Evening star., 1923-05-28
Arrangements Practically
Complete for Entertaining
Great Horde Expected.
CONVENTION "NERvES"
BRING MANY COMPLAINTS
Headquarters Refutes Charges of
Dissertation of Avenue-Watches
Use of Flag in Decorations.

With the actual capture of Wash
ington by the Shrine hosts less than
week off, evidences Of convention
nerves" have begun to manifest them
selves throughout the country, and as
a result headquarters here is being
flooded with complaints about condi-
tions that do not exist.
The charges have already covered
almost every conceivable field, from
formal objection by the Daughters of
the American Revolution against
showing the national emblem en-
twined with Shrine colors to edito-
rials in distant newspapers complain
ing that historic Pennsylvania ave-
nu has been desecrated to the point
of making it veritable Coney Island.
Answer Avenue Complaint.
At Shrine headquarters today there
was tendency to overlook the latter
objections as a natural national con-
Germ for the welfare of Americas
capital city. 1t was pointed out. how
ever, that the illumination of Penn
sylvania avenue has not only added
dignity to that famous thoroughfare
but also converted 1t into a street
beautiful.
Officials declared the Avenue had
| really been reclaimed for the people
| during the Shrine convention. There
they may walk. sing or dance during
| their leisure hours without fear of
being slain by automobile or wagon.
! wandering at will over the unre-
stricted length and breadth of the
4 u Il l.-sIl Al.
| illuminating 1t, officials asserted. has
! it been possible to turn the street
! into a great outdoor auditorium for
the benefit of all the people.
| Watch Use of Flag.
The decorations committee an
nounced that it had taken every pre-
caution to have the law against mis-
use of the American flag obeyed. It
was admitted that some private con-
Germs had unintentionally displayed
the emblem in such a manner that it
did not float free from other insignia.
Whenever such instances have come
to the attention of the committee the
person making the error has been in
structed to change the display to con-
form TO regulations.
| Headed down the homestretch, every
one of the thirty-two committees at
Shrine headquarters was winding up
it's work today and by Wednesday 1t
was expected they would be In posi-
tion to report themselves ready and
anxious to open their arms to the
visitors who will be swarming in by
the thousands by that time. The food
committee, the ticket committee and
the central committee were the bust
est, as all three of these boards are
almost obliged to finish their tasks
by the middle of the week.
RaiI Problems Acute.
One of the most important COM
mittee meetings of the entire con-
vention will be held tomorrow. when
all of the passenger agents Of the
railroads leading to Washington
gather to complete arrangements for
handling the unprecedented railroad
traffic that will begin to rumble into
Union station next Saturday. Two
| hundred special trains, aggregating
at least 1000 special cars, must be
taken care of, in addition to the reg
ular traffic, which will also be heaV-
ier than usual
cial trains were to be placed one be-
hind another they would form a solid
string reaching to within few
miles of Baltimore-forty miles
away Most of the cars are to be
parked in Alexandria, lexington or
Benning, but the detail of getting
them there with the least confusion
and handle all other trahc at the
same time will present the biggest
problem in the history OF American
railroading.
Plan Registration.
There naturally will be consider
able confusion among Shriners who
will be looking for friends or rela
tives, who will come from other
! has
anticipated the situation and per-
tion which will make 1t comparative
ly simple to find any Shriner at any
place in the city. Registration
booths will be situated at various
points The minute a visitor reg
listers there his name and temporary
Washington address will be tele-
phoned to the central registration
office at 1413 G street northwest.
formation booth, asking where to flnd
"BiH Smith," the attendant will call
central office and in a jiffy be told
just where that parsonage is stop
ping.
The hearty cooperation Of ths
Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone
Company also has simplified the work
of locating Shrine committees and
Shriners, too. The Shrine" exchange.
employing forty-six operators, as
business, was opened today. To
handle this traffic, the company in
stalled an entirely new switchboard
equal in size to many of the 'city's
regular exchanges.
Need Only Ask for Shrine.
From now until after the conven-
tion a person desiring to conduct
business with the Shrine need not ask
for d number, but simply say to the
operator, Shrine" She will immedi-
F; ately connect the inquirer with the
Shrine exchange, which in turn, will
give a direct line to the bureau, COM
mittee or person wanted The same
exchange will have direct lines to the
headquarters of visiting. temples.
/ These. will be good things to res
n member during Shrine week: In
formation as to the. movement of
special trains may be obtained from
the. Shrine transportation bureau:
the addresses of visiting mobiles may
be obtained from the registration
bureau. Information on parades and
all other Shrine activities may be
obtained from the special sinforma-
ton switchboards. In conclusion,
the Chesapeake and Potomac Tele-
phone Company has requested all