The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-05-06


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
number every year.
No one keeps an official record
Of the organizations and their del
egates that visit the city, but &C
cording to street car conductors,
White house guards and watchmen
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 follow
ers. The capital with its trees
bursting into pale green, its cherry
blossom drive along the tidal ba-
sin. and its gay flower beds, is at
its best. Later, Washington settles
down to hot weather-though the
chamber of commerce never admits
it, and now and then displays i'm
pressive statistics and comparative
reports Of the weather bureau
showing that the capital with it's
10000 trees, it's 5000 acres of
parks and its river breeze is not so
hot as il 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 advanc-
ed upon Washington with fiutter-
ing badges. The League of Aneri-
can Penwomen has gathered to-
gether it's collection Of literary
notables and celebrated its 25th
anniversary with book fair,
breakfast, carnival ball, and other
functions. And with less pomp and
ceremony, 1000 oculists and sew
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
available in the government build
ings. 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 there's nothing exactly
like it anywhere either for reduc-
Ing or for breath control
Then, too, nowhere else are there
such chances of hob-nobbing with
the great. There are famous folk
on display in other cities, but
strangers are distinctly discour-
aged from trying TO shake hands
with them. The president and con-
gressmen do expect to shake hands.
It is part of the job of being a
public official. The American peo-
pie like it and demand it. Accord
ingly, celebrities in Washington
can generally be counted on to go
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 a 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 1000 times. Other days
there was a slump to 400 or 500
visitors, due to the pressure of
business rather than
to 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