Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-06-26
Convention Notes

BY STAFF Correspondent OF The star
HOUSTON, June 26.-There was a
coalition Of pandemonium and bedlam
let loose in veritable human food on
the convention city last night when
more than 90 special trains. each bear
ing perspiring but freshly vociferous
delegation, disgorged on Houston. The
Jimmie" Walker special. arriving early
IN the afternoon. followed a couple of
hours later by two Tan1many specials,
and about dinner time by the de luxe
special of w. r Kenney, who has
thrown his decidedly substantial bank
account open to Al Smith to write his
own check, and without any strings
attached. which puts the kings own"
garrison here In full force.
For the last 10 hours the Rice Hotel
and sidewalks In the neighborhood have
been densely packed. but a few thou
sand more were jimnied In last night.
and the circumference of the conges-
ton was pushed back several squares
farther from the center of pre-conven-
ton activities. Today the flag Is down
and 1t is a general free-for-all or battle
royal to get anywhere you want to 90.
They are now forming lines to the pie
counter at one end of the Al Smith
headquarters and bread line on the
other The explanation of this is that
the hotels pastry and bakery depart
ment has had to be expanded on the
n1ezzarline floor directly across the cor
rider from the series of private dining
rooms where AL Smiths headquarters
have been established.
George of Georgia" will get 100 votes
on the first ballot, according to Repre-
sentative Bell of Georgia. who Is In
Joining the Reed feadquarters
Internecine conflict warfare broke
loose in the Alabama stronghold today.
The State delegation, supposed to be
alright and water-tight TO the last
parcf1ed gasp, was holding a caucus
that ran a. smoothly as the Hoover
machine in Kansas City until 1t
reached appointment OF a member TO
serve on the committee TO notify the
candidate for President. No one sought
the job and the chairman asked:
What's the matter, doesn't any one
want that nice trip" Some one spoke
UP, saying: There's an alternate here
for Al Smith. perhaps he'd like to
serve" whereupon the meeting was in
Juror to think they had traitor" in
camp
F. T. Raiford. editor of the Selma
Times. allowed that he was for Smith
all down the line" and would be de-
lighted to be selected on the committee
TO notify him that he was the choice
of his party Newspaper men were
promptly "shoed" out and the delega-
ton went into executive session. Also
the alternates were sent from the con-
ference. The delegates were In executive
session for more than an hour.
When they emerged It was announced
that william j. Foster of Tuscaloosa
had been placed on the notification
committee. He is an "anti-Smitfl man. /"
Thus they made gesture that they
still thought there was chance that
some one else might be able TO stop
Smith The Alabama delegation eau
cused twice yesterday, and again this
morning In an effort TO go under the
unit rule The State committee has d.
rected that it should not be undeF
the unit rule As a matter Of fact: there
Is one delegate from Alabama VINO IN
tends 10 vote for Smith.
Amos Carter OF Fort Worth. editor
Of a country newspaper. who has
number of friends In the newspaper
profession in Washington, because ne
sends them annually choice watermel-
ons and turkeys, Is carrying the largest
and most ornate gun" In the con-
vention crowd. It's his sherin's gun
with ivory handle and sileyered barrel
and studded with precious stones.
Not 10 be outdone by the camera
men shooting their fash powders.
Sheriff Carter set his gun 70 barking
IN the lobby OF the Rice Hotel for the
delectation 81 the closely packed throne,
many Of wi7fsm did not appreciate his
sense Of humor
In this dry climate. where prohibition
planks are becoming the daily fodder
cast In the voraciois n1aws Of news
hungry correspondents. IL has been
most refreshing 10 f1nd water
wagon" IN Al Smiths headquarters,
Because even q big ice~water tank Is
emptied In a few minutes. II II kept
on a table with wheels so that IL can
be easily run out and refilled.
Another innovation Is TO be estAb-
| lished by the Houston convention For
| the first time in the history OF any
| great political party the program has
| been changed To suit the convenience
! and wishes of the millions who ait at
home listening In by radio.