Saturday, September 28, 2013

2/1-2/7/48

2/1 Sunday Eugene got 83% in a Sunday school exam where he learns Jewish history in a class conducted in English. After lunch including a delightful cabbage borscht we took a walk in sunny, somewhat milder weather. We brought home cheese cake which we and the kids had with coffee and milk respectively. Played the football game with the kids then waffles and bacon for supper. Orville Wright is dead at 76.

2/2 Eugene's second half of his third year at school started today. His seat, now second row, fifth seat is the only thing changed. Sylvia's second tooth is growing in. Vets began a rent strike at two projects on the fuel oil situation. Rioting in India has caused 20 deaths since Gandhi's assassination. The Brotherhood of Enginemen and Firemen ordered by the Supreme Court to halt discrimination have cooked up a scheme to give written exams to Negro firemen who will be promoted to Engineers if they pass but be fired if they fail. City workers convoyed fuel trucks to priority users. Paul Kern is state P.C.A. chairman.

2/3 Eugene got his report card - again perfect except for B+ in spelling this time. Sylvia likes to come up at my breakfast time and get some bread butter cream cheese and jelly. Truman asked for a civil rights program including a permanent C.R. comm. federal protection against lynching, protection of the right to vote, an F.E.P.C., no discrimination in interstate transportation, better opportunities for naturalization. Eisler was again taken to Ellis Island to prevent his speaking. The "House" passed the Knutson (rich men's tax bill) 297-120. Russian protests against US military activities in Iran, inspection flights over Russian shipping to the Far East and visits of US vessels to Italian ports were all rejected.

2/4 Eugene home from school due to a tickle in his throat. He is making a giant airplane swing having taken apart his nice delivery truck. Sylvia went down to play with Norma. They have supper in each others house once a week. "Times" and "Tribune" correspondents are linked in a Hungarian spy plot. The Austin Anti-Red bill was killed in the Assembly. Thomas Lamont is dead at 77.

2/5 Bought the table Sonora radio we are giving Pop for his banquet Sunday. Got it at Barth-Feinberg $17.50 - retail price $23.95. Eugene got a star in school for answering questions on snow removal. Sylvia and Norma got into trouble, first tearing pages from a book then brushing their teeth with Eugene's toothbrush. Much ado about the A.F.L.'s choice of Wheeler as their Political Education League [director]. Both parties have since reneged. Attlee called for a wage freeze to stop inflation. Nehru has banned rightist groups who believe in terrorism in India. Sam over tonight, and we talked about the wedding. The kids have a room at Columbus Ave. and 64 st. Played a chess game with Eugene.

2/6 Sylvia is down at Norma's, At three o'clock they came up here. Eugene has been on the "Honor Roll" every month this year. This includes daily cleanliness inspections. Att'y Gen'l Clark testifying in the UnAmerican Comm. hearings said there is no proof of Communists being foreign agents or advocating the violent overthrow of the gov't. He favored strengthening existing laws to deal with "Reds". O'Dwyer criticized the A.L.P. which had supported him for election.

2/7 Went sleigh riding with the kids in St. James. The Commodity exchanges and stock market have been experiencing steady slumps. Pressman resigned to campaign for Wallace. There is much to-do about charges that large numbers of Balkan Jews attempting to enter Palestine had been planted as Communist agents. Louis Waldman urged registration as foreign agents of Communists. Donald Richberg urged laws to have political parties publish their membership lists. Both testified at the Nixon hearings of the "House". Simon Strunsky is dead at 68. Nazi generals Steulpnagel [sic] and Blaskowitz committed suicide within two days, prior to their trial for war crimes.

Thursday, September 26, 2013

1/25-1/31/48

1/25 Sunday With the kids staying at the Gallins', we traveled down to the Park Royal at 72 st and C.P.W. by cab with Molly and Sam to attend Milton and Shirley's afternoon wedding. Under Mike's tutelage, I drank too much for me and spent a miserable evening, vomiting twice. A million Bavarians staged a 24-hour strike against short rations in the American zone. Italian Socialists voted in favor of a single C.P.- S.P. list in the elections. Churchill asked for a showdown with the Russians before they get the atom-bomb and Bevin asked for a Western Bloc against them.

1/26 Eugene is very annoyed when interrupted in trying to explain something. Sylvia is still very babyish in many respects. She wants help in washing, dressing, etc. The Amer. Comm. for the Protection of the Foreign Born held a conference in which the deportation drive was denounced. British aid to the Arabs and refusal to implement the partition decision was denounced in the City Council and at a Jewish Youth rally. France devaluated its franc for export purposes in the face of British protests. The Nat'l Congress on Amer. Policy in China and the Far East held a conference on our reactionary policies in Asia. 2000 Bk'lyn homes were without gas in a shortage. Lillian read "Nothing So Strange" by James Hilton. 

1/27 Eugene was late two mornings in a row. Lillian can't get him to start dressing because he's busy playing or reading. Sylvia was a big hit at the Gallins Sunday with a friend that visited them. Government marshals raided the C.I.O. United Public Workers in connection with a gov't agency hearing. The A.L.P. testified against the Marshall Plan at a Senate hearing. 

1/28 Eugene drew "The Story of Roland" by James Baldwin "The Great Adventures of Jack, Jock & Funny" by E. Youmans. "Peter and Wendy" by J. M. Barrie and for Sylvia "Big City" by B & E Hader. Sylvia last night had 101°. She was in bed all day today complaining of an intermittent belly-ache but normal temp. Split two fast, open chess games with Eugene. Eugene was late again and was not allowed to listen to his evening programs. Prominent Americans including Elliot Roosevelt, A F Whitney, J R Walsh, Rogge, Sen Taylor denounced Truman's German policy as aiding Nazi war criminals and industrialists to regain their power. "Last" New Dealer Eccles was demoted by Truman. Susan has the chicken pox. 

1/29 Eugene's teacher warned him of the danger of walking on ice, so he says he won't walk on snow anymore. Sylvia is out of bed today. She has been cutting out doll clothes of paper that Lillian got her. Benson will head Wallace's campaign. 

1/30 The painter finally came to fix up the children's room ceiling after months of complaints. Sylvia and Norma had to go down to the Gallins' apartment. Eugene doesn't seem to be bothered by the cold at all. Oil, in great shortage here is being shipped to fascist Greece and occupied Germany Japan and Korea. Ships are in the same situation. Hotel union leftists under attack by their International officers and the gov't won local elections by 10-1. Obermeier did not run. Peru barred the new Latin American labor Federation set up to compete with the "leftist" C.I.A.L [?] from using Lima as its headquarters due to a rivalry between Pres. Bustamente and the Apristas, active in the new C.I.A.T. The UN O.K'd a Jewish militia. England is opposed. The C.I.O. finally protested Greek anti-labor laws. Gandhi was assassinated at 78 by a Hindu terrorist. 

1/31 Eugene is building a delivery truck. Sylvia didn't eat her lima beans in the soup today. She dislikes many foods. Vets living in Quonset hut projects in New York who are suffering great hardship in the fuel crisis descended on City Hall to demand heat and fuel allotments. Herb Pennock is dead at 54.  

Monday, September 23, 2013

1/18-1/24/48

1/18 Sunday Hy and Milly N. over with Sandy. The two girls played together all day. Hy beat Eugene and me at chess. Eugene then read his comic books after going to several friends for trades. We had supper then played records and chatted. In the morning we had gone sleigh riding at St. James. Ghandi [sic] broke his five day fast in protest against the civil war in India. Starvation in Bizonea [?] is causing great unrest among the inhabitants. Jews in all the Middle East countries are being subjected to a reign of terror since the partition. Hundreds have been killed.

1/19 Sylvia told me she doesn't call us Is and Lil anymore. Then she wanted to say something to Lil and she called "Lil". Several Americans have been killed in Palestine. The 2nd annual P.C.A. convention voted to affiliate or merge with Wallace's projected "Third Party". Free Greece is opening schools, peoples courts cultivating land and building bridges.

1/20 Record cold waves and a critical shortage of fuel is causing hardships. 1500 individuals, many representing organizations attended a rent hearing where demands for a 5% reduction was voiced because of the drop in service. Oklahoma U. will set up a separate law school for Ada Sipuel to get around the Supreme Court ruling. A bill to block vet. benefits for Communist G.I.'s was blocked in Congress. Many Anti-Soviet movies are again being produced.

1/21 Eugene's Birthday Mom Pop Lilly and Susan over for Eugene's eighth birthday. Lilly made "gefilte fish" cheese and potato blintzes. We had a nice birthday cake. Gloria and Vivian S, Norma G, Sylvia and Susan sitting at the table when Eugene blew out the candles. Then Eugene and Gloria played with the Erector Set (#6 1/2, $9.75) we got him. Susan Norma and Sylvia played. Mother got Eugene a good pair of pants. Lillian brought a shirt and socks. Norma brought a model craft set. The Singer kids brought baseball, football and checkers in one. Won and drew with Pop in two chess games. Pauline P. came up in the evening with "Tom Sawyer" and chatted long with Lillian. A Danish Communist and a former member were barred here.

As I remember it, the #6 1/2 was the smallest set which included an electric motor, which I wanted. 

1/22 Eugene warned me he may have to help Mrs. Gerhold after school in the near future. Sylvia has been making little paper chairs and cradles for her dolls. Hoover asked a world-wide front against Communism.

1/23 Lillian is wearing the hood of Sylvia's new coat as she won't wear it because she doesn't want to be "Little Red Riding Hood". Eugene is fascinated by the names E. G. Gogs and Pogs Siggles and Biggles [???] I am reading him in "All About Us". The C.I.O. Exec Board voted 33-11 against a third party. The State Dept. released secret Nazi  documents concerning the Nazi Soviet pact.

1/24 Eugene and Gloria played with the erector set, modeling set and checkers game after the morning radio programs. Sylvia hung around more or less. The City Council held a stirring open hearing on the question of seating Gerson to replace the late Pete Cacchionne. So far Gerson has been denied his seat on the question of whether the C.P. is a political party. The C.I.O. approved the Marshall Plan, left wingers again dissenting. Cuban M.P. Union and C.P. leader Jesus Menendez was killed by a Rural Guardsman.

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

1/11-1/17/48

1/11 Sunday Walked to Mother's, Eugene enjoying it because there was snow on the side to walk on. Eugene won a game from Pop while I played Pop one.

1/12 Eugene is on the snow removal committee. Sylvia is delighted when I make her a star. Strikes are breaking out again in Italy. The UNCop [?] is meeting on the situation there.

1/13 Eugene was picked by his teacher as a 'smart boy' to help Ass't Principal Mrs. Chaffee. Sylvia wrote on the chair which Lillian had just recovered with new leatherette. Russia has suggested there is no room in Berlin for those who support partition of Germany. The Supreme Court ordered Oklahoma to admit a Negro girl to its law school. We both read "Curtain Going Up" by G. Malvern. The story of Katherine Cornell's stage career. Mikhoels is dead.

1/14 Went to Dr. Holzman. Weight - 130 3/4. Last Jan 14, when I saw him it was 133. My blood pressure is low. Normal - 130. last year - 126. Today 114. Blood count 85 - very good. Everything else including stomach - O.K. He advised care in my personal hygiene for my fissure. Prescribed some exercise in the winter as well as the summer for my low blood pressure. Also "improved vitakaps" a vitamin to help the fissure and my condition. After lunch to the library with Eugene while Sylvia played with Norma and Arline D. Eugene drew "All About Us" by E K Evans. This was written to give children facts about human beings which would forestall prejudices. "Stories of the Gods & Heroes" by Sally Benson "As the Goose Flies" by K. Pyle. For Sylvia we took "The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge". At night we went to the Windsor, seeing "Western Union" with Randolph Scott, Robert Young,                    and "Alexander's Ragtime Band" with Tyrone Power, Alice Faye, Don Ameche. We enjoyed both.

Looks like he left space for a third actor name in "Western Union".

1/15 Eugene is delayed on his way home for lunch as he likes to walk on the snow. When I told Sylvia to stay out of the kitchen while we ate lunch because we wanted our privacy she said "Okay, did you give me my privacy when I ate lunch". The F.B.I. jailed five implicated in the shipping of dynamite for the Jews defense against the Arabs.

1/16 Lillian went to Orhbachs and bought a dress for the wedding. Theres [?] print at $15. Also an everyday bag for $.61. Josephus Daniels is dead at 85.

1/17 Eugene is often busy at his tinker-toy. Sylvia likes to play with her peg set. Hearings opened on a bill to bar the C.P. from the ballot. Bittelman was arrested for deportation as a subversive alien.

Sunday, September 15, 2013

1/4-1/10/48

1/4 Sunday Evelyn & Isabel slept over.The kids continued their cops and robbers game until they left. Played chess with Eugene. Many homes were without light or heat due to the weather conditions. 3000 Cable workers struck Intern'l T &T affiliates and W.U.

1/5 The kids are crazy about Lillian especially Sylvia. DeGaulle called for formation of Enterprise groups consisting of owners managers and workers instead of trade unions. 100 were injured including a score killed in the dynamiting of an Arab headquarters. "Marshall Plan" strings. Each country participating must pledge not to go Communist. Each country must set up a fund in its own currency equal to the relief it gets to be spent at the direction of the U.S. Agents. Countries owning assets outside the country may have to sell them to help pay off for the relief. Vitally needed war materials must be granted to the Usa. Each country must reduce its tariff barriers to permit dumping of American goods. "Plan" agents may examine all economic affairs of each country and give priority to manufacture of any commodities they choose. Each country must open its doors to private American finance. The American gov't will guarantee these investments. Pay check $206.31. 

1/6 The mystery of the three missing chess-men. Today Sylvia brought in the three pieces which had been missing since Sunday evening. She insisted she had found them on the card table. No amount of cajoling could change her story. I can't see how they could have been there all this time undetected. She must have hidden them somewheres [sic]. We have lend-leased military equipment, held by the British up to now, to the Greek gov't. They have also mobilized 42,000 men. A shipment of American Marines to the Mediterranean  has caused a stir. The State C.I.O. voted against a third party. Left and right wing unions split evenly with the 'right' winning on per capita majority.

1/7 Lillian went down to "Export Shoe" yesterday and bought two pairs for herself at $2.65 and $3.35 - a big sale. Took Sylvia to the park for some sleigh riding. She enjoyed "belly wopping" down the hill as did I. Am reading "Robinson Crusoe" to Eugene at lunch time. Read "Odets" plays.

1/8 Eugene was praised for his diction in the auditorium. Sylvia admitted she found the chess pieces on the toy shelves where she probably put them. Truman asked for a $40 income tax cut for every taxpayer. He also called for universal military training and continuation of the Truman doctrine and Marshall Plan. He said he was against the Taft Hartley Bill but did not ask for its repeal or for price control. The State A.L.P. endorsed Wallace with the A.C.W. withdrawing from the organization.

1/9 Lillian went to Molly's since she has had violent pains for some time. When I set the silverware for the kids' lunch, Sylvia derided the wrong setting and had to show it to Eugene. Eugene subscribed to a Museum of Natural History bulletin. Brazilian C.P. deputies were ousted by a vote of 181-74. All C.P. office holders throughout the country will be ousted. Brazil has again initiated a dictatorship after its action against the C.P. which polled 800,000 votes in the last election. The State Comm. of Education ruled that C.P. membership is no grounds for dismissal of a teacher. Richard Tauber is dead at 56. Lillian read "You and I" by Myron Brinig.

1/10 Took the kids sleigh riding in St. James. Sylvia again bumped into a tree suffering a bruise. Eugene now listens to four programs from 5-9 daily. "Tom Mix" and "Captain Midnight" have been added. 1000 Arabs invaded Palestine from Syria. They were repulsed by the British.