Tuesday, March 10, 2015

4/3-4/9/49

4/3 Sunday We visited Rachel & Mayer. Mom and Pop, Ida & Max and Yankel also there. The kids played cards, "hide the book" and "mommy and baby".

4/4 Eugene is writing a book of stories about rabbits. Sylvia came home with a story that a child was nearly run over today. Israel signed a truce with Trans-Jordan following similar pacts with Egypt and Lebanon. Kravchenko won his libel suit against Les Lettres Francais with an award of $150. Jane Wyman and Laurence Olivier won Academy Awards for their acting in "Johnny Belinda" and "Hamlet" respectively.

4/5 Sylvia had two important things to tell Lil. She saw a moving picture of "The Greedy Dog" in school and the kids went out all the way to the reservoir. Foreign Ministers of 12 nations - Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxemburg, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, United Kingdom & The United States signed the historic Atlantic Pact. It was called a guarantee of peace by the signers and aggressive by Russia. Iran claimed a Russian regiment attacked an Iranian army post. The F.B.I. captured RH Crowe banker embezzler of $690,000 in Daytona Beach, Fla. He had $54,000 with him and claimed he threw the rest into the Atlantic Ocean, having taken the money to make the bank officials angry. 86 died in an Illinois hospital fire. The defence in the trial of the '12' brought out that Budenz had borrowed money from the 'Worker' after having made up his mind to quit.

4/6 The kids went to Norma G's fifth birthday party. When Lillian told Norma she was five she answered "I'm five years old but I act like a three year old". Also recently when Norma saw Lil make my sandwiches she asked about them. When Lil told her they were for Mr. Edelstein she thought a minute then said "Oh, you mean Izzy". The taxi strike is weak with the leader resigning and many cabs rolling. Deputy Premier Kostov of Bulgaria and other leaders were arrested for Anti-sovietism and charged with being spies. Greek rebels won a big victory taking six Grammos peaks which the gov't had won in summer long fighting. A full free Greek cabinet was also announced. 

4/7 Sylvia doesn't like many foods but when she likes something she asks for more. Eugene eats most everything but rarely asks for more. The U.S. asked the General Assembly to consider the trials of Mindszenty and Bulgarian Protestant clergymen as violations of peace treaties with the countries. Truman in a speech to new members of Congress declared he would order use of the atom bomb if necessary in the future. An F.B.I. agent who has been a member of the C.P. for nine years testified the 'party' taught violent revolution.

4/8 Lil called for Sylvia when it started to rain although it had cleared up when she got there. Sylvia was so indignant that she wouldn't walk home with Lil but tagged behind. Eugene forgets to do his homework these days till Lil reminds him. F.B.I. agent H.A. Philbrick testified that Prof. Dirk Struik was a secret C.P. member who lectured on revolutionary tactics. Eight 'Atlantic Pact' nations asked arms to "preserve peace" and were promised them by America. Lil got a pair of Tru-form shoes - $16.

4/9 Sylvia drew a circus which she must send in with 25¢ for a cardboard circus set. The taxi strike was called off with the loss attributable to the handling by Lewis' Mine Union. Left wingers were ejected from a budget hearing by O'Dwyer. Russia cast its 30th Veto to keep Korea out of the U.N. US, England & France finally reached accord on the establishment of a Western German republic. A German fair opened here with much criticism and picketing.

Sunday, March 8, 2015

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.