The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-05-09

WASHINGTON, d. c., May 9.-That'
Washington may soon win the title OF
Convention City is the prophecy of
some old inhabitants They say that
convention meetings in the National
Capital grow in size and number every
year.
No one keeps an official record OF
the organizations and their delegates
that visits the city, but according to
street car conductors, White House
guards, and watchmen in the Govern
ment buildings, this spring is proving
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 bylaws
and election of officers and to take
a look at the Government in action.
But spring is the most favorable time
for seeing Washington, and therefore
spring always brings an unusually
large assortment of convention fol
lowers. The Capital with trees burst
ing into pale green, its cherry blossom
drive along the tidal basin, and its
say flower beds, is at it's best. La
ter, Washington settles down to hot
weather-though the Chamber of Com
merce never admits it, and now and
then displays impressive statistics
and comparative reports of the Wealth
er Bureau showing that the Capital
with its 100000 trees, its 5000 acres
of parks, and its river breeze is not
so hot as it sometimes represented.
In spite of these encouraging bulle-
tins, spring continues to be fashion
able convention season in Washing
ton.
Already, this year, The Daughters OF
the American Revolution and the
Daughters of 1912 have advanced up
on Washington with fluttering badges
The League of American Penwomen
has gathered together its collection
of literary notables and celebrated
| its twenty-fifth anniversary with g
! book fair, breakfast, carnival ball, and
| other functions. And with less pomI
and ceremony, 1000 oculists and sew
! eral other scientific groups have beer
comforting in odd corners of the city
! between banquets and important ses
sions of sightseeing.
Serious Sightseeing
Sightseeing is a serious bushes:
for the visiting delegate. There is {
| combination exposition, circus, STATE
fair, and liberal education perpetual!
available in the Government buildings
There is the cultural benefit to be de
| rived from hearing the roll call in the
Senate, and there are great oppor
tunities for exercise. Anyone walking
up the 900 steps of the Washington
monument has to admit that there
nothing exactly like it anywhere eithe
for reducing or for breath control.
Then, too, nowhere else are Their
such chances of hobnobbing with tn
great. There are famous folk on dis
play in other cities but strangers ar
distinctly discouraged from trying t,
shake hands with them. The Pres!
dent and Congressman do expect t
shake hands. 1t is part of the job O
being public official. The Amer
can people like it and demand it. AZ
cordingly, celebrities in Washingto
can generally be counted on to g
through their stunt of shaking hand
and registering delight for conventio
parties. After which, the hand tina
shook the Presidents or Senate
Blanks can write home describing tn
emotions of mingling with the nation
elect.
Presidents Harding is building u
; a reputation as a handshaker 1t
estimated that he shook hands wit
more than 5000 people in two week
/ around Easter. On several days b
grasped 1000 hands and smiled 1,60
: times. Other days there was a slum
| to 400 or 500 visitors, due to the pre-!
/ sure of presidential business rattle
than to falling off in the number {
callers at the White House.
2 Not all of the White House visitor
get to the Presidents Office at tina
During the peak of the convention an
) school vacation crowds, thousands