Evening star., 1948-07-04

LQ6 IGplDllCdll NdLiOlld1 SOllNC1lGio
January 20, may take over the reins
consider I was a very fortunat.
to watch the whole dramatic setting
from the galleries, but from the foo
to the last resolution, the minutes.
were packed with intensity, and it
was sonethinG I will never forget.
1t is ever pow, but I can still see
the tremer, 4ous crowds milling
around the bellevue -Stratford Ho-
tel ani tn convention Hal-ever
50 often the unique demonstrations
for a candidate-Herbert Hoover
with tears in his eyes during the
tremendous ovation for him - theI
Scottish pipers leading the follow
ers of Stassen-the big balloons
floating up to the high ceiling Of
the Convention Hall, bearing
streamers: Win With Taft'-the
Stassen dirigibla which went ovef
the Bellevue -2tratford Sunday
night. flashing: 1--WE Want Stassen"'''
and the sad looks on the faces OIL
the supporters of the defeated candi-
dates after Dewey's nomination.
My father has been active in pol
itics as long as can remember, ana
he has always encouraged my inter-
est in political affairs, but 1940
marked the first time I was actually
able to appreciate and gauge the
Importance of these political gath
erings. He had been appointed as
sistant secretary of the convention
with duties of reading clerk, but
was kept in darkness as to whether
I would attend until the last mo-
ment. Saturday evening, June 10, I
went into the Senate to watch the
closing hours of the session which
lasted until the wee hours OF the
morning. Joining my father, who
is an aide there, we left at $3.50 am.
and after three hours of sleep, lett
by car for Philadelphia.
Averaged 5 to 6 Hours Sleep.
An interesting feature Of the
eventful week thus started was the
fact that I averaged not more than
five to six hours of sleep night.
We reached the Bellevue-Strat-
ford, headquarters of the Republi-
can National Committee, and cam
paign headquarters for Thomas
Dewey and Harold Stassen, at
pm. Sunday. Now began the real
fun. The entire city was one big
stage for the show and the whole
world its audience. Flag bedecked
buildings, COP banners, welcome
signs, campaign posters and but
tons, and tremendous crowds all
fitted into the convention at
mosphere. It seemed as though one
could stand for five minutes in the
damned lobby of the Bellevue
Stratford and watch the world go
by. The great and the near great
all seemed to be congregated there.
Monday morning I received
commission as page and served IN
this capacity on the convention
floor, first for the Alaska delega-
ton, and for the remaining sessions
for the Maryland delegation. I car
ried messages for delegates, deliv-
cred mail and generally did all
could to make myself useful.
Impressed by Speeches.
During the sessions was greatly
impressed by the speeches and I
can readily understand the reason
Speaker of the House Joe Martin
has been selected three times as
permanent chairman. He Is a great
and fair leader and is equal to any
emergency. During one session
fire broke out just in front OF the
rostrum. One Of the delegates made
a heroic and hasty putout of the
fire-while the convention con-
tinued as usual. Great credit is due
also to Mrs. st. George, Representa-
tive from New York, who continued
her speech after member Of the
press had collapsed on the platform
a few feet behind her. Many from
the press section climbed to the
platform, thinking it was Mr..
Hoover who had collapsed, as he
had just preceded her with his
speech.
Litter Covers Floor.
After Wednesdays all-night ses-
sion, the sight at 4:3o am. was fan
tastic. The convention hall was
shambles of balloons inflated and
debated, trash, newspapers, paper
cups, fans, confetti and hundreds
Of signs-"Win With Taft" Stand
With stassen,' dewey or Don't
We"
Wednesday night was certainly
exciting, but nothing to compare
with Thursdays balloting. Due to
the all-night session, Thursdays
morning" session began at pm.
Pages were not allowed in the dele
gates section of the hall at all, but
there was still the utmost confusion
during the balloting, especially
when some delegate demanded that
his delegation be polled, i. e.. an
individual vote taken. 1t was looking
bad for every one except Gov. Dewey
when the motion was made at 5
pm. to adjorn until 7:30 pm. Half
seemed to want the session to 60 on
and half didn't. A voice vote was
taken, but, of course. the galleries
voted. Finally, at the request Of
the New York delegation, the con-
vention recessed, and we went down
with about 1000 others to get some
thing to eat in the restaurant be-
low the convention floor.