Evening star., 1928-06-10
c. 0. P. BIG SHOW"
BALLYHOO BEGINS
Main Activities at Kansas
City So Arranged That Side
Shows Are Nearby.
BY BEN McKELWAY.
Stan Correspondent of The Star.


KANSAS CITY. June 9.-The big
ballyhoo is on while Kansas City must
wait two more full days for the grand
opening under the big top The side
shows are already in full blast. The
hawkers are hawking. The bands are
playing. The crowds are surging
around the wild man from Borneo, the
sword swallower. the bearded lady. the
strong man and other attractions which
are offered. under other names. at
national convention.
There is one big difficulty. 1t is the
same that bewilders the one-eyed Or
phan at the thrce-ring circus. One
cannot see everything at once and
everything is going on at the same time
Consequently, some of the sights must
be passed up in order to get a general
view OF the whole layout. One must
keep moving steadily and not become
too entranced over the feats of the
strong man for fear Of missing the
sword swallower.
Fortunately for the delegates, the
newspapermen and the innocent by
ISLANDERS. Kansas City is so arranged
that all OF the main activities can be
covered In a few minutes walk. The
entrance 10 the show grounds Is the
Union Station. Much goes on there.
But in five-minute taxi ride one
reaches the MueheIbach Hotel and It's
spacious lobby is the real center Of
things. From 1t, in few steps, one
may enter the side shows In other ho-
tells which go under the designations
Of Hoover headquarters" 'LoWden
headquarters "Oon headquarters, {"
farm 1eadquarterS-equa for agri-
culture" and other headquarters. And
at the corner Of Twelfth street and
Baltimore avenue, where the Muehle-
bach Is located, one Is in the midst OF
throng that surges In and out Of
the side shows or stands gaping at the
curb 10 watch band pass by. leading
70 their quarters the esteemed MEM
ners Of some State delegation just ar
rived.
Delegations Arrive.
The arrival Of the delegations began
this morning and will continue until
some time Monday night. But there
is all the difference in the world In
the manner Of their arrival. Some OF
them are met at the station by scores
of giad-handers and brass band.
Others detrain. find their way 10 the
waiting room alone and pass by band
that is eIoquentIy silent. There was
marked contrast for instance, between
the arrival Of the West Virginia dele
CATION this morning, or part Of 1t. and
the California delegation. The West
Virginia voters came In unann0unccd,
and while Eenator Gon stopped few
minutes 10 give an interview, there
was no greeting blast from trumpets.
But when the California delegation
arrived two bands had been waiting
for an hour, for the California train
was late, One was Il cowboy band
mounted on delected-looking ponies
+, Another gas a uniformed band nnagsed
/ inside the big station conc0urse. There
! had been hagty and heated pfepara.
| tions. Pirst the band was stationed In
! one place, then IL Wsg showed around
! and put In another position, for there
Was some uncertainty about which
! track the train would choose 10 come
I in On Many Of the Florida delegates
! and some from Texas, took part In pre-.
/ pairing the triumphaI entry
Ladies with Hoover" buttons and
| Hoover" hatbands went busily through
| Continued on PAGE 4 Column a.