Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-06-24
CONVENTION IS HEAVENS SENT
CHANCE FOR TEXAS BOOSTERS
Friendship Between Houston and Gal
weston Ceases When Conversation
Turns to Civic Projects

BY staf Correspondent of The Star.
GALVESTON. June 23.-One not
Versed In the language of the wild waves
might have reason to pause and Won
ger what the wild waves are saying
THESE days as they come rolling in from
the Gulf OF Mexico to dash themselves
harmleSSly against the Seawall or to
swish aimleSSly up the beach--dcpend-
ing on the tides. But one who has
studied closely the language of the wild
waves has no great difficulty in In
terpreting their perpetual grumble. They
are merely saying that 1t is going to be
so hot in Houston next week, when the
Democratic national convention meets,
that something ought to be done. And
the only thing that can be done, ac-
cording to the waves, is to nominate Al
Smith as quickly and as coolly as pos
sible, and get on northbound trains.
That is what would be done If 1t were
left to the hundreds of newspaper men
who have come here to Galveston to
seek short respite from the arduous task
of watching politicians in action. That is
what would be done if it were left to
hundreds of the Democrats who are ON
their way here with handkerchiefs stuck
between their collars and their red
AACNASs DuI tAAab II IiNl MIldI AOutu UG
done If it were left TO the residents of
the fine cities of Houston and Calves
ton. The citizens would like the Demo-
cratic convention TO remain in session
all Summer. and down here in Calves
ton they would like to have the Ses-
Sions extend up TO and including Christ
mas. in order that stories could be sent
back up North about what an excellent
wintering place this garden spot of the
world really is.
Convention Is Opportunity.
For. in a country where the business
OF boosting has been developed as one
OF the fine arts, the Democratic national
convention is regarded as Heaven-sent
opportunity to boost in really magnifi-
cent style. As the editorial writer on
one OF the Houston dailies put it yes
terday: Next week the name of HouS-
ton, Tex. U. S. A., will be heard in
every corner of the world" They are
looking forward to next week, these
Texans, like the children watch for
Santa Claus. They are making hay
while the sun shines, and 1t shines down
here with amazing persistence.
There are several things that one
learns not to mention, here in Texas.
The first is, when discussing the large
portion OF the map occupied by the
State OF Texas, not to suggest, even
playfnlly, that it might be a good thing
TO divide Texas up into about three
good-sised States. This suggestion Is
usually made. in spirit of fun, by the
Yankees who are talking to the TEXANS
about how far it is down here from one
point to another. 1t is always received,
by the Texans, with cold shrug of the
shoulders and a pointed remark which
has the effect of steering the converse
ton into other lanes.
Another thing that one must not men
ton in Galveston is thae 50-mile ship
channel that runs from the Gulf up to
Houston and which has made Houston
what 1t is today. This channel is re-
garded by the Gaivestonians in much
the same light that the cotton farmers
around here look upon the boil weevil.
They don't want TO talk about it. They
admit that there is a ship channel, and
that 1t has taken much business away
from Galveston and resulted in making
Houston seaport town handling more
oceanbound trafhc. in point of volume
than Galveston. But they admit these
things only when pressed. Otherwise
they would dismiss the subject With an
airy wave Of the hand and remark that
desptte this alleged shin channel. Gal
weston remains the leading cotton port
Of the world. including the Scandi-
navian.
Weather Topic Dodged.
And up in Houston the subject upon
which the less said the better is the
weather.
This correspondent sought the gen.
ueman IN Houston who Is dispensing all
information regarding the coming ar
engagements for the convention. He was
determined to get at the root of this
weather business and perspiringly and
point-blank came out with the ures-
ton. How about the weather?n
The 1nformation-p urveyor LAUGHED
casually. "Oh. the weather. Wen. IN
tell you about the weather now. I made
a study OF 1t. I got the Weather Blu
reau records on it. Listen here: The
mean temperature of the city during
the last week IN June and the first week
In July was 81 degrees over a 45-year
period, and
Wait" ordered the correspondent
i am familiar with that mean ten1Dera-
ture business the Weather Bureau hands
out We use it in Washington. But
WHAT'S that to do with how hot tsp"
the information purveyor knew that
ne was dealing with no amateur where
weather Is concerned, so he drew his
chair up conhdentially and lowered his
voice
Well he said. III tell you the
truth. The trouble down here is the
humidity. We have lots of humidity"
Then" said the correspondent. "its
not the heat you mind-it's the humid
ity. Is that SOP"
Breeze Undiscovered.
The Information purveyor admitted
1t, SO that disposes OF the weather. 1t
Is going to be hot. There Is q lot of
cheerful talk about the constant breeze
that blows in from the obliging Gulf
OF Mexico. But this correspondent has
Decentralization, .