The Washington times., 1924-06-10

lions what to say about that II
anything.
No, there will be no "spon.
taneous" paragraphs. Wayne B.
Wheeler, who represents bone-dry
America, wants a law enforcement
clause worded just so: in fact, he
has worded it. himself. His exact
wording reposed on a spindle in
the anteroom Of the William Butler
suite today. 1t may be in The
waste basket by now.
Doctor Nicholas Murray Butler
wants a plank for filing the teeth
OF the Volstead act. But Doctor
Butter nurses no Illusions about
who's who and what's how, and he
wasted on typewriter ribbon or
motel stenographer's tips on setting
ooWn his idea of a resolution to
solve the prohibition problem. He
smiles about it and says maybe the
voters will give the thing more in.
terested attention than the com.
mittee
The Vice Presidential candidate
whoever he is to be, is probably
not here
Dozens of the faces familiar to
the newspaper men who, every
Iourth year, pack their portables
and embark for wherever the great
parties are to sit in solemn con.
clave, are missed this year in Cleve
land.
But some of them must still have
influence among their home folks in
tnelr own bailiwicks. And. there
what effect will they be able to
cause in return for their lost power
ana standing in the councils of
their own party?
some of them, probably, are no
nation. '"7
But they were picturesque fel.
lows some Of them, and thew made
conventions good copy. They at
least struggled among themselves,
, nney threw sops to potential voters,
fhey created straw dummies to be
knocked down while men, trained
men or deluded men, cheered
They staged shows. They went
through the motions Of debating
conrerring. maintaining suspense
and creating what the play
SCCLhICldIlS call danger,
Then men argued excitedlv
marched and shouted for candidates
who had no chance but were going
to get one shot at immortality for
their white nib; men came into
the great hall Of their party with
eyes ablaze and nostrils distended:
men actually bet and wondered and
stated their convictions and emo.
tons with appropriate profanity re-
garding who would carry the
party's banner through the forth.
coming battle.
The showmen are out of power
and out Of tune: it is a mill
operators party now, operated like
a mill.
There are men here. too, and
republicans, too.
The lobbies are still dull and DIES.
ultory. State headquarters are
smoking rooms and the subjects of
conversation between the few who
are staying up late because they are
away from home range from base
ball to pitching horseshoes. Now
and then someone speculates as to
who will be Coolidge's running mate,
and an orderly regular lifts hand.
and suggests that they will all be
told in good time. Here and there
an inquisitive stranger tries t. get
a rise by observing that stand
in the platform about the Ku Klux
might this, or a good clear pro.
nouncement regarding Fall and
Daugherty should that, whereupon
he is DETECTED or discouraged by
being informed that the party isn't
asleep all routine matters have
been anticipated and settled and will
soon be made public. Coolidge is a
busy man, and can't do everything
all at once.
They can't even get up an argu.
ment to keep warm. And it's chilly
here. The weather. too, isn't what
1t used to be at conventions. BY
ancient unwritten law 1t is always
blistering hot, no matter where the
clan gathers. This year 1t drizzles
and one needs an overcoat. Maybe
Coolidge ordered that, too.