Evening star., 1928-01-15

| The national conventions OF tbs
political parties. which are now being
planned by the national committee:
| and their subcommittee. are not only
vital functions in the life OF the Ma
! ton and its Government. but they arr
great spectacles, magnificent shows
| stupendous exhibits and aSsemhlages oi
| oratorical talent music. decoration anc
enthusiasm The staging OF these con-
ventions is as complicated matter as
! promoting a world championship priz:
| fight. and. indeed, the Democrats hac
material aid in arranging their 1924
convention at Madison Square Garden
| from Mr. Tex Rickard. the fight pro-
moter. Some unkind observers re-
| ferred to it as the greatest battle Ten
ever staged.
| A national convention is a problem
| In seating. lighting. advertising. pho
! Biography, journalism. acoustics. hous-
| ing. transportation. finance. and many
| other arts and sciences. as well as a
great political function helping to de-
| termine the destiny OF the Nation. II
+. is one OF Americas greatest shows. As
| many people attend as can be got into
| the largest available auditorium. and
| there have been serious suggestions FOL
| holding them in outdoor stadia. so that
| more could be present TO view the per-
formance Most of the rest OF the Ma
| ton attends by radio.
The seating question Is very serious
one Few auditoriums seat more than
| 10. 900 people, and there are sure TO be
| 100, 900 who would like to attend the
convention The delegates require about
| 1000 seats. and the alternaies an equal
number ul00 in the Democratic
conventions. and each delegate and al
ternate expects one or two seats iot
| friends. The press requires some
$50 places for active correspondents,
and an indefinitely larger number o!
| editors. owners. managers and special
| writer's. including newspaper and naasa-
| zines and feature services.
The convention city has paid good
| fat sum into the party treasury TO Sc
cure the convention. and 1t must have
| a healthy block of seats TO give TO the
| leading citizens who subscribed the
/ fund. Usually each $50 subscription
| 10 the convention fund brings ticket
to the donor. and probably half OF ths
gallery space Is assigned in that way.
Then each member OF the national
F., committee OF the party claims a block
OF seats for his party leaders. All Sen.
ators Representatives. governors and
myr,ads OF lesser ONCE holders claim
| the right 10 seats for themselves oI
| their families or friends or all three
| All substantial contributors TO the iasl
campaign fund expect TO be taken cart
| of. The list of applicants grows ane
| grows. and the ticket committee. n SUD
| committee of the national committee
finds It's troubles growing every hour al
convention time draws near. The nn'
lucky gentlemen are constantly assaiiet
with the threat that unless they make
| 10 600 seats hold 100 600 applicants. the
party is sure 10 lose whole States In the
election because important people viii
be offended.
| The ticket committee has but on'
Satisfaction. II knows that after tn
first day or two Of the convention there
will b. many vacant seats, because TN
| same people will not come 70 all ses
stons Hence IL gayiy proceeds TO ISSUE
n lot OF general admission tickets. leav
inr 10 for the ushers to straighten th'
matter out when the people arrive.
Jobs In Demand.
The appointment OF officials to man
age a convention Is almost as trouble
some as the tickets. A whole army o
ushers sergcants~at-arms and doc
tenders are needed. and political pres
sure lis brought TO bear 10 secure ever!
one OF these pn6itions. Clefkships TO
committees are equally In demand
Usually many more of these positions
are fllled than there is actual need of
since most Of the convention helper
either work for nothing or for IA nom
inai wage. and every appointment Il
presumed TO make friends and votes To
the party,
The radio. lighting. telegraph. pho
tOgfaphiC and acoustic arrangement
are BUSINESS matters with less polite
mixed into them, Immense lights mus
br installed 50 that still and motor
pictures may be- made inside the hall
Renting the lights and paying the ex
pert operators IN "A heavy expense, A
The last Democratic convention. whiei
lasted three weeks, the committee raj
out OF funds and had to abandon tn
spotiighta the last few days.
The radio plans always aim at a fair
unbiased broadcast, but listeners Otter
complain II the announcers say to-
much about one OF another candidate
Photographic privileges are at
premium, especially the right to tax
the offlClai picture of the opening q
the convention. National committee
,iAlially refuse the caah offers Tor IN
privilege, aud have one picture mad
af which prints are supplied 10 all Pho
tographic companies alike,
The food and drink concessions ar
often sold by the national committee
soft drinks being ID big item of fesenll
because conventions are held In Jun
and usually ara very warm affairs.
The program af \ national eonven
lion foilnWs Time eh0nor1d custom. am
while 1t involves u great waste OF time
Vt IL hard Ia hseak up old ways, AM
there lii also feeling that the conven