Evening star., 1923-12-10
TALKS and TALES
With and about
CAPITALS GUESTS

small part with VI. " T. cuicltd III
reaching their decision to eliminate
Chicago in favor of the Forest city
Tor their 1924 national pow-wow.
Few, including the most ardent
Cleveland boosters can gainsay the
fact that when it comes to hotels,
railroad accommodations and ideal To-
cation for all concerned, the old
Windy city Is in a. class by itself,
which, therefore, makes 1t appear all
the more likely that anticipation or
one of the hottest conclaves In the
history of the ancient and honorable
party evidently caused the powers
that be to take no chances on ample
provisions for those delegates who
may be a bit hard of hearing.
That the Chicago delegation, head
cd by Fred W. Upham, treasurer of
the republican national COMMITTEES,
was cock sure of returning nome
to late Saturday afternoon. The mem
hers were all quartered at the New
Willard Hotel and only a short while
before the news was flashed that
Cleveland would undoubtedly be
chosen, John B. Drake, main works"
at the Hotel Drake. had explained to
the writer why Chicago would be
selected.
said Mr.. Drake. nor do we claim
Chicago to be the only city in these
United States. il is merely a matter
of expedlency. We are so located
that travel from all sections to us is
about equal. Our hotels are second
To none in the country, New York
not excepted, and then, too, handling
vast crowds has become second ma
ture to us. Oh. yes. there was some
complaint about our overcharging
at the last convention, but those fa-
milar with the situation know that
is not true. In some instances. where
committee rooms were needed. we
had TO add a bit. but on the whole
everybody was treated fairly"
Mr.. Drake said he and his asso-
ciateS had been received most cor
daily by President Coolidge earlier
in the day. and that they had all con-
Eratulated him on his message. He
was about to detail the wonderful
during the past five years. when
Charles Fitzmorris. former chief of
police of Chicago: George Getz. l.. B.
kuppenheim. Sheldon Clark, Il. u.
Malistesta and Mr.. Upham, other
members of the commission. made for
the elevator, and he skipped off to
Join them
= :: = ::
And what place the ground floor
of the Willard throughout the
day. With big guns from every walk
Of life flocking in by scores for the
publican national committeeman ar
rivin4 for their confab tomorrow. at
one time it seemed as though all
frontpage material had suddenly
bobbed up in Washington.
From east west. north and south
they came. Cabinet officers, senator's,
representatives. jurists. lawyers bank
"lS. brokers. newspaper writers ana
business men fitted in and out, all on
the watch all bent on renewing ac-
quaintances and all so apparently
aappy that one old lady who, had en-
sconced herself at the Pennsylvania
venue end of Peacock alley was heard
70 remark Now. why can't they be-
nave like that all the time. ~
And no matter what may have been
straining their heart strings. to all out
ward appearances II was a care-free,
affable, se-to-see-you assemblage,
out for a good time with all troubles
left at home. over in this corner, lit
orally swamDed by flock of reporters.
the chiseleo\ features of Gov. Clifford
Pnchot of Eennsylvania are easily ais-
cernible above the heads of his inqu!si-
tors while only a few feet away. big
Pat" sullivan. republican national COM
mitteeman OF Wyoming, smiles most be-
nignly on those who shake ms hind.
and still closer to the cigar stand
Frank w Stearns. merchant prince OF
Boston puffs volumes Of smoke as he
listens to compliments paid President
CoCldge's message.
Hardly mas ueclSlOI DStH Hiduc ~
greet Col G. 3. Blethen of the
Seattle Times than the four iarf1eld
brothers scoot through the lobby on
their way to the Metropolitan club
for luncheon, and as gangWay IS
attempted to catch Michael F.. Hen
nessey of the Boston Globe, the
towering form of J. A. Harris, big
republican "Minnehaha" of Wagoner.
Okla illustrates the movement. ana
the carom lands plumb into another
hlf nf ii,
Moore of st. Louis, said by ms aSSo-
ciates to be the most formidable dem.
ocratic candidate Tor Governor OF
Missouri.
eubernatoriai timber is sdamant TO
uuizzing. a hurried dash to the right
and Arthur Henuing. Chicago IT'D
une: Jack" Messenger. Evening
Star: Edgar Snyder, marshal OF IN
District and a whole posse OF Grld-
iron members returning from tnelr
annual meeting re encountered IN
the ALLEY" and more ground is
4 bit tagged. but still. willing. r:
b. Greagor of Texas Is buttonholed
against one of the pillars, when a
pesky belIhop starts screaming, MT:
Creagor. Mr.. Creagor. Mt oreasor,
and off skips the Brownsville man,
who is so frequently mentioned as
our next ambassador to Mexico.
And so il went until former senator
Atlee Pomercne remained in one spot
long enough TO tell, his friends that
everything was looking hne out ONO
way when discretion once again
proved to be the better part of yalor
and a hasS exit was made 40 bril-
liantly lighted + street with it's
thousands of Christmas shoppers.
= !. :: Y
Being tipped. however, that former
Gov. Frank O. Lowden of Illinois was
speeding eastward for the Gridiron
dinner and would be at the Shoreham
late in the afternoon. a stroll to that
house was taken, but the millionaire
dirt farmer was missed by an eye
lash. having registered ten minutes
before he mad gone for his 'constitu-
tional."
rather strange coincidence hap
pened about then. Spying Harrison
Scott, Gov. Lowden's old secretary.
seated in the lobby. greetings were
passed and little chat followed.
Now, it's absolutely impossible to
convince 'Scotty' that any other
than his old boss has ghost of
chance for the republican nomina-
tion. He has it all planned and
settled. The convention is to be dead
locked between President Coolidge
and Senator Johnson. when suddenly
the Illinois delegation will start
pelioNihS Ior Lo"den, d stampede IL
to follow and the jig will be over.
''Scotty" believes this implicitly,
eats it. drinks it, talks it and dreams
it, and nothing rifles him more than
for some one to argue otherwise.
Aware of his feelings on the subject,
the trap was purposely set and in
walked the enthusiastic Lowden
booster. Il tell you it is the only
way they will ever end the squabble.
The President is a splendid executive,
and Hiram Johnson has many fine
qualities, but Gov. Lowden-well,