Evening star., 1927-05-22
HOOVER, LIKE SOLDIER,
TACKLES FLOOD RELIEF,
New Orleans Hotel Attaches Fooled
When Cabinet Officers Appear
Covered With Mud.

to another have been made by boat,
railroad and automobile.
Attendants at the Roosevelt Ho-
tel in New Orleans looked askancs
at one another when the distinguished
Secretary of Commerce and Secretary
of War walked into the hotels pea.
cock alley" after their memorable 1885,
mile motor trip down the east side
of the river from Baton Rouge to New
Orleans.
Hotel Is Prepared.
Careful preparations had been made
to take care OF the cabinet members
by the fastidious management Of the
hotel. The arrival of Secretary
Hoover and Secretary Davis was to
be quite a notable event.
1t was.
Hoover's blue serge suit had as.
sumed a khaki hue from the yellow
dust of the leyee road. Davis i'm.
maculate gray tweed outfit likewise
had a tan coating of Louisiana's pull
verized soil. Their collars were wilted
and dirty. their hats mussed and their
shoes covered with dust
What must have been the most
amazing thing of all, however. was
their faces. 1t had been an unbear-
ably hot day and a terribly dusty ride.
punctuated by frequent stops along
| the levee for inspection of weak spots.
Spillway sites, etc. The combination
| of chrome-colored dust and perspira-
ton had worked wonders to the coun-
! tenances of the dignified department
heads. Their general appearance de-
| ties description.
Are Unrecognized.
| The we'll trained hotel attaches
| failed to recognize the party when it
arrived at side entrance. and the
| bellboys were slow in responding to
| the request sent in for aid in remov-
ing the dust-laden baggage from the
| automobiles.
| During this drive both Hoover and
| Davis were forced to halt at way.
side general stores" and quench their
| thirst with soft drinks. Hoover
! pushed his hat back, placed his foot
on wooden rail and hoisted the
bottle of pop" to his lips in spirit
OF real satisfaction, and Davis, at an.
| other store, munched greedily on a
hot dog" The Secretaries ''set 'enn
up" for the other members of the
party, also.
Secretary Hoover early impressed
on his capable executive assistant,
| George Akerson. that not a minute
was to be wasted during the weeks
| spent in the flood area. Akerson saw
/ to 1T that not a minute was. Con.
| ferences were so staggered" as to Mt
into the whole days program with no
| margin to spare.
Hoover Takes Charge.
Hoover's job was not merely to sur.
vey conditions. More important than
that, it was to assume complete charge
of the whole emergency, as the Presi.
dents personal representa- tive, and &C.
| tually take a hand in the work of
rescue, relief and reconstruction. His
| entry into the darkening flood picture
| had frightening influence on the
whole situation. A seasoned veteran
at catastrophe relief work by reason
of his wartime services. his presence
| seemed to have an Immediately no.
| ticeable steadying effect on the dis
tracted people of the stricken Missis-
| sippi Valley.
should be tackled, and he set about
to carry them out, with the aid of
the Red Cross, State authorities, mum.
cipal officials and private interests.
Coordination" became his watch.
word, and the best proof of the wis.
dom of this Coordination campaign
is seen in the wonderfully efficient re-
lief and rehabilitation organization
which he has perfected in three short
weeks.
Preliminary Battle Over.
The preliminary skirmishes over,
and the groundwork for the whole
drive completed, Field Marshal Hoover
did not withdraw from the front and
let others take over his arduous dr.
ties. He sensed that the battle was
| not yet over.
Il am going to stay down here
until all danger is past" Hoover am
nounced several days ago. I'm
afraid there are going to be some
more levee breaks before this flood
IS over. and I want to be nearby in
case anything does happen"
mowers fears were not without
oasis' 1t has since developed. Other
levees have broken and many things
are happening down in Louisiana.
That is why the Commerce Secre.
tary's desk back here in Washington
Is likely to remain vacant for some
time to come