Caught on a Cape

Rude and tempestuous was Nature's welcome to the first permanent English settlers who, under Captain Christopher Newport, landed in 1607 at Cape Henry, Va. No less rude and tempestuous was the welcome President Hoover got last week when he visited the same spot at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay to help commemorate the 324th anniversary of that historic event.

President Hoover went down from Washington overnight aboard the S. S. Sequoia, a small Department of Commerce inspection boat. Landing near Norfolk, he went on out to the windswept dunes at the cape. There were gathered 10,000 people, including Governor Pollard of Virginia and Episcopal Bishop Arthur C. Thomson. Great black clouds whipped by a strong wind massed overhead. The President took his place in the open grandstand. Angry lightning glittered across the sky. The singing of "America" was accompanied by the boom of thunder. The wind rose to a shriek. "Our Father Who art in Heaven," began Bishop Thomson as the first splatter of rain fell into the crowd. Before he finished the prayer the heavens had flooded the earth. The crowd broke and ran. President Hoover got soaked. Mrs. Hoover was doused as tarpaulins ballooned in the wind and admitted the downpour. The ceremony was abruptly called off. The President and his bedraggled party trudged across the dunes to motorcars which carried them to the Sequoia, which returned them to Washington. Governor Pollard promised to charge the State of Virginia with a new silk hat for the President.

P: President Hoover last week discussed Federal finances with the Press. Important figures: a $4,435,029,732 expenditure for the current fiscal year ending June 30; a $4,119,230.649 expenditure for the next fiscal year; $315,799,083 saving to avert a tax increase. The President explained that this year's heavy expenditures were due to emergency outlays for Drought, veterans, Unemployment, Farm Relief. Meanwhile the 1931 deficit passed the $800,000,000 mark.

In the front yard of the White House President Hoover planted a small elm tree as part of the American Tree Association's program to plant ten million saplings to commemorate George Washington's bicentennial next year. Remarked the President: "Perhaps I should have planted a cherry tree to take the place of the one chopped down by George Washington years ago.''

P: A prime broadcasting tradition: No President of the U. S. is ever cut off the air for lack of time. Last week Columbia Broadcasting System admitted that it had inadvertently violated this tradition during President Hoover's Lincoln Day Address. In the Lincoln study of the White House the President read his speech. Out of sight of him a radio control operator checked his words from a printed copy of the address. Explained Columbia: "When Mr. Hoover finished all that was on the copy the control man switched the circuit back to the announcer to sign off. But the President continued talking, speaking extemporaneously for about two minutes. He talked into thin air--not over the radio. . . . Clyde Hunt of WMAL, Washington committed the offense."

P: "I cordially commend to all the people the observance of Better Homes Week," said President Hoover last week. "Everything that can be done to make home life pleasanter is a distinct contribution . . . to the highest spiritual values of life." As their contribution to Better Homes Week the President & Mrs. Hoover with six friends ate a meal (split pea soup, meat & rice loaf; baked potatoes, cabbage, carrot salad, lemon bread pudding) that cost 23.6-c- a plate, cooked and served by Girl Scouts at their Little House in Washington.

P: An Autogiro came swimming down upon the South grounds of the White House--first airplane landing on the President's domain. A few minutes later President Hoover presented the Collier Trophy to Harold F. Pitcairn and associates for their development of the Autogiro.

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