5/15-5/21/49

5/15 Sunday We met Mac Anne & Barbara and uncle Abe and Tante Blume at the Zoo. Mac & I took the kids to the Children's Zoo after Sylvia had a pony ride. Later we went to Anne's house where we saw a television show and had a delicatessen supper.

5/16 On the wishing rock in the Children's zoo yesterday Barbara wished for a sled on christmas. Sylvia wished for a wishing ring so she could have any wish she wanted and Eugene wished for a lot of money! Lillian went to Dr. Goodfriend for a checkup on her tumor. He found the condition satisfactory and told her to come again in six months. Gerhard Eisler was taken off the Polish ship, the Batory and placed in a British prison evoking a strong protest from the Polish gov't. The Daily Compass, successor to the "Star" made its first appearance today, edited by Ted Thackery and backed by Mrs. Anita Blaine McCormick.

5/17 When Eugene asked for a penny I gave him a nickel. He left then came back to Lillian and pleaded "But I don't want a nickel, I want a penny". The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that free speech must be maintained where the speaker's words may cause unrest. The specific case was the conviction of fascist Rev. Terminiello for a violent speech. A resolution to return Ambassadors to Franco Spain was defeated at the UN when it failed by four votes to get the necessary two-thirds majority. France, England and the U.S. abstained. The Int'l Socialist conference expelled the pro-Communist Italian Socialist Party.

5/18 Sylvia asked Lil how much money we had in the City Bank. When Lil questioned her about it she burst into tears. Her friend Sandy had brought the subject up. Eisler's bail was ordered forfeited by the Federal Judge. The C.I.O. Exec Board voted to censure the left wing Mine, Mill & Smelter Workers Union 38-11. Sec'y Treas. of the Union Maurice Travis was recently badly beaten in a battle between Steel & Smelter union men. The "Legion" issued a blacklist of "fellow travelers" from Larry Adler to Martin Wolfson. F.D.R. Jr. was elected to Congress in the 20 th district to fill a vacancy caused by Sol Bloom's death. Roosevelt ran on the Liberal and Four Freedom Party lines against Democrat Shallick, Rep McIntrye and A.L.P. A. Rubinstein. His sweeping win caused a sensation. Germans voting in the Eastern zone cast a heavy vote against a list of official candidates and against the Socialist Unity program of the united Germany and evacuation by occupation forces. The program was approved 66% to 34%.

5/19 Sylvia told Lillian she'd never walk home with Sandy again. The British Labor Party expelled two left-wingers Konny Zilliacus and Leslie Solley. The C.I.O. Exec Board voted along party lines to suspend the F.E.W.U. for refusing to merge with the U.A.W. and gave left wing unions five months to sever all ties with the W.F.T.U.

5/20 Rain and cold and tears from Sylvia about wearing her slacks. There is much ado about scholarships for "Reds" for the Atomic Energy Commission. One Communist who received one has been dug up - Hans Freistadt, a naturalized Austrian. At the C.I.O. Exec. Murray asked for a purge of left wing union presidents by the membership.

5/21 Lillian took Sylvia to Dr. Witchell [?] at the Royal Hospital Building. He examined her tonsils and adenoids and said they had to come out at once. They made an appointment for Friday, the job to be done in his office. The kids went to a "movie" show in the school auditorium in the afternoon. However they both agreed the money was wasted when they came home. They liked the "Three Stooges" in "Dizzy Doctors" but didn't care for "Blondie". And there were no cartoons as had been promised. Lilienthal of the Atomic Energy Comm. under Congressional pressure agreed to a future loyalty oath to scholarship applicants to avoid "infiltration of reds". A Russian peace negotiations bid for Greece was rejected until "Russia and its satellites stop sending aid to the Greek guerrillas". Decartellization advocates in our German occupation force continue to be dismissed. The latest is Charles H Collison. Berlin railroad workers went on strike against Soviet employers who control the railroad in all zones. The workers demand payment in West marks rather than Soviet currency. Communists are battling the strikers and many casualties are occurring.