Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-05-09

WESTINGHOUSE NEW ASPIRATIONS.

WASHINGTON'S N
Washington, d. O., May 6.-That
Washington may loon win the title Of
| Convention City is the prophecy of
some old inhabitants. They a that
convention meetings in the national
capital grow in size and number every
year.
No one keeps an official record Of
the organisations and their delegates
that visit the city, but according to
street q 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 followers.
The capitol with its trees bursting into
pale green, its cherry blossom drive
along the tidal basin, and it's gay
flower beds, is at it's best. Later,
Washington settles down to hot wealth
er-though the Chamber Of Commerce
never admits it, and now and then
displays impressive statistics and COM
parative reports Of the weather bu-
reau showing hat the capital with its
los 900 trees and 5000 acres of parks,
and it's 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 Washing
ton.
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 anniversary with a book
fair, breakfast, carnival ball and other
functions. And with less pomp and
ceremony, 1000 o~culists and several
other scientific groups have been con-
ferring in odd corners of the city be-
tween banquets and important sessions
of sightseeing.
Serious Sightseeing
Sightseeing is a serious business for
the visiting delegate. There Is a COM
bination exposition, circus. state fair.
and liberal education perpetually avail
able 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 opportuni-
ties for exercise. Anyone walking up
the 800 steps of the Washington monu
exactly like it anywhere either for re-
ducing or for breath control.
Then, too, nowhere else are there
such chances Of hobnobbing with the
great. There are famous folk on dis
play in other cities but strangers are
distinctly discouraged from trying to
shake hands with them. The president
and congressman do expect to shake
hands. 1t is part Of the job of being
a public official. The American peo-
pie like it and demand it. Accordingly,
celebrities in Washington can generally
be counted on to 90 through their
stunt af shaking hands and registering
delight for convention parties. After
which, the hand that shook the presi-
dents or Senator Blanks can write
louiS uNSNt lung tbE CuIptiouS vi
| mingling with the nations elect.
President Harding is building up a
reputation as a h~andshaker. It is esti-
mated that he shook hands with more
than 5000 people in two weeks around
Easter. On several days he grasped
1000 hands and smiled 1900 tim es.
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 visitors
get to the presidents office at that.
During the peak of the convention and
school vacation crowds. thousands of
ing the hours when the state rooms
are open to the public. 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 greet
ing the numerous delegations. The
president and his wife have to learn
to minimize fatigue in observing the
democratic custom of shaking hands
with long lines Of strangers. Mrs.
f1aru1DR, IOF luStdlCc, uses utT ltIL
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 NOV 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 realized
when some foreign official provides
a contrast. At the army and navy re-
ception, long ago. Marshal Joffre
and Madame Joffre joined the receiv-
ing line. along with the president, Mrs.
Harding and the secretaries of war and
navy and their wives. The marshal was
clearly pleased with the compliment
extended him, but after a little more
than an hour of constant bowling.
smiling and hand wringing, he and
Madame Joffre surrendered to their
WEAKNESS and dropped out of the re-
c~eiving line. The others in the line still
had half the evenings work ahead of
them.
The White House is the mecca of
delegations to Washington, but con
gress and the capitol would put up a
stiff fight in a popularity contest. 1t
is the statesmen and the historic fea-