Evening star., 1936-06-23
SLEEP BAN|SHED
BY NOISY CROWDS
PhiladeIphia's Police Wink
at Not.Too-Big Law
Violations.
etaff Corresnondent Of The Star.

Stan Correspondent of The Star.
PHILADELPHIA, June 23.-The
Republicans may have streamlined
the elephant in Cleveland, but to the
Democrats must go the credit for
taking the sleep out of the so-cailed
sleepy city" of Philadelphia.
Suddenly the quiet Quaker City has
come to life. Thousands Of restless
visitors-delegate to the great quad
rennial political drama of the Demo-
cratic party and those who came
here for one reason or another from
all over the United States and its pos
sessions-have done for Phlladelphla
what a couple of highballs would 40
for most anybody
Down in the heart of the business
section, where the hotels are Jammeo
to the linen rooms, you couldn't sleep
II you tried. Night or day doesn't
much matter The streets are crowd
ed at all hours. You can get into a
restaurant If you are wise enough to
pick one on a side street. And the
bars-yes, they have them here, the
old d-fashioned, pre-prohibition type,
where you can put foot on a brass
rail, pour your own drink and pay
tribute to the Democratic party's gift
to the thirsty-were not made to &C
commodate convention crowds.
long arm is an asset in most any OF
these places.
Crowds Watch for Celebrities.
The convention life of Philadelphia
however, revolves around the Belle
vue-Stratford Hotel, the National
Democratic Committees headuarters'
On the outside curious spectators
stand for hours to catch fleetmg
glimpse of some political celebrity as
he dashes to and from an official car
On the inside the main lobby Is I'M
passable most of the time. The space
the delegates don't take up the news
paper men do. And the pretty Phlla-
delphia subdebs in quaint Quaker
frocks. who are serving as hostesses
have to seek protection from the crush
behind the official information booth
Just above the main lobby on the
second floor, clerks rush around fe-
yerishly checking up on the creden-
tials of delegates who arrived at the
last minute. In another room on the
same floor, which bears the labe
green ROOM" Texans dressed as cow
punchers walk around looking at pic
lures of Vice President Garner. It's
the Vice Presidents official room ano
adjoining it on one side is the gold
room" occupied by Charlie Michael
son. publicity impresario of the Ma
tional Democratic Committee, and his
staff
Radio Strategists Meet.
And all throughout the hotel are
special rooms. The three big broad
casting systems-National, Columbia
and Mutual-have large suites where
their respective boards Of strategy
meet to make last-minute prepara-
tions for convention broadcasts.
These three suites constitute the nerve
center of network convention pro-
grams.
Several floors below the radio
rooms. the big press associations and
telegraph companies have established
headquarters, where millions of words
of convention news are written and
flashed throughout the country.
In fact, there are few suites in the
hotel that are used for their original
purpose. State delegations have head
quarters in some. Others are used for
social purposes.
And, incidentally, social activities
are playing big part in the conven-
ton program, since the platform itself
as well as the nominations of Presi-
dent and Vice President are expected
to be "cut and dried" Postmaster
General Farley, who directs the des-
TIMES Of the Democratic National
Committee, has seen to 1t that con-
vention life Is made interesting.
Most Fun Outside.
On the entertainment side, the pro-
gram provides for merry whirl OF
parties, concerts, parades and every
thing else that would Offset any dull
ness on the convention floor. Even
the Philadelphia police have Joined
in the spirit of making life more happy
for the delegates. Law violations, if
they are comparatively minor in char
acter, are winked at.
A delegate, it seems, can get inebri-
ated to the hell with the world" state
and escape arrest if his friends can be
located to carry him to his hotel. If
his friends can't be found, there's a
special Magistrates Court in session
"A hours a day to dispose of the case
without any inconvenience or delay to
the delegate. And the sentences are
mild. Philadelphia is anxious to live
up to its reputation as the City of
Brotherly Love,