Evening star., 1928-12-19
BY REX COLLIER,
Staf Correspondent Of The Star.

Stan Correspondent OF The star.
ABOARD GOOD WILL BATTLE
SHIP IN SOUTH AMERICAN WATERS
December 10.-"I came here to learn
not to instruct"
President-elect Herbert Hoover has
repeated that phrase again and again
during his visit to the small but proud
republics of Latin America. He has
demonstrated by his actions that ne
meant what he said. And Latin Amer
lea forthwith has cast of its reserve
and welcomed him with wholehearteo
sincerity.
If there had fingered In the minds
of, our neighbors to the South that
Americas next President was embarked
upon voyage the purpose OF Whlcn
was to make show OF Uncle sam
dignity and power, that suspicion mas
been dissipated completely.
Mr. Hoover's attitude has been one OF
profound respect for the smallest OF
the nations he has had the opportunity
to include in his itinerary; OF graC-
tude for the favors accorded him; OF
eagerness to get acquainted with the
people and their customs.
Has Friendly Personality.
Moreover. Latin America has found
that Mr.. Hoover has friendly, grip
ming personality. She had expected
perhaps a visit marked by severe for
mality and awesome austerity. She
feared she might not get a closeup
glimpse of her distinguished guest
what with bodyguards and police lines
and other tenders of the public.
Formality and austerity, however
have been discarded wherever anc
whenever possible on this mission OF
good will Where they have cropped
up 1t has been because Mr.. Hoover:
hosts demanded it. Journalism Is moi
one of the President-elect's traits, bu'
he is equal to the exigencies OF any
state occasion.
Only once during the entire itinerary
in Central America did the Hoover to[
hat and frock coat make their appear
ance. That was in staid Costa Rica
one of the smallest, but one OF the mos
densely populated countries In the
world. There, however, formal attire
was limited to Mr.. Hoover and Ambass-
ador Fletcher For the rest OF the
party, from George AkerSon to the cor
respondents, comfortable Summer at
tire was the rule.
Variety of Costumes.
At his first port of call, Amapala
Honduras, Mr.. Hoover wore dark Dlt
serge coat, white flannel trousers ant
white shoes, topped with a gray lei
hat. The clothing OF the members
his party was a veritable riot OF dlVerSi
fication. Few had been afforded SUI
ficent time to stock themselves VIII
tropical wear, and what they lacke,
they had pieced out from the snip
stores and elsewhere. Some OF TN
clothes had been purchased on the rul
in San Francisco, and received thel
initial try-on aboard the Maryland
Consequently. there were white duck
with the bottoms rolled up to keep tn
cuffs from dragging in the dust, tenni
shoes as a makeshift substitute TO
correct white footgear, sweaters, coat
and what not. The variety OF hat
worn by the party undoubtedly Is with
out parallel. There were felt hats .
all shades, caps, two tropical helmets
a Panama, one iron derby and even
French beret--the last being the prout
possession of William Philip Sims,
special correspondent.
The newspaper men landed ahead o
the official contingent at Amapala ant
were at once taken in tow by the Hon
duran President-elect Dr. Vicent
Mejia Colindres, who was waiting Oh
the pier. DR.. Colindres does not speal
English, but he had with him youn
Costa Rican engineer who had beef
educated at the Massachusetts, Insti
tute of Technology and who spoke Eng
lish perfectly. DR.. Colindres, except TO
his darker complexion. looked like an
prosperous American business man. H
is a physician by calling. He lost n
time in proposing several toastS il
champagne-to the newspaper men II
particular and the American press Il