Evening star., 1928-11-19
PreSident-EIect Arrives at
San Pedro for Latin
American Tour.
DEMONSTRATION AT TRAIN
STAGED BY COMMUNISTS
Only Discordant Note in Otherwise
Warm Farewell Given En-
Route to Port.
BY REX COLLIER,


Beginning new and colorful chapter
IN the history of American diplomacy,
President-elect Herbert Hoover arrived
here today to embark at once on his
unprecedented pan-American pilgrim
age of good will.
The roar OF guns in presidential sa-
lutte was to greet Uncle Sans ambassa-
dor extraordinary to Central and South
America as he goes aboard the huge
hulk of turreted steel that is the battle
ship Maryland.
While yet the smoke from splitting
naval guns billows upward, and echoes
reverberate from the 21-gun salvos, the
proud flagship of the Pacific Fleet will
weigh anchor and put to sea. The de-
parture was scheduled to occur as soon
as the two-Score members of the party
are settled aboardship.
Small Communist Demonstration.
The enthusiastic din of the President
elects last hours on shore drowned out
echoes OF the single note of discord
sounded last night as his train pulled
out OF Palo Alto. The inharmonious
Strain was Communist demonstration
staged by half dozen young men and
women, bearing placardS denouncing
american Imperialism" and advising
Mr.. Hoover to stay out of Nicaragua
Inc formidable, but peace seeking,
was to carry the goodwill
mission down the west coast of South
America as far as Valparaiso. Chile.
Wnere the party will disembark. cross
the Andes and board another battleship.
the Utah, at an Atlantic seaport
probably Buenos Aires.
1t IS expected that virtually every
Central and South American republic
VIII be included eventually in the in
oeI1nlte itinerary, in addition to Mex-
ico ana Cuba. Not until early in the
new year viii the Utah steam back
tnto american waters, to discharge her
west or Miami, Fla. Some $4,000 miles
VIII have been covered by that time.
Expected to Delay Return.
The President-elect probably wiz de-
Ter his return to the National Canital
until few days before March 4. how
ever, as he plans to spend the inter-
venlng time in restful seclusion in Flor
loa. There he will fish and. withal.
muse upon the present problems of
state confronting him-from cabinet
ana an other appointments to policies of
the new administration.
AT Mr.. Hoovers personal request.
there were to be no formalities at the
dock, beyond the not-to-be- -forpotten
booming of guns of the fleet. He could
not check, however, the informalities
due an adopted son from the people of
his home State.
school holiday has been declared
mere and at other places along the route
OF his train ride from Palo Alto. and
throngs Of children shouted their bon
voyages and good-bys as he prepared
to set sail.
Train Halted for Children.
Just outside of Los Angeles, at the
town OF wilmington, his train halted to
permit MN TO wave acknowledging
TO the VociferouS cheers of a crowd of
school children, dismissed from classes
Tor the occasion. Other crowds. a large
percentage of them children, also greet
ed the PreSident-elect and the laughing.
noaolng F1rSt-Lady-to-be upon the ar
rlva! here this morning of their special
section of the Sunset Limited The
schools of San Pedro also had been
closed for the day.
Mr.. and Mrs. Hoover waved their ap-
probation from the rear platform of
their private car, Sunset, which had
carried them on the overnight journey
from their home town to the North.
The salutes of the vessels in the port
~ u Los Angeles were to be returned by
the giant, deep-throated guns of the
Maryland. An admiral's barge was tied
up at the Fifth street dock, ready to
take Mr.. and Mrs. Hoover to the battle
snip. A number of captains gigs also
were on hand to convey the other mem-
oers OF the party to the ship. Admiral
Pratt, commanding the Pacific feet. will
'Scort Mr.. and Mrs. Hoover to the Mary
and and bid them farewell there on
behalf of the Navy.
Fletcher Precedes Party.
Personal representatives of President
coolidge for the trip, Ambassador Henry
?. Fletcher, had preceded the Hoover
party to San Pedro. He arrived here
yesterday and spent the night on the
oattleship California. This afternoon.
1t sea, Ambassador Fletcher was to as
'lst Mr.. Hoover In completing his itin-
,rary.
Capt. Victor Kimerly, in command of
he Maryland, will give the signal to
Weigh anchor as soon as possible after
III are on board. 1t was thought thev
y1uiG get under way about IL o'clock.
Pacific time.
IN the official party. in addition to
Ar. and Mrs. Hoover and Ambassador
Fletcher, are Allan Hoover, younger son:
Ionu Griffin Mott, Los Angeles attorney
md close friend of the HoOyers: George
Barr Baker, another friend and adviser:
comdr. A. T. Beauregard, naval aide
Ind q huent Spanish linguist; George Z.
AkerSon, secretary to the President
lect; William j. McEvoy. Akerson's as
istant; Frank Kaye, Mr.. Hoover's per-
onal stenographer for the trip, and
Mss Ruth FeSler, secretary to Mrs.
Ioover.
There are a score of newspaper cor
eSpondents and half dozen photo
.fapners. They Will be quartered in
ne cabins vacated by 80 junior officers,
Vno nave been assigned to other ships
o make room for the party.
Demonstration Is Surprise.
The Communist demonstration last
light caught the Secret Service men
md police wholly of guard. The
hrong of citizens had broken through
he ropes and closed in on the Hoover
ar when suddenly there appeared over
he heads Of the crowd four or five
'lacards, nailed to sticks held by the
gitators. One sign read, Down With
Imperialism" Another said,
Hands off Nicaragua. Support the
Continued on Page S, Column q