3/27-4/2/49

3/27 Sunday We went to Molly for Seth Ian's "Pidyan a Ben" leaving the kids with Mother. It was a warm humid day with about fifty people in the apartment. Seth is quite cute. Three Canadian delegates to the Peace Parley were seized as Communists, two deported and one allowed to remain. Rabid reactionaries continued to picket and rail at delegates at the Waldorf as Churchill's affair here at the Ritz-Carlton was picketed by the A.L.P.

3/28 Eugene stayed home from school again this morning complaining of a sore throat. However his temp. was normal and he ate well so Lil sent him back in the afternoon. Cantonal elections in France saw the gov't coalition retain its lead with Gaullists next. Communists while losing slightly in popular votes lost decisively in seats won due to the method of counting. Italian Senators backed the Atlantic Pact 188-112. A Russian article claimed Russia would occupy all Europe in case of war. Shostakovich asked all artists to unite against the new fascists. He attacked the U.S. severely. 18000 braved a picket line of 2000 to attend the final rally of the Peace Parley at the Garden. Speakers were Fadeyev, Prof Stapledon, Krucziwski of Poland, Villamil of Cuba, Richard Lauterbach, DuBois. A permanent action comm. was set up at the Waldorf. Speakers at the Waldorf session included Evergood, Stoll of Czech. Baranovich of Yugo. Arthur Miller, Olin Downes, Dr Wortis, Dr Boas, Clifford Odets, Fred Schuman, Dr Juan Marinello, Dr Armattoe, Agnes Smedley, Mary Van Kleeck.

3/29 Eugene again complained of a sore throat this morning but Lillian sent him to school as his temp. was normal. Sylvia has been coming home for lunch lately and saying, shaking her finger "I won't wear my slacks this afternoon", or "I won't wear my hat this afternoon the other children aren't wearing them". Czecho. sentenced two G.I.s as spies to 10 year terms.

3/30 Lillian kept Eugene out of school and took him to Dr. Holzman who said Eugene had a virus infection. He prescribed penicillin. Eugene's temp is very low. He is not to stay in bed. Sylvia played with Norma after school while Lil was at the doctor's. Gonzales won the Nat'l indoors from Don McNeill in four sets. Gertrude Moran won the women's title from Nancy Chaffee in straight sets. Delegates from the Eastern countries to the "Peace Parley" were asked to go home instead of touring the country for more meetings as they wished. A banker has vanished with $690,000 stolen from Nat'l City. Congress passed the new rent bill extending controls for 15 months with local option of ending controls and a fair net operating income for landlords. Betty Gannet [sic] was picked up for deportation.

3/31 Eugene also has conjunctivitis. He gets a drip of 5% argyrol in each eye every three hours. His throat doesn't bother him any more. Sylvia is in Group I in reading and helps the slower children. The '12' asked a mistrial because of Judge Medina's bias. The State Assembly passed the Feinberg bill to bar progressive teachers in the schools. There was some opposition. Left wingers lost in Ford elections by 5-3 showing gains over last year. Taxi drivers, affiliated with Lewis' Mine Union struck for $9 a day and settlement of many grievances. 1000 picketed Bevin on his arrival here. Left wing I.L.G.W.U. officers in L.A. were removed for following the "party line".

4/1 Eugene's eye is better and he is in good shape. He made his 300 piece jig saw puzzle and two more pieces were missing (12). He also worked on a parachute described in the Book of Kn. Russia protested the Atlantic Pact. It claimed the Pact was agressive, was counter to the U.N. and broke several agreements. Churchill in a Boston speech credited the Atom bomb with saving Europe from Russia. Syria was seized by the Army.

4/2 We went to Robert Hall clothes where I got a brown suit $38.95. Then to the "Concourse" to see "Sealed Verdict" with Ray Milland and Florence Marly and "The Paleface" with Bob Hope and Jane Russell - very funny. Sylvia did not enjoy the show. Budenz under cross examination at the trial admitted the "Worker" never advocated force and violence. Brewers struck for a 35 hour week and $8.50 increase per week. Some arrests and violence occurred in the cab strike.