Evening star., 1932-12-21
ROOSEVELT PLEADS
FOR PUERTO RICO
Calls for Speedy Welfare
Action in Message to
Food Ship.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
ALBANY, N. Y, December al
President-elect Roosevelt today called
for "a vigorous, constructive program"
for the welfare and rehabilitation o!
the Island OF Puerto Rico. in a message
from the New York Governors office
directed to the Puerto Rico Christmas
food ship Coamo, which sailed from a
New York pier.
Il am familiar with Puerto Rico's
many problems" Gov Roosevelt said,
and am confident that any phnan-
thropic investment made in Puerto
Rico will bring good and lasting re-
turns.
THE heart of America has been re-
peatedly touched by the suffering OF
those far removed from us. but let
us remember that Puerto Rico IS in no
sense foreign-the port to which this
Christmas food ship will sail is within
the boundaries of our own Nation.
Silent on Debts Issue.
This Christmas ship for Puerto Rico
will not carry toys CT games or CHRIST
mas trees. It's cargo consists Of food
1Or the desperately neeuy Cill4oAcA Va
our own American island.
"On this occasion our Naticn again
witnesses a practical demonstration OF
the true spirit of Christmas"
Maintaining his silence regarding
President Hoover's proposal that he
take a hand in European war debts,
world economic and disarmament mat
tiers prior to his Inauguration as Prest-
dent on March 4, Gov. Roosevelt spent
most of the day working on Christmas
pardons fer inmates of State prisons
and conferring with heads Of State de-
partments regarding the State budget.
His reply to President Hoover's proposal
for a commission approved by both the
President and the President-elect to deal
with the three international problems
was understood to have been forwarded
to Washington.
Mr. Roosevelt's close associates did
not believe he would be willing TO
pass upon the membership OF such a
commission. feeling that his hands
would in some measure be tied py
the commissions policies before he
enters the presidency March 4.
His plans for Southern deep-sea
yachting vacation in February were
announced at his press conference late
yesterday. Mr.. Roosevelt said he would
follow up his Warm Springs trip with
a cruise of about 10 days from some
Georgia or Florida point Several
friends may accompany him, but vlsi-
tors will be barred.
Yacht Is Unnamed.
He plans now to leave for Warm
Springs, Ga, probably January 20 or
81, and will go to sea about February
5 on a yacht as yet unnamed. The
President elect said in this way he
hoped to get away for few days from
all routine.
Il need the rest before returning to
take up final preparations for assuming
Office March A." he said.
He did not reveal which of his friends
might 90 with him. The Governor said
his cruise might take him as far south
The cruise will be the Governor
second since he opened his campaign
for the presidency. Last Summer he
and his sons sailed a yawl from Port
Washington, Long Island, up the Atlantic
Coast to Portsmouth, N. H. Mr.
Roosevelt is an expert sailor, and has
navigated many vessels from warships
down to the smallest sailing dingies.
Today the program cut out for him
includes conferences with Joseph Wolf
national committeeman from Mime
sofa, and Adolph Bramer, another
Minnesota Democratic leader, and with
certain members Of his cabinet on
State financial matters.