Evening star., 1928-12-19
HOOVER DISCARDS FORMALITY
DURING TOUR OF GOODWILL
Summer Attire Is Usual Cos
tune, Top Hat and Frock Coat Being
Worn Only Once.

general. The toasts went over in great
style. They were drunk in rather
unsightly barroom and restaurant on
the main pier. A phonograph played
American jazz during the courtesies.
Band Plays Anthem.
Just as the toasts were being COM
pleted the motor barge bearing MI
Hoover tied up at the dock. The
President-elect climbed up slippery
stairway to the floor of the pier and
gayly uniformed band struck up THE
Star Spangled Banner" Then began
a round of activities that were climaxed
by the serving Of champagne to MI:
and Mrs. Hoover and all members OF
the party and the proposal of toasts
to both countries.
Here was one of those diplomatic
problems that required quick and ef-
fective solution on the part of the next
President of the United States. II he
refused the glass, it would be tanta-
mount to refusing to stand at attention
during the playing OF the Honduran
national anthem, or offering some otner
grave insult to the people of Honduras:
If he drank the champagne he would
be accused of violating the spirit OF
American prohibition. He raised the
SANOoN
of his hosts, but it still was full when
he lowered it again. The same was
true of Mrs. Hoover. Proving once
more than Mr.. Hoover is a master OF
emergencies.
The stage was all set for a somewhat
more formal reception at Cutuco, port
of L'Union, Ell Salvador, but the hand
of nature intervened. A stiff wind and
a rough sea almost prevented landing
and nearly precipitated the President
| elect into the water as he jumped from
| the side of the launch to the wet gang
way of the pier. 1t was a dignity-ruf-
| fling experience for guests and hosts
alike.
More Informal Speeches.
All of the Salvadorean officials were
| in formal morning clothes, but Mr.
Hoover still wore his white flannelS
having come direct by motor boat from
Amapala, 10 miles away. Here again
| there were champagne toasts and in
| formal speeches and handshak1ng. The
| party was to have left Immediately
| after supper, but the sea remained sc
| rough that it was impossible to get
away until nearly midnight.
There had been some tension in some
quarters over the trip to Nicaragua
but the Corinto reception turned out
to be delightful experience, unmarried
by any untoward demonstration
Toasts were proposed in both cham
pagne and water during this visit, the
| champagne being served by Nicaraguan
officials at the reception in the Hotel
Lupone, and clear distilled water from
| the battleship Maryland being served
at the big luncheon aboard ship, tend
cred by Mr. Hoover to the past. present
and future presidents of the republic.
The American President-elect donnec
his morning coat. striped trousers ano
silk hat for the landing at PuntarenaS
Pacific port of Costa Rica, because he
was to go to the capital of the nation
and receive high honors from the gov
ernment there.
More Teachers Than Soldiers.
Mr.. Hoover, still talks about his jour-
ney to San Jose. He learned many
interesting things about Costa Rics
while there, but one of the points that
most impressed him was that there are
more school teachers than soldiers in
| the country. The Costa Rican army
numbers about 500 men, of which SOC
are members of the National Military
Band. There was only small detach-
ment of soldiers to escort the goodwill
mission in San Jose, but there were
plenty of policemen and firemen.
The President-elect learned that Co.'S
ia Rica depends on the justice and fair
play of her neighbors, rather than or
an army She also feels that Uncle
Sam will see that she gets square
deal In her international relations.
That feeling seems to be general ir
the countries visited by Mr.. Hoover's
party. 1t is feeling that has beer
greatly strengthened by the goodwill
voyage and that augurS we'll for the
future of pan-America.