 or 500 visitors. due 20 {
pressure of presidential busine
rather than TO falling off in t
number cf callers at the White Hou,
tn Not all OF the White House visito
get to the Presidents office at IN,
During the peak OF the convention a,
school vacation crowds, thousands
;e. people pour into the White Hou
during the hours when the state roor
g; are open 70 the public. One qua
said that it was not unusual for /
It, or even zoo people to come along ~
as closing time and explain anxious
IT, that this was their only chance
see where the President lived.
The President and Mrs. Hardi
a. sturdily withstand the strain OF gre,
ing the numerous delegations. T
'o' President and his wife have to lea
IN TO minimize fatigue in observing {
democratic custom OF shaking haI
with long lines Of strangers. VI
le' Harding. for instance. uses her
when her right grows weary at ST,
receptions, and all officials learn
ZEE grasp the callers hand first and
pass him on with q dexterous swe
ne of the wrist so that the next person
line can move up without undue
lay.