Evening star., 1924-06-08
Convention Sidelights
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN

CLEVELAND, Ohio, June 7.-One of
the most interesting things happen
ing here, is the way a placid, reticent
stocky little mail man from New Bed
ford. who didn't even attend the Re-
publican national convention four
years ago. is dominating the political
situation.
He is a member, but not an officer
or the national committee. When he
drops In on its sessions in the Federal
Reserve Bank building for few min
utes he crowds into a seat alongside
the other ordinary and associate
members.
But when his gray head is seen in
the room all eyes are turned away
from the chairman and other officers
and the buzzing starts: There he is
That's Mr.. Butler" He has to be
pointed out, even to some of the ma
tional committee members.
In a moment he had slipped out and
gone back to his suite room on the
tourth moor of the Cleveland hotel
That room is the real headquarters
Just before 4 yesterday afternoon
for example, there was taking place
the liveliest session of the week in
the national committee headquarters.
Twenty or thirty Washington cor
respondents were observing it with
tolerant Indifference. Gradually thew
began taking out their watches. 1t
was ten minutes of four-and the ex-
the audience was walking out and
leaving the national committee to its
own Importance.
Where are they going?" some one
asks.
"Oh. Billy Butler is going to see the
press at O'clock" explains a sergeant
alarms, as respectfully as he can.
There is no concealing the fact that
the old guard is smarting under the
situation, which has placed in the
drivers seat a man new to the wheel
He hasn't hardly had his license more
than few weeks. Only sudden
turn Of fate has placed him there.
True, he is going to be chairman
Of the committee, but not until after
the convention is held. And present
officers know that they are on the
way out-they sit in their seats with
the look on their faces Of men who
are on the toboggan. There isn't
The king is dying-lets go see the
prince.
Down town Cleveland today took
on a gala appearance. Flags and
bunting have been draped on build
inEs and poles. A kind Of court of
honor with white pillars. upon each
OF which rests a white American
eagle, extends from Superior avenue,
on which is located the Republican
national committee headquarters to
the public hall, where the convention
is to be held.
An old man with flowing white
hair, Charles A. Small. an actor. with
the Edwin Booth Company when
Abraham Lincoln was assassinated,
now in Cleveland. frankly admits
that he Is at loss for whom to cast
vote this year He cast his first
Cleveland and spends his winters in
FLORIDA For years he has gone to
the Republican conventions in diff
ferent cities. he says. because he
likes to be on hand to see great men
going through the doors, though he
never goes in himself Perhaps some
one will be kind enough to furnish
him with a ticket to this convention.
At least a score of proposals for
planks in the platform will be SUBJ
committee on policies and platform
of the national committee This
subcommittee will meet Monday. it
self. to consider these proposals.
They, include .planks. dealing with
merchant marine, oil conservation,
closer trade association with Latin
America, the Dyer anti-lynching bill.
prohibition enforcement equal rights
for women, recognition of the Irish
Republic, abolition of the convict
labor system, more rigid activity in
the enforcement of the anti-narcotic
laws, the world court the soldiers
bonus and Filipino freedom
The Districts proposed national
representative plank for the Re-
publican platform is to be laid before
the subcommittee of the national Re
publican committee on policies and
platform at meeting to be held
Monday by Edward F. Cofladay, the
national committeeman from the Dis
trict.