"Poorhouse"

President Hoover got home to the White House last week, a new man physically after his 3,000-mi. cruise of the Caribbean aboard the U. S. S. Arizona. His cheeks were a pinkish tan. Lines around his eyes had been smoothed out. He had not been so cheery for months. Thoroughly refreshed, he buckled down immediately to several big jobs. The Treasury deficit had to be studied. The Farm Board's wheat difficulties had to be reviewed. A half-dozen public speeches had to be prepared. But the President never felt more like work in his life.

At San Juan in Porto Rico President Hoover made the only set speech of his trip. There he extolled Governor Roosevelt as "the true friend of the Porto Rican people," promised continued Federal aid (about $7.000,000 per year) to the island, held out no hope of a change in political status. From Ponce, P. R., an overnight journey on the Arizona carried him to St. Thomas, the little white-walled, red-roofed capital of the Virgin Islands. Governor Pearson greeted him aboard ship. When they went ashore, the Negro populace stared in undemonstrative silence. Behind the town's trim, clean appearance President Hoover saw its terrible poverty. He reviewed a native parade, applauded ebony-skinned little girls in a Maypole dance. Black little Leroy Nolte, chairman of the Colonial Council, greeted him: "Joy . . . Honor . . . greatest occasion in history . . . long live Democracy! Hail to the Chief! Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!"

At the council President Hoover was presented with a petition praying for an end to Prohibition so that the islands might resume their oldtime means of livelihood, rum-making. After a five-hour visit the President returned to the Arizona with gifts (a mahogany table, a tortoise-shell paper knife), sailed away for Old Point Comfort, Ga.

At sea next day he issued a statement summing up his impressions of his country's Caribbean colonies. Excerpts:

"The people of Porto Rico have made magnificent progress in self-government. . . . There would not be a popular vote of 5% in favor of independence. . . . The most constructive contribution of the Federal Government is to continue and expand the present policies of aid to and co-operation with their institutions in education, health, better adaptation of agriculture and expansion of industry and markets.

"The Virgin Islands may have some military value some time. Opinion on this question is much divided. In any event when we paid $25.000.000 for them, we acquired in effect a poorhouse, comprising 90% of the population.

"The people cannot be self-supporting either in living or government without the discovery of new methods and resources. . . . Viewed from every point except remote naval contingencies it was unfortunate that we ever acquired these islands. Nevertheless, having assumed the responsibility, we must do our best to assist the inhabitants."

In Copenhagen, Helweg Larsen, onetime Danish governor of the islands, remarked:

"President Hoover's description of the former Danish West Indies is correct but Americans must blame themselves for the condition there. American laws have absolutely ruined St. Croix where the finest rum in the world was formerly produced. Everything stagnated after the Americans prohibited its manufacture."

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