The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-03-23
CHEER HOOVER
ON FIRST VISIT
TO PORTO RICO
Two Women Are Figures in
Dramatic Incidents
of Visit.
GREETED BY ROOSEVELT
Enthusiastic Welcome Is
Given Executive by
Island Crowds.
BY RAYMOND CLAPPER
United Press staff Correspondent

SAN JUAN, Porto Rico, March %.
President Hoover reached this
island capital, one of the oldest
cities of the new world, today for
his first visit to the Caribbean
domain of the United States.
Two dramatic incidents marked
the, passage of the Presidents
party from Ponce, on the coast,
where they landed from the battle
ship Arizona.
At Cayey, an attractive woman
dressed in black pushed her way
to the Hoover car when it stopped,
and thrust letter toward the
President.
Mr.. Hoover was about to take it
when Colonel E. w. Startling of the
secret service, interviewed and seized
it. The woman pleaded with him,
but Startling explained he would
give it to the President.
Cheers for Hoover
The woman was Sonora Zenaida
Monserrate. Her letter asked the
President to pardon her son, Angel,
81. who is serving a term in Joliet
prison for manslaughter committed
in Chicago.
At San Juan, Rita Real, 80
pushed her way to the President
and thrust out withered hand.
Mr.. Hoover seized it graciouSly and
shook it. Asked what she wanted
she replied;
"Only help"
The President reached here after
a f1ve-hour motor trip over the
winding trail from Ponce, a roac
replete with picturesque tropica,
scenery. The passage was marked
by enthusiastic demonstrations
crowds gathering at every stopping
place to cheer. He was accompanied
to the capitol by Governor Theodore
Roosevelt.
The road was lined for several
miles with children, who formed the
background of the entire welcome. A
heavy shower just before the Pres
ident'S arrival here failed to diSperSe
the crowd.
Hostile HandbiIIs Appear
Elements said to be nationalist
Synpathizers continued an appar-
entity futile effort to inject hostility
into the presidential reception until
few hours before the Arizona ar
rived.
Handbills were distributed in the
towns through which the party
passed en- route to San Juan, de-
Scribing Mr.. Hoover as the head Of
"a capitalistic, plutocratic and So
cialist' Republican party.
Much attention will be directed
toward the flight of the children
of Porto Rico during the two-day
visit of the President, whose great
interest in children was illustrated
Sunday when he chatted by radio
with his granddaughter, Peggy AM
Hoover, 6, who is at ASheyille.
Among the outstanding problem.
which the President will consider al
San Juan will be whether the islanC
shall remain under the administra.
ton of the. war department, or bt
given a civil administration, as Wa
done recently in the Virgin islands
Administration officials indicated
that the war department was mo-
anxious to hold Porto Rico if a more
economical administration can bt
devised. The depart nent feels thai
its chief work was pioneering anc
that this task had been done.
"Granddaddy-It's Showing
The question of stimulating hant
manufacture and agriculture wa
understood to have been studied a
length by Mr.. Hoover, and the chic
solution was believed to lie in tn
ability of the administration II
'help the island help itself"
The Presidents radio talk will
Asheville-1 400 miles away-wa
first conducted with his son, Herber
Hoover Jr., and then with Pegg,
Ann.
Her childish voice came from tn
loud speaker very clearly.
"Granddaddy, it is showing here,
she said.
1T is very warm here" the Presi
dent said.
He then asked her when she wa
returning to Washington and shl
said: Tomorrow"
Then you will be back weel
ahead of me-" he told her.
Young People TO Meet