Evening star., 1927-06-12
AREA WATTS
FOR 'RETURN OF THE SUNRISE
Hoover Inspects Desolated Region, Shows
Effect of Burden, But Keeps Outward
Smile of Optimism.


| newly-rising waters II pushed it's way,
and when further progress was i'm.
possible, the Chief" got off and ven.
tured farther still over fiood-scarred
roads into the plantation country.
This was a trying trip for any man,
and especially so for cabinet officer.
The most sordid of desolate scenes
were unfolded to his view, and the
most gruesome Of conditions described
to him. He was driven along Lake
Chicot. at Lake Village, Ark. where,
at the bathing resort on the lake front.
battered collins were washed ashore
from cemetery several miles away.
Several Of the corpses still lie in the
Views Desolati0n.
From the rear of his train he viewed
mile after mile Of farm land going un'
der its third high water Of the year,
and in Desha and Chicot Counties of
Arkansas he saw entire villages be.
sieged in slime and filth from the
backwash Of the food. In Louisiana
he found many of the parishes still un.
der water and with, no prospects Of
draining off before July. There will
be no cotton crop this year in most Of
Arkansas and Louisiana because of
the water.
Hoover entered into this work with
a will and with a determination that
inspired all those around him to great
er efforts. The "Chief" seems to be
sincerely wrapped up in the humani-
:arian task to which President Coolidge
assigned him. It has become his
hobby, and he intends that this Mis-.
sissippi disaster will not get out Of
his control
He has learned to understand and
love the South and its people since
coming down here last April. He
enjoys watching the plantation pickan.
mines splattering in the mud, and at
night nothing pleases him more than
their experiences at the refugee
camps.
Enjoys Negro Stories.
"Did tell you about the old colored
man who said he was 'jes trustin' in
the Lawd'?" Chairman Couch of the
Arkansas Rehabilitation Commission
or pipe in the little sitting room on
the private car OF President Baldwin
Of the Missouri.Pacific.
Nope, let's hear it," replies the
Chief" sitting UP expectantly.
well, this old fellow was discovered
sitting in his flooded house without
any food and water. waiting to be
rescued. One of our boats brought
him to camp and asked him what
he had been doing there all that time.
Jet trustin' the Lawd, suh,' he re.
piled. I knew He'd come TO- me aftah
awhile, but deed. boss, I didn't know
He was gonna look like your
Gets Radio News.
Hoover enjoys these tales Of the
refugee camps. They are the only
amusement he has had since tackiing
this emergency, barring the radio
which the railroad has installed on
his car. And he listens to the radio
only when 1t is dispensing news of the
flood or news Of the world in general.
Not a social enga cement has he ac-
cepted, of all the hundreds which have
been sought of him during his trips
to the flooded valley. Nor has he had
time for movies or other forms of pop
ular entertainment. His relaxation
comes in the evenings, when he settles
back in his chair on the car and reads
typewriter reports on relief activities,
or newspaper.
The return OF the food waters to
Arkansas and Louisiana was Just as
DCFSAC q blOW W L1OONCA ctS " Tic
families driven from their homes for
the second time. 1t lay just as heavily
upon his shoulders as though he, him.
self, had been forced to stand aside,
helpless, and watch his cotton fields
go under another devastating flood.
Shows Effect of Burden.
To those who sit with him in his
private car and at his table, the
burdens show in the weary sagging of
his facial muscles and the slight droop-
ing Of his shoulders.
To the people of the Mississippi
Valley, however. he puts on a brave
front and wreathes his face in his
best smile of optimism.
This smile Of sympathy has come as
a ray Of ney hope to the stricken
South-a hope that will carry the
people through this greatest of all
emergencies into a new era of assured
flood control
The South will buckle to its present
job and whistle about the sunrise to
come, for "Chief" Hoover has promised
to stick with the valley until its
shadow Of death and destruction has
been driven away before the sunshine
Of future prosperity.