Dyngus Day and logistics

by Don Wheeler

The West Side Democratic Club has to get poor marks for this years event. For starters, why in the world wasn't the event moved to a site which could accomodate a crowd size (easily anticipated) wishing to be involved?

I arrived around 9:30 and within about a half hour the line to the building reached two blocks in length. It wasn't all that long after that most of us figured out we wouldn't be getting in. Many decided to leave.

These were all people prepared to pay admission. But someone must have decided that their money was no good.

But assuming that was the plan, the situation was pretty lousy for those of us outside. It was cold. There were no toilet facilities, no opportunity to purchase hot beverages. The food eventually offered was stone cold. When speakers came out to talk to us, no microphone was available for them. As a matter of fact, some gent rolled out a microphone cable to a platform. But no one used that platform except spectators and camera people. The speakers used a platform closer to the building.

Poor Tim Roemer had to compete with amplified polka music. He lost badly.

The next time the Indiana Primary matters in the Presidential race - 40 years from now - maybe we'll be better prepared.

Still, I'll admit I had a good time.