Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1952-07-19
TRAIGHT
AHEAD"

Chicago, (GlobaD - This spraw-
ing metropolis beside shimmering
Lake Michigan, with its shabby and
unslghtly flat buildings Of. the near
Southside and its magnificent man.
slons along the Gold Coast, offers
the same kind of contrast in the
personalities of its kindly people.
But the town was in full bloom for
the Republican National Conven-
ton over the past week. 1t was
wearing its best bib and tucker.
The ramshackle houses were
scrubbed clean and the vast lawns
of the big estates were trimmed
fine for the gay parties that
delighted the delegates and business
friends here for the big doings.
Chlcagoans, both above and be-
low the line are much more unso-
phlstlcated that the folk along
the Eastern Seaboard. But they
are more loVable. They get a genu-
Inc thrill out of doing something
nice for their out-of-town guests.
This doesn't apply to politics, nee
essarily. And there were some visi-
tors here who were backing Gen
eral Eisenhower who received
mighty rough treatment from the
local boys, most of whom were for
Taft from the start.
Among the estimated 10000
visitors who occupied about 1000
hotel rooms, were many Negroes,
some delegates, some alternates,
and many, just as there were many
whites, who just came along to
rub elbows with the crowd.
The tremendous out-pouring Of
visitors was something of a denial
Of the argument that people will
stay away from a show if they
can possibly see it on television or
hear it on radio. The networks per
formed miracles to provide radio
and television coverage Of the Con-
Vention, yet tickets could not be
had for love or money. It proved,
in way, that if you produce the
attraction, the people viii want to
see "the real thing" The Con
vention was a big show. After q
fashion it eclipsed anything John
Ringing North ever put or in three
rings under the Big Top.
Trying to cover a national con-
vention is just about like trying to
dam the water in a sieve by plug
ging a single hole. Each of the
AZ states has a headquarters. The
territories, possessions and the Dis
trict of Columbia have headquart-
ers. Then, each candidate has his
headquarters, as do numerous other
committees and lobby groups.
With such a bitter fight as mark
ed the early days of the Conven-
ton and the fierce fight for dele
gates, there was a potential "big
story" in any of these places. The
major newspapers and wire SER
vices simply sent enough people
here to cover. The basement of the
Conrad Hilton Hotel, locale of Con-
vention Headquarters of the Nat
iOnal Committee and of the major
candidate, was converted into a
communications center. from which
millions of words were filed daily
by literally hundreds of reporters.
Trying to get through the lobby
of the Conrad Hilton Hotel was
like trying to work your way
through the Midway when the
Hoochee Koochee girls were MAX
ing pitch. The Hotel is a big four
section building with 5000 rooms
and 5000 baths. All its other ap-
polntments are prOpOrtiOnately
large, yet there was just too much
traffic for the space and facilities.
One reporter interviewed Senator
Duff over a can of garbage near
a service elevator. Hundreds of
delegates used the service eleva-
tor when they discovered they
could get faster service. A few of
the harder ones tried the steps,
but this was too rigorous.
In spite Of all the excitement
downtown, the residents of the
South Side, sometimes known as
the BLACK Belt" appeared uncon-
cerned. Except for the professional
politicians, the Negro sections
seemed to tally oblivious to what
was happening, The voters out
there just did not seem to care.
AS a matter of fact, most of them
would exclaim, "What Conven-
tion?" when the subject was
brought up.
1t would be interesting to note,
however, that Negroes were here
in large numbers and participated
actively in the selection of the
candidate. They have right to
expect him to serve their best in
terest in event he should become
President of the United States.