Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-05-09
WASHINGTON is
BECOMING CITY
OF CONVENTIONS
BY FREDERIC j. HAsKIN.

by lhEDEfklS 81. I1ftohlNs
Washington, May S.-That WASH
ington 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-
Der every year.
NO one keeps an Official record
of the organizations and their dele
gates that visit the city, but ac-
cordlng to street car conductors.
White House guards, and watch
men in the government buildings,
this spring is proving a record
breaker for delegations.
There is no season of the year
when Washington is not entertain
ing visitors who have gathered
from the ends of the country to dis
cuss bylaws and election of Off
GERS and to take a look at the gov
eminent in action. But spring is
the most favorable time for seeing
Washington, and therefore spring
always brings an unusually large
assortment of convention followers.
Inc capital with it's trees bursting
INTO pale green, its cherry bios
som drive along the tidal basin, and
its gay flower beds, is at its best.
Later, Washington settles down to
hot wether-though the chamber
or commerce never admits it, and
now and then displays impressive
statistics and comparative reports
OF the weather burr au showing that
the capital with it's 10000 trees,
its 5000 acres of parks, and its
river breeze is not so hot as 1t is
sometimes represented.
In spite of these encouraging
bulletins, spring continues to be the
fashionable convention season in
Washington.
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 notable
and celebrated its twenty-fifth
anniversary with book fair, break
fast, carnival ball, and other func-
tons. And with less pomp and
ceremony, 1000 oculists and sew
eral other scientific groups have
been comforting in odd corners of
the city between banquets and i'm
portant sessions of sightseeing.
Serious Sightseeing.
Sightseeing is a serious business
for the visiting delegate. There is
a combination exposition, circus,
state fair, and liberal education
perpetually available in the gov
eminent 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 900 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 trying to shake hands with
them. The president and congress
men do expect to shake hands. II
is part of the job of being u public
official. The American people
like 1t and demand it. Accordingly,
celebrities in Washington can gen.
orally be counted on to 20 through
their stunt of shaking hands and
registering delight for convention
parties. After which, the hand that
shook the presidents or Senator
Blanks can write home describing
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 peo-
pie in two weeks around Easter.
On several days he grasped L.
600 hands and smiled 1000 times.
Other days there was 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
visitors get to the presidents Of
flee at that. During the peak of
the convention and school vaca-
ton crowds, thousands of people
pour into the White House dur
ing the hours when the state
rooms are open to the public.
One guard said that 1t was not
unusual for 100 or even 200 peo-
pie to come along just at closing
time and explain anxiously that
this was their only chance to see
where the president lived.