The Winslow mail., 1923-05-18

for recognition to the great Rational
organizations, political and otherwise,
as the ideal convention city.
Today Washington is thinking on
the joys Of becoming the host or hos
tess, whichever it is, to the delegates
to the great political conventions
which are to be held in June or July
Of next year. Admittedly there seems
to be comparatively small chances
that either the Republicans or the
Democrats will consent to name the
capital as their meeting place, but a
drive is on to secure something which
the city never has had before, the
honor Of furnishing the scene for the
nomination of either a Democrat or a
Republican, or both, for the Office Of
president Of the United States.
The appetite for conventions, as for
on. Washington has had several large
conventions in the last year or two
and has managed to feed house and
entertain the delegates comfortably
and Hospitality. If either or both Of
the national conventions should be
to such a test Of skill in hos
pitality and proper comfort as will
meet it in June Of this year, when
1t is predicted that 100000 Mystic
Shriners will descend upon the place,
capture it and then ask the captured
to care for them after the manner in
which a hospitable host should act.
Will Test City's Capacity
Now it must be confessed there are
a good many persons in Washington
who are awaiting this test with some
thing like trepidation. Some SEEM
ingly careful students Of the case say
that half a million people are to come
to town with the Shriners. or in their
train. This will more than double
the city's population for part Of
week in early June, the time when
under ordinary circumstances the cap
ital entertains good many thousands
of visitors on sightseeing bent.
Every army cot belonging to the
gov 41luCAL anu WAlCl1 10 "1l111l1 easy
selling distance of Washington has
been promised to the residents Of the
town for the use Of their Shriner
guests. Tents are to be provided and
every vacant room in every residence
in the town is likely to be occupied by
stranger. In a way the prospect is
appalling, and yet the Washington peo-
pie say that the situation will be met,
that everybody will be sheltered, fed
and highly entertained, and that no
discomfort will result.
In one section Of the great railway
yards fifty Pullman cars are to be
parked and these will be the homes of
temple of the Shriners from Chi
cago Every arrangement has been
made for sanitation, food supply and
living conditions proper, and this APP
plies not only to the various parks"
of Pullman cars, but to the camps
which will be pitched to provide &C.
commodations for those who cannot or
do not care to go to hotels or board
ing houses.
Shelter for 10000 Automobiles.
1t is said that there will be 10000
additional motor cars In Washington
during the Shriners' convention. Park
ing places have been provided for
them, and it is said that every one of
the machines will have a shelter. The
railroads for two months have been
arranging their train schedules to meet
the test of carrying half-million Wis.,
itors to the capital.
There is to be a parade on Penn
sylvania avenue which it is said will
be greater than anything ever before
known to the city except the one great
parade of the Army Of the Potomac in
1865. Music Is to be furnished by one
hundred and thirty-ive visiting bands,
and at this it is said some of the
marching throng will not be able to
hear the strains of the instruments
because Of the distance which must
separate the band units.
Washington is bustling, the old
placidity is gone, but whether this is
for better or for worse depends entire
ly upon the state of mind of the man
who looks upon the changed scene, and
who knows what was and what is.
The N;roivoi. Moi+rAee