Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1928-01-27
Convention Procedure
F. J Haskin in Washington Star.

NhN"ss SANANhANRN NAAAhlAe attA aN1e+aA"
blaees Of otatotical talent. music. decora-
tion and enthusiasm.
A national convention is a problem in
seating, lighting, advertising, photography.
journalism, acoustics, housing transpOrta-
ton, finance and many other arts and
sciences, as well as a great political func
ton helping to determine the destiny Of
the Nation. Il is one of America greatest
shows. As many people attend as can be
got into the largest available auditorium.
and there have been serious suggestions
for holding them in outdoor stadia, so that
more could be present to view the perform
ance. Most Of the rest Of the Nation at
tend by radio.
The seating question is a very serious
one. Few auditofiums seat more than TO-
600 people, and there are sure TO be l00,-
600 who would like to attend the conven-
ton. The delegates require about 1000
seats, and the alternates an equal number
u.l00 in the Democratic cOnventionl. and
each delegate and alternate expects one
or two seats for friends The press requires
some $50 places for active correspondents.
and an indefinitely larger number Of edi-
tors. owners, managers and special writers.
including newspaper and magazines and
feature services
The convention city has paid eood fat
sum into the party treasury to secure the
convention, and il must have a healthy
block Of seats TO give to the leading citi-
zens who subscribed the fund. Usually
each $50 subscription to the convention
fund brings ticketto the donor. and prob
ably half Of the gallery space is assigned
in that way.
Then each member of the national COM
miItee Of the party claims block Of seats
for his party leaders. All Senators. Rep
resentatives. governors and myriads Of
lesser Office holders claim the right to seats
for themselves or their families or friends
or all three. All substantial contributors
to the last campaign fund expect to be
taken care Of, The list Of applicants grows
and grows, and the ticket committee, a
subcommittee of the national committee,
finds its troubles growing every hour as
convention time draws near, The unlucky
gentlemen are constantly ssSsiled with the
threat that unless they make 10000 seats
hold 100000 applicants, the party is sure
to lose whole States in the election because
important people will be offended.
The ticket committee has bat one salts.
faction. Ii knows that after the first day
or two Of the convention there will be
many vacant seats. because the same peo-
pie will not come TO all sessions Hence
it sayly proceeds to issue a lot Of eenefal
admission tickets. leaving it for the ushsrs
to strsishten the matter out when the
people arrive.
The appointment Of officials to manage
a convention is almost as troublesome as
the tickets, A whole army Of ushers, ser.
Seant-at-armS and door tenders are needed
and political pressure is brought to bear
to secure every one Of the positions. Clsrk-
ships for committees are equally in de-
mand. Usually many more Of these posi-
tons are 6lled than there is actual need
Of, since most Of the convention helpers
either work FOX nothins o. for a nominal
vase. and every appointment is presumed
to make friends and votes fOS the party
The radiO, hshtihs. telegraph. photo
grspse and scoUStic ARRANGEMENTS are huSi-
ness msiters With less politics mixed into
them Immense lights must be installed
80 that sin and HOlioa pictures may be
made inside the hSn, Reating the lights
and psying the expert Opesstors is heavy
expense. At the last Democratic conven-
ue0. which lasted three weeks. the eom-
nittee ran cut Of funds and had to shandon
the Spolhshts the last fe~ days
The rsdio plans always aim st a fair.
unbiased broadcast. but Slens,S often
eompssin Il the annoOneers say too much
about one O. smother candidate. Photo.
eEapAie psiVilsseS are al premium.
especially the right TO take the ofhcial
picture q the opening Of the convention.
National committees uSoaliy refuse the
cash offers FOX the pxivilese. and have one
picture made Of ~hheh prints are supplied
to al photographs companies alike.
The food and drink concessions are oftea
sod BY the nstionSl committee. soft driaks
being q his item Of revenue because con-
ventionS are held in June and usually are
vsEy warm sffSirS.
The program Of a nstioaSl convention
fellows time honored custom. ami while il
involves great waste Of time. il is hard
70 heal up cid ~Sys. ami there is also a
feeling that the convention city. HAVING
paid upward Of = hundred thcuSsn nj dollars
70 set the cFo~d. IS entitled 10 a week a,
least in which TO recover its uaoney. OF
course. desdlNck oonventioa. LIKE the last
TIVE Democratic gatherings. lasts mors than
9 week anyhow. but 8 Convention lac the
last Republican gathering ct Cleveland.
WITH very little unsettled in advance ex-
ospl the candidate fOs vice president. could
probably have hnished its SorA in t~o
days IL necessary.
4 certain amount Of ogstory. AMI time
for many Gatherings Of psrSy headers out
SIDE tho eOaVentioa hsh planning fot
campaign ~OSk. and renewing cd friead-
ships. are really part Of the eoavsatioa.
Thus the first DAY Usually has little On the
pcosvsm except the speech Of the tempo
rsFy chairman. Shich IS the keynose speech
Of the conVehtion- The ceovsntioa Is in
session only tee oC three hourS a dSy.
rhe Seoaod dAy takes care q routine oa.,-
niittee reportS O. the rulsS aat procedure
and pernaneat ocgsnirstioa q the ooa-
Nsntio,. aad the PernsReat chzraaa
rnskss IS speech. vhSeA is anoSher sen
era rsLyins csy &c the party. sat IS Sd
dressed Aesaany &c the es9ssry a. lsrss-
he thir3 cav nay Sns sorne rsal &C.
hate oNrr the Pa-C plssfocu- Sas nav
AIS sn6 tirss scr ao-i-stizs sa-eeA-s q