Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-12-04
Declares Trip Has Made
Stronger His Devotion to
Independent U. S.
COMES DOWN GANGPLANK
PICTURE OF GOOD HEALTH
Program Includes Speeches at Nor
folk and Landing Places-Goes
to Bedford Tonight.
By The Associafed Press

hF Inc Associated Press.
NEWPORT NEWS. Va. December
4-Returning to American shores to-
day from his vacation voyage. Presi-
dent-elect Harding received a rousing
welcome from the Virginia tidewater
cities. and responded with a message
of renewed national confidence and
unity.
Final abandonment of sectionalism
ana rebirth of fearless nationalism
speeches on his program during the
DAY IN Newport News and Norfolk. He
declared that although his trip away
from home had furnished many pleas
ant experiences. it had served to make
stronger his devotion to independent
The steamer Pastores. on which the
President-elect and Mrs. Harding
made the return voyage from the
canal Zone, came into Hampton roads
soon after daylight and docked here
at 1880. Disembarking Immediately,
the party was taken for a ride through
the Newport News shipyards and the
cltyS downtown section before Mr..
Hardlng's first speech Of the day at
the Academy of Music. Crossing to
afternoon. he was to spend the re-
mainder Of the day there as the guest
Of the city.
Accorded Triumphial Ovation.
As she steamed up the roads the
Pastores was accorded triumphaI
ovation. A fotilla OF twenty-five
Army airplanes from Langley Field. ae-
companied by three naval dirigibles,
went out to form a guard of honor, ana
the ships along the path Of the Presi-
dent-elect were dressed in marine signal
flags spelling out welcome home
The presidential yacht Mayhower.
which brought Secretary Colby to the
roads on the first leg OF his journey
to South America. dipped her flag as the
Pastores passed and the battleship
Florida. waiting nearby to take the
Secretary aboard. manned her rail to
honor the President-elect. Big and
little harbor craft Joined in a thun-
dering chorus OF sirens and fog horns
Tanned by exposure to the tropical
sun and the salt air. Mr.. Harding
came down the ganGplank q picture.
OF perfect health and happiness, and
Mrs. Harding, who had been i'll much.
OF the time slnee they left New Or
excellent health. They greeted smiles
tntly the crowd that waited for them
at the pier. and during their ride
through the city they were kept busy
waving Acknowledgements to cheering
crowds.
Snah8eS 10 hl8h TOpA
A familiar vicissitude of travel de-
layed the start of the motor ride and
held up for a few minutes the elab-
orate schedule of entertainment
planned by city officials. AT the last
moment on shipboard Mr.. Harding
discovered that in packing he had ne
elected to leave out Of his bags a
pair of high shoes suitable for the
chilly atmosphere into which the Pas
torres had run overnight. Rather
than attempt to overhaul his baggage
he made a flying motor trip to
downtown shoe store and changed
from his low cuts to a new pair of
high tops while his parade waited
The entertainment schedule ar
ranged for the PreSident-elect pro-
vided for luncheon in Newport News
and for a formal dinner in Norfolk
before his departure late tonight for
Bedford. Va, where he speaks to-
mo9'ow.