Evening star., 1932-06-25
R|TCH|E RECEPTION
OUTSH|NES OTHERS
Maryland Governor Given
ThunderouS Ovation Upon
Arrival in Chicago.
BY KIRKE SIMPSON,
Associated Press Stafi Writer.

CHICAGO, June 25.-There may be
argument aplenty over the pros and
cons Of the two-third rule, but there is
none at all over those other traditional
convention habiliments-bands, banners
and ballyhoo.
They are here to stay until the mighty
throated stadium organ opens up with
Aud Lang Syne" and the convention
ends some time next week-maybe.
Candidate row at the Congress Hotel
where the Roosevelt, Ritchie. Smith,
Garner. Reed, Byrd, Traylor and Murray
signs jostle for every inch of wall and
even ceiling space, was recovering to-
day from the first real splurge of Ritchie
cohorts and their Chicago friends yes
terday and last night. 1t was lust
foretaste of what nomination uay is
going to be like, but it was noisy one.
Mayor Walker Welcomed.
Ard meanwhile another large and
noisy local group turned out to welcome
Mayor Jimmie Walker with more music
and cheers. Altogether the Chicago
citizenry discovered that a convention
was in town and seemed to enjoy it.
The Ritchie greeting was a thunder
Gus affair Once the distinguished
Marylander had been escorted to the
famous Florentine room. lined with his
pictures. a leather -lunged Degionnaire
band, that functioned so brasSily at the
stadium during the Republican con-
vention. came right along, half filling
the big room. When it tore loose
triple forte, with Maryland, My Mary
land as the Governor marched in to
stand at attention under the massed
National and State colors, the walls Of
the old room fairly bulged with the
blast OF it.
Like all good Legion bands, this one
turned next to The Star Spangled
Banner" which may or may not have
been sung by the general crowd with its
score or two of Win With Ritchie"
placards. 1t was a rousing patriotic
touch, topped off with a neat four
rufles and f1ourishes by bugles and
drums, the Army salute to the Presi-
Then that good old Navy foot ball
song, Anchors Aweigh," to give a
homelike setting for the man who has
lived so long IN the Governors mansion
at Annapolis, and Ritchie was allowed
to rest up.
Demonstration Turns Classical.
The night phase of the Ritchie pro-
ceedingS was very different. 1t had
cultural quality with the ringing notes
of soprano and contralto soloists vying
with the hum of conversation in the
general lobby of candidate row outside.
A bevy of girls pressed Ritchie buttons
on everybody, including Roosevelt lead
ers. who stepped across the hall now
and then to see what was going on.
Gov Richie himself spent much of
the evening out in the air on the side
walk of Michigan boulevard gossiping
with friends and unrecogniZed by
Crcwding passers-by.
The Maryland delegates yesterday
took part in the cheering for Gov.
Rttchie on his arrival and in the parade
that followed
The chief bit of business before the
delegation today was the holding of the
caucus. 1t was scheduled to be eXecu-
tive, but there apparently was little lor
the delegation to do.
Ritchie already has been named dele
cation chairman, Mayor Howard w.
Jackson OF Baltimore, vice chairman;
Mrs. Elizabeth R. Menefee of Cumber-
land is national committeewoman, and
Howard Bruce of Elkridge is national
committeeman. e. Brooke Lee of Silver
Spring is on the Resolutions Committee
Representatives must be named on
the Credentials and Rules Committees
After the caucus, delegates probably
will spend much of their time working
for Ritchie's candidacy for President.
alfalfa Bill" Shakes Hands.
Meanwhile Gov. Alfalfa Bill" Muir
ray held forth in handshaking bee at
his far humber headquarters down the
hall When the jamming sightseers in
the corridor found he was there and
keeping open house they thronged in.
Where Mayor Walker went after the
greeting he got at the station nobody
seemed to know. He was not identified
by the corridor crowds, although every
dapper. slim, smartly dressed young
chap who came along was scanned
closely. Yet the band that met the
mayor with Hes a jolly Good Fell
low" Hail, Hail, the Gangs All Here"
and, of course, THE Sidewalks Of New
York" gave Chicago the first taste it
had of these tunes that will figure so
largely out in the convention hall do
ings next week
And having got a good start yester-
day and last night. the convention
crowd was up and at it again early to-
day showing slowly along candidate
row and up and down the narrow stairs,
greeting, arguing, perspiring and gen.
orally enjoying itself as convention
crowds always do The picture never
change much, although the human fig
ures around which it Is drawn come
and go with the years.