Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-23
Some Kissing Heard as
Mayor Extends Official
Welcome to Party.
CHIEF EXECUTIVE PRAISES
SELF-RELIANCE OF PEOPLE
Fangot Says Visit Revives Coun'
try's Hope for Constitutional
Equality.
By the Assoclated Pros.

PONCE, Porto Rico, March 23.-The
battleship Arizona, with President
Hoover and two members of his cabinet
aboard, anchored outside Ponce Harbor
at 6 am. today and began Immediately
to debsrk the Presidents party by motor
| boat to the quay here.
| The President was the last to leave
the Arizona, boats previously having
taken the large company of newspaper
men, photographers and others of the
encourage, including Secretaries Hurley
and Wilbur, ashore.
| The President stepped ashore at 1883
am, and was given an enthusiastic
welcome by the great crowd which had
awaited his arrival.
The city was bedecked with flags,
bunting and banners which screamed
the word welcome-in Spanish 'bien-
venido"-and large triumphal arch
| had been erected across the entrance
| to Abolition Park to mark the occasion.
| The city was enjoying a double holiday,
| the emancipation fete which fell yeStev-
day having been carried over until the
week day.
From Ponce. where Gov. Roosevelt
and island officials and political leaders
were assembled to meet the President,
the party was to go in a caravan Of %
automobiles across the island to San
Juan where Mr.. Hoover planned to make
an address in answer to his welcome.
Second President to Visit.
Mr.. Hoover was the second President
i,.FA -, T,,ff lI lfnN 20 Nsfeif
Col Theodore Roosevelt, father of the
present Governor of the island, having
preceded him here in 1906.
The President will remain on the
island about So hours. leaving Tuesday
afternoon for the Virgin Islands, the
second and final stop on his combina-
ton vacation and official trip.
National Guarosnen patroled the
roads en- route from Ponce to San Juan.
President Hoover was enthusiastically
cheered as he landed, but there was
some Kissing as the mayor officially
welcomed him to Ponce sfsA
School children serenaded the caval-
cade with songs as it passed through
the streets, which were decorated with
pennants praising President Hoover's
appointments of American officials of
the Porto Rican government.
Praises Self Reliance of People.
The President thanked the mayor
briefly for his welcome. He praised the
Self-reliance of the Porto Rican people
and said he hoped that his visit would
result in closer cooperation between
Porto Rico and the United States.
In his address of welcome Mayor
Emilio Fagnot told President Hoover
that his administration had produced
more legislation for solving the islands
problems than any since the beginning
Of American sovereignty in Porto Rico.
This fact, he said, had served to renew
| the interest of Porto RicanS and to re-
vive their hopes that Porto Rico might
be incorporated on a basis Of constitu
tional equality as a self-goVerning State
| in the Union.
Your arrival this morning" he said,
strengthens the ties of mutual under
standing and reciprocal affection be-
tween this territory and the continental
United States"
Predicts Blending Of Civilization.
He predicted that the incorporation
OF Porto Rico into the United States
would "exemplify the possibility of a
pam American commonwealth under
| the Stars and Stripes, where Anglo
Saxon and Latin civilizations shall
blend together in the furtherance Of
common destiny"
The reception by the municipality Of
Ponce was held at the city hall, several
miles from the Presidents landing
place.
President Hoover was given an elabo-
rate embroidered banquet cloth on
which had en- worked designs of the
fayorite flowers of all of the American
Presidents who have held Office since
Porto Rico became part of the United
Stats. The poppy. designated by Presi-
dent Hoover as his favorite flower, was
included in the design.
Up TO the last minute small, active
group Of Nationalist continued their
opposition to the entertainment pro-
gram, urging all Porto Ricans. for
their own dignity not to participate
One handful. signed by Luis Vergne
Ortiz, president Of the Nationalist party
OF San Juan, was distributed in the
cars of the reception committee. 1t
criticized President Hoover as lsader OF
the National Republican party, which
it described as "capitalistic. plutocratic,
anti-Socialist. and opposed to the in
terests Of workers"