Armstead Brown Diaries_1945 - Supreme Court of Florida
[ARMSTEAD BROWN DIARIES. 1946.]
Tuesday, January 1, 1946.
Clear and cold.
Lizzie still improving. Cook, Mary, again on the job this morning.
I went to the office for 1-1/2 hrs. this morning, and again this afternoon. Most of this time was spent in writing letters.
Judge Raleigh Pettering of Miami has announced that he would run to succeed me; that if I had not said I would not run, he would not have announced. That if I had decided to run again, I would not have had any opposition.
The Pearl Harbor Committee heard testimony by Admiral Stark today. He said he had given Kimmel ample warning to take every precaution.
I hope I can get back to work again tomorrow. I have not been able to do any work since Dec. 22nd. And I’ve got lots of letters to be written. Hope Annie gets back safely tomorrow.
Our Sup. Ct. Bldg was not heated at all today—being a holiday.
The New Year begins cold but clear. And Lizzie is improving. May God bless us all and give us & our country a good and great New Year.
Alabama Crimson Tide won the Rose Bowl game today 34 to 14—over University of So. California. Miami won Orange Bowl.
Wednesday, January 2, 1946.
Cold and Clear.
Did a little work in office this morning and wrote some letters. Had some visitors.
Annie left here for Stamford thinking she had return reservations for Jan.1st so as to get back home today—this afternoon. I heard over the radio early this morning that the Silver Meteor, on which she was supposed to be, had been derailed at Blaney[?] SC. about 5 a.m. and two persons had been killed and a number of others injured. I did not tell Lizzie, and when I got to the office I found a letter from Annie dated Dec. 30, saying she had discovered when she got to N.Y. that her reservations for return trip were for Jan. 4th and that she had tried to get them changed to Jan. 1st but had not up to that time succeeded. It was a good thing she did not. Then at noon I told Lizzie. Meanwhile I had attempted unsuccessfully to get thru the Assoc. Press the names of the persons killed & hurt. Tonight Lizzie phoned Annie at Stanford and she was there.
Lizzie had visitors, Mary Maud from 5:30 to 8 pm & then the Cowles from 9 to nearly 11 p.m. Result, a bad attack of asthma.
Thursday, January 3, 1946. Warmer.
A fine day—clear, and warm by noon.
Had a good many things to do and did not get to offices till 11 A.m. Then John Dismuth[?] came in and stayed till nearly 1, when I went to lunch.
This afternoon Judge Chapman and I played golf from 4 to 5:45. I won by one up. Felt much better afterward.
Tonight Liz stayed up with me in the living room. I read the papers and listened to the radio.
President Truman made a radio address to the people tonight, the object of which was to get the people behind Congress and compel them to take action to put his recommendations into law—most of which are good, some I am in doubt about.
Friday, January 4, 1946. Warmer.
A fine, mild day. Clouding up in afternoon.
The public response to the President’s address last night is hard to figure out this early, but it is by no means enthusiastic so far. Wm. Green says the A. F. of L. is opposed to the fact finding boards. So is management. It looks like we are headed for a split in the Democratic ranks in Congress. Sen. Taft, republican, made a radio talk tonight strongly attacking the President’s speech.
Managed to do some work in office today, and wrote some letters.
Lizzie is slowly improving.
Saturday, January 5, 1946. Rain & wind.
Cloudy and warm, with strong gusty winds, and lots of thunder and rain in late afternoon and night.
I passed on several cases coming in from the other judges—mostly per curiam affirmations, and wrote a number of letters & made out my Claim to homestead exemption and my County tax returns.
Annie returned from her trip to Stanford. I went down through heavy rain to meet the Jax. bus, but got there a little late and Annie went home in a taxi. I got there almost as soon as she did. Then a little later I went to a party at the Fain’s—to newly wed Elizabeth DeMiley.
Sunday, January 6, 1946.
Cloudy--warm—pretty strong Southerly winds.
Not feeling well this morning.
Played golf this aft. with Judge C. & felt better tonight. John Dismuth came to see us from 5:30 to 8 pm.
During past few days Eastern Texas has been hard hit by storms. 29 people killed & over 200 injured. Many homes damaged or destroyed. Property damage over a million dollars.
Monday, January 7, 1946. Mild—Cloudy.
Mostly cloudy with S. winds. Clearing in afternoon, with winds shifting to S.W. and getting a bit cooler.
Had a busy day in office passing on various cases, and writing letters, paying bills, etc. This morning we had a court conference on disputed cases from about 11 to 12:30.
Lizzie up and about but far from well yet. This morning our cook Mary had a sick spell and Lizzie had to cook dinner. Mary lay on the floor of the breakfast room for several hours, and after dinner I had to take her home. Then I went to Dr. Brevard’s[?] office & had some ingrowing eye lids pulled out.
The Army failed to get as many men by enlistment as it expected, and has ordered the slowing down of bringing the boys back home, as we must keep a large number in Germany, Japan & various other places. This has caused a lot of disappointment. Many of the 12,000 soldiers in Manila staged a demonstration march of remonstrance.
Now we are threatened with a telephone & telegraph strike.
Tuesday, January 8, 1946. Warm. Cloudy.
Mostly cloudy—with strong Southerly winds, dying down somewhat in the late afternoon.
A good many visitors today. Spent most of the time dictating letters and passing on cases.
This aft. Judge Ch. & I played golf until nearly dark. I won 2 up—with a 48. Played the 10th to 13th—4 holes—in 20, and then took 28 for the last 5 holes. I got a bit tired.
Tonight we had Walter Cowles & Leonard and Katherine Stickney to cocktails & dinner. Very nice. They stayed until almost 10.45.
Wednesday, January 9, 1946. Rain, but continued mild weather.
Cloudy and still warm, with considerable rain at times during the day.
Had a pretty busy day, but frequent visitors. This afternoon I had a nice [ ? ] visit from Dana Brown. He does not like the Louisville climate. Wishes the Company would make Atlanta its & his headquarters. Then Dana went out to see Lizzie & was there when Annie and I got home from work at 6:20. He’s a fine young man.
Our soldiers are demonstrating all over the world against the slow down in demobilization. Gen Eisenhower has authorized Commanders every where to send home any man they do not really need.
The strike situation is bad. Telephone & Telegraph workers are striking or threatening to strike. Washington seems to have agreed to allow steel to go up in price to enable the companies to pay the higher wages demanded—an inflationary move—unwise.
Thursday, January 10, 1946. Clear & Mild.
Mostly clear. A fine day.
On bench and in conference all morning. Office work this aft., & some work at home tonight. Pretty tired.
The United Nations Organization had its first session of the meeting in London today—51 Nations represented. A Belgian was elected President—Dr. Spotz—by a vote of 28 to 23. England supported him. The U.S. & Russian delegates voted for a Norwegian. I believe—and pray that this organization of the Nations for Peace will work and grow and develop into an effective force to preserve the Peace of the World. It must do so.
The President’s fact finding board filed its report today. It held that the auto workers should have an increase of 17-1/2 percent in wages & that Gen. Motors should be allowed to raise prices sufficient to cover the increased wages. This was done on the ground that the increase in the cost of living justified it. Nothing was said about the ability to pay more without price increases. It is believed this report will be accepted by both sides.
Saturday, January 12, 1946. Warm.
Mostly clear. Nice day for golf but I didn’t get to play. Warm afternoon.
In spite of the telephone strike, Lizzie managed to get a call through to Dow, who was much surprised. Dow said he & Hilda were leaving on a two weeks trip, and advised that Joseph be left where he is until his return. Dr. Owensby says Joe is well enough to go anywhere he wants to if he would only exert himself. I hope he will consent to keep Joe awhile longer.
Worked in office all day and wrote a lot of letters this aft.
Gen Eisenhower has been the guest of Canada the past week. Captivated everybody. Wonderfully fine man.
Sunday, January 13, 1946.
Clear & cooler. N.W. wind.
Not feeling so good today. Played golf with Judge C. this afternoon. I puffed a lot going up hills. Tired afterward but felt better.
Took it easy tonight. Lizzie & Annie & I read and listened to some good radio programs.
It was announced tonight that the telephone operator’s strike had been called off & that they had requested the Western Elec. union to stop picketing.
Monday, January 14, 1946. Rain at night.
Cloudy & foggy early morning, and cloudy all day, with rain at 11:30 pm.
My division busy with Motion day business all morning. Judge Paul Barns, of Miami, sitting in Judge Thomas’ place. The latter will be with Mrs. Thomas in Jacksonville for two weeks. They are expecting an addition to the family during that time.
Glad to have Judge Barns with us. He’s an old friend of mine.
The steel strike, due to start today, postponed for one week.
The telephone strike has been postponed for 30 days to comply with the law for 30 days notice before taking a strike vote.
But other strikes are on, and others threatened.
What a spectacle!
Have not been feeling any too well today.
Former Justice Byrnes, now Sec’y of State, made a fine speech at the United Nations meeting today in London. Was heartily applauded. He advocated the creation of a Commission to study and control atomic energy “for the welfare and not the warfare” of mankind.
Tuesday, January 15, 1946. Warm. Some rain.
Cloudy—considerable rain last night & some today. Quite warm.
On bench in a whole court case for 1-1/2 hours this morning, and in conference this aft. from 3 to 4. Then office work till about 6 p.m. A little work tonight.
Have felt much better today.
Had very pleasant visits during the day from lawyers all of whom regretted my recent announcement to retire.
The telephone workers in Washington are trying to get around the legal requirement of a 30 day notice before striking by calling a continuous meeting. So Washington is without telephone service except a few long distance emergency calls.
Gen Eisenhower made a firm but satisfactory statement today, giving the real facts as to past and future demobilization, which ought to stop the rather disgraceful soldier demonstrations in Manila and Germany.
Gen. Homma is now on trial in Manila—and the Nuremberg trials in Germany are still going on.
Wednesday, January 16, 1946. Cooler
Mostly cloudy. Considerable rain last night. Getting cooler tonight. S.W. to W. & N.W. winds.
The whole court was on the bench for quite awhile this Morning. I wrote a dissenting opinion this afternoon.
Had a very pleasant visit this afternoon from my old Miami friend—a real estate man—Frank Pepper[?] who used to represent the Model Land Co. & Purina-Grant Land Co., Flagler corporations, when I lived in Miami—a fine man. I interested him in the sale of papa’s old home place in Miami which Dow & I had to take over under a heavy mortgage.
The strike situation seems to get worse. The U.S. Steel Corp’n & the C. I. O. are still at loggerheads. Benj. Fairless[?], Pres. of U.S. Steel, & Philip Murray of the C. I. O. were given until tomorrow to get together by Pres. Truman who said if they did not he was going to do something.
268,000 meat packers went on strike today. It looks like the Country will be out of meat in a week or so. Congress ought to pass some statutes regulating Labor Unions, as suggested by Senator Byrd.
Thursday, January 17, 1946. Cold
Clear and cold.
On bench all morning.
This aft. about 5:30 I invited Judge Paul Barns to run out home with me for cocktails. He evidently thought I meant for dinner—So we had drinks & sat in the living room & talked & talked till about 9:30. Then Liz suggested that we go to the Silver Slipper for dinner, which we did, arriving there about 10 pm. We ordered a steak dinner. Mighty poor. But we had a good time. Paul is good company & a fine fellow.
Friday, January 18, 1946. Cold.
Clear and cold morning, but warmed up considerably by afternoon. So Judge C. & I played golf. I played the 10th 11th & 12th holes very well, but not so good after that & wound up with a 49 to Ch’s 46. My drive on the short 11th came very near being a hole in one. Stopped only 4 inches from the cup.
Didn’t get much work done today. Visitors took up a large part of the morning & golf most of afternoon.
The U.S. Steel Companies reduced the 18-1/2¢ pr. hr. increase in wages suggested by the President. Mr. Fairless said that an increase of 15¢ pr. hr. was as far as the steel companies could possibly go. So—in spite of their contract not to strike before next October, Philip Murray had ordered the strike to begin at midnight this coming Sunday night. A prolonged steel strike would be disastrous to the country, and to call it in the face of their contract puts the unions in an indefensible and morally wrong position. This may require the President to have the Army take over the operation of the steel companies, & may also result in Congressional action the Unions won’t like.
Saturday, January 19, 1946.
Partly cloudy, but a very good day.
A good many interruptions, but got some work done.
This morning “Jes” Semple of Miami and Coral Gables called. I went to see him for a short while in his room at the Cherokee, and tonight he and Paul Barns called to see us in our home about 9 to 10:30. We all thoroly enjoyed their visit.
It looks like the Steel strike is going to take place—tomorrow night—I wonder if the President will exercise his war powers & take over the steel plants; technically he could I guess, as peace has not been officially proclaimed and the peace treaties not yet signed.
The meat packers & auto workers are striking. The public is in for lots of punishment.
Sunday, January 20, 1946.
Cloudy—S. Wind. Slow rain for good part of day.
We took lunch with the Cowles & Catherine S. at the College today—It was excellent.
Didn’t sleep much last night, so got up very late this morning.
With the Steel workers, the auto workers and the meat packers on strike, & the subways in N.Y. closed down also, the country is in a bad way.
Both President & Congress must get busy. The public good comes first.
Monday, January, 21, 1946.
Mostly cloudy. Moderately warm.
We had a somewhat extended oral argument this morning. Ted Semple had brought up for review an order of the Dade Co. Circuit Court dismissing a bill he had filed to enjoin the enforcement of an act applying to counties having over 260,000 population which authorized the County Comm’rs to set up a water conservation & control commission in Dade County—the only one over 260,000 population—on the ground that the act was in fact a local act which had not been advertised or submitted to a referendum vote. He argued his side very well. The other side was represented by the attorneys for the County Commissioners. Pretty close question.
This aft Judge Chapman & I played golf.
I called on Gov. Caldwell this morning. He wants me to reconsider and become a candidate to succeed myself—or retired now so he can appoint some good man. He is afraid the election will result in a selection of some incapable man. I am going to stand pat on my published announcement.
Tuesday, January 22, 1946. Rain-Cold.
Dark, rainy & cold morning; slow rain all day. Getting quite cold tonight.
Gen. Walter T. Short defended his action, or non-action in his testimony today before the Pearl Harbor Investigating Committee, saying he was not informed by the War Dept. and that his reply of 9 days before the Jap. attack that he was ordering an alert against sabotage only, was not criticized by the War Dept. & he considered that his course was satisfactory. He said that an attempt had been made to make him the scape-goat for the War Dept’s own mistakes. And so it goes.
1,700,000 union workers are now on strike. The welfare of the country is being jeopardized. Congress should pass the statute introduced by Senator Byrd of Virginia. It is believed that the Government will take over and operate the meat packing plants tomorrow. Indeed it seems that the President will have to order the Army to take over the Steel Industry & Gn. Motors until the strike is settled, that is, until the companies & the Unions reach an agreement. Surely, I hope, if the government takes over, the employees will go back to work. It should not be possible for the welfare of the Nation to be this jeopardized. Congress must pass some strong regulations.
Wednesday, January 23, 1946. Cold.
Mostly clear, hazy in early morning. Quite cold.
Lots of interruptions—but did some work. Mostly on cases coming in from other judges. Had to write a good many letters.
Now we hear over the radio that the R. R. train men are threatening to strike, over 200,000 of them, and some 85[,]000 engineers.
The President through the Dept of Agriculture will seize the meat packing plants Saturday night, but says he will not seek to take over the Steel companies now—that he does not think it practical.
I have not heard anything from Annie Mae Hollingsworth for sometime, and I wrote her sister Effie to let me know how she is getting on. I fear she is nearing the end and is suffering intensely. Cancer is a terrible thing. It is terrible that such a fine woman should be so cruelly stricken. I have never had a better friend.
Thursday, January 24, 1946. Cold.
Hazy early morning—clear most of the day—but with almost stormy winds in afternoon, S.W. to West & then N.W. & getting colder tonight.
We had one argument this morning on motion to recall mandate in Thompkin Corporation v. Miller—Tom Anderson for and Luther Mirsham[?] against the motion to recall. The motion to recall was denied. Then we had a conference on a bunch of cases, most of which were disposed of and handed down.
I worked till dark. Tonight we had a call from Gunter Stevenson, and a friend, from Winter Haven. Gunter seemed to be well, but much thinner than when he went into the Navy. His friend, Mr. Keith, is a State Highway patrolman, and a fine young man.
The U.N.O. adopted a resolution in London today to set up a Commission on the control of atomic energy. Mr. Byrnes, our Secy of State, made a fine speech, which was well received by the Convention, and then returned, [ ? ] on his return to Washington. No change in the awful strike situation.
Friday, January 25, 1946. Cold.
Clear and cold. N.W. wind. Did some work in office—mostly on cases coming from the other judges. Called on Judge Barns for 30 or 45 minutes. He is occupying Judge Thomas’ office.
Our army radar men contacted the moon yesterday with radar beams or whatever they are.
The C. I. O. meat plant workers, through their leader charged that Pres Truman had “double-crossed” them and ordered their members not to go back to work when the Government takes over the plants tomorrow—a strike against the government? Disgraceful. “Whom the gods would destroy they first make mad.[“] The A. F. of L. ordered their members to go back to work. So Pres. Truman is insulted and defied.
Saturday, January 26, 1946. A bit warmer.
Fine day. Clear & mild.
After an hour’s conference this morning I dictated an opinion till 1 p.m. After lunch, I drove uptown, then out to the links and played golf with Judge Ch. from 3:30 to 5:30. Then home. Enjoyed the game, but approaching and putting made my score 51.
Well—the 193,000 C. I. O. meatpackers have been ordered by their officers to go back to work. The Gov[‘]t takes over at midnight tonight. The strikes against Ford and Chrysler have been settled at 18-1/2 pr. hr. increase. But U.S. Steel and Gen. Motors are still standing pat. We will soon have meat, by [he may have meant “but”] without steel, industry can’t go on.
Today, a jet plane flew from [ ? ], Cal to New York in 4 hrs 13-1/2 minutes.
Sunday, January 27, 1946. Cold.
Clear and cool.
Spent a quiet day. Needed it.
This afternoon I called on Judge Whitfield for an hour or more. Enjoyed it very much. He is bothered about the F. E. P. C. bill, and hopes the Southern Senators will succeed in their filibuster. I do too. It is a most unwise bill. [NOTE: Fair Employment Practices Commission, created in 1941 by President Roosevelt to stop racial discrimination in businesses that received Federal contracts. It continued to operate after the war, but attempts to make the commission permanent were filibustered several times by Southern senators.]
Monday, January 28, 1946. Cold.
Mostly clear and cold. Somewhat hazy in morning. We have had six days of cold weather out of the past seven days.
Busy hearing motions till nearly noon. Office work most of the day. A good many visitors.
There is a belief in Washington that the strikes against Gen. Motors and the U.S. Steel Corp’n will be settled during the week by an agreement to allow a raise in prices to offset the increase of 18-1/2¢ pr. hor. in ways which the President proposed. So the public would be the goat. This also would be a step towards Inflation.
The filibuster against the F. E. P. C. bill is in its 9th day. An effort to invoke cloture is being made, but it will take 2/3 of the Senate to do this. I doubt if they can get the 2/3. I hope and believe the Southern Senators will win out and defeat this bill. Gov., now Senator Hoey of N.C. made a great speech on Jan. 23rd.
Jimmy is back in California. Has just called up Annie. Hope he will be released.
Tuesday, January 29, 1946. Mild.
Warm today. Hazy most of the day—and somewhat cloudy. No real clear sunshine.
Had a good many visitors during the day, but managed to do quite a lot of work.
Not feeling so well tonight.
No cook yet. Lizzie has entirely too much to do. She has Lilly, Mary Maud’s servant to do cleaning up in the afternoons, which is considerable help. Lilly is a nice Negro and quite efficient.
Jimmy’s ship landed at Long Beach, Cal. yesterday morning. He called up Annie about 12 o’clock last night. He was due to be released from duty Feby 6th but as the man who is to take his place was on hand when he landed he thinks he can acquaint him with his duty in two or 3 days.
Judge Paul Barns is still with us. No word from Judge Thomas. He & Mrs. T were expecting a baby to arrive shortly after Jan’y 15th. So the doctor must have made a bad guess.
Harry Hopkins, right hand man of the late Pres. Roosevelt, died today. After a long illness.
Wednesday, January 30, 1946. Rather warm.
Mostly clear and mild.
Busy day in office. Got two opinions written and passed on a number of cases.
Had two talks with Judge Paul Barns. He is thinking seriously of running to succeed me. I hope he does. He is well qualified and honest and has plenty of courage.
Negotiations are going on in the two big strike situations, but U.S. Steel says they cannot grant the 18-1/2¢ per hr. increase without the government allowing a $6 per ton increase in price of steel. Gen. Motors say they can’t increase wages without increasing prices of cars.
House Rule Committee side-tracked the Presidents fact finding bill and allowed the Case bill to go before the House. This bill would put some strong and needed regulations on labor unions and set up a Mediation Board to settle disputes. But if the big strikes are settled Congress will not likely pass this bill. The Unions would fight it tooth & nail.
This is the birthday of that man of destiny—Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Thursday, January 31, 1946. Rain—Cool. A united China agreed on.
Warm, rainy morning—cloudy afternoon—getting colder tonight.
On bench this morning. In office balance of day.
Lizzie not at all well.
Judge Paul Barns qualified today and will run to succeed me. I am glad. I believe he is the best qualified man who has yet entered the race.
#
Plans for a re-united China have been worked out between Chiang and the Communists under the guidance of Gen. Marshall. The Armies of both sections of China will be united into one army, reduced in size, & under the dominance of the United China government, which is to have an elective legislative body and local self government to be set up in each of the provinces.
Friday, February 1, 1946. Cold.
Clear & cold. N. W. to N. Wind.
On bench & in conference for 1-1/2 hours this morning. Many visitors and other outside matters kept me from doing much work.
No one qualified against Judge Chapman by 12 noon; so he will have no opposition. Good! If I had not announced a month ago that I would not run, Judge C. would have had opposition.
No decisive developments in the strike situation. So the big strikes are still on. The shutdown of steel plants is seriously crippling other industries.
The filibuster against the infamous F. E. P. C. bill still goes on in the Senate. Senator Russell of Ga. made a strong speech against the bill several days ago. Also Tydings of Maryland. I hope the filibusters will force the withdrawal of the bill.
Tonight we went to a cocktail party at the Stickneys.
Saturday, February 2, 1946. Cold.
Clear and still cold. N.W. to N. wind.
Uneventful day.
Did not get to hear the radio tonight as we had company.
Worked in office till 6 p.m.
No break in the big strikes. U.S. Steel says they cannot grant the increased wages recommended by the Pres. unless the O. P. A [Office of Price Administration, created in 1941 and abolished in 1947] grants an increase of $6.00 per ton in steel. And Gen. Motors says they will have to increase the price of cars. And the meat packers—now in Gov’t hands—say they will have to increase the price of meat in order to meet the demands of the Unions. I guess they are right. But the increase in wages of the workers will be offset by higher prices and do the Unions no good. And the general public will be the chief sufferer from all this inflation.
Sunday, February 3, 1946. Warmer.
Bright, clear & cold morning. Wind veering from N. to East. Very high barometer.
We took lunch at the College going with the Cowles. Dr. & Mrs. Campbell were at our table.
This morning Lizzie and Annie went to the hospital this morning to see our cook Mary. She’s improving.
This afternoon Judge Chapman & I played golf. Judge Barns went around with us.
Monday, February 4, 1946. Warmer.
Mostly clear and warmer.
Pretty busy in office. But not much accomplished.
Tonight I called on Mr. & Mrs. Stickney. I like Mr. Stickney very much. Had a very pleasant visit. Leonard Cowles & Catherine were leaving for a party when I got there.
The Supreme Court today by a 6 to 2 vote held that Yamashito’s trial by a Military Court in Manila was a legal trial. So his conviction for countenancing the cruel treatment & killings by his troops of American & Filipino prisoners; and sentence of death will be carried out when approved by Gen. MacArthur.
The absurd charge by the Russian delegate to the U. N. O. that the presence of British troops in Greece was a threat to world peace stirred up quite a row. Ernest Bevin did strong plain speaking-said the charge was a lie.
Now the tug boat workers and 30[,]000 longshoremen have struck and tied up shipping in New York. The unions have no regard for the public.
Tuesday, February 5, 1946. Still warmer.
Fine, mild day. with brisk So. winds.
In conference for quite awhile this morning.
Tonight at 6:30 to 8:30 we gave a little party to Leonard Cowles & his fiancé and had Mr. & Mrs. Stickney & their daughter Bobbie, & the Cowles and Mr. & Mrs. Harrison.
The Gen. Motors Strike has been on now for over two months. Ford says he will have to close down this week on account of the steel strike. The labor unions are doing great damage to the country in their misuse of power. “Whom the gods would destroy they first make mad.”
The House passed the Case bill today—a strong union regulation measure. The public are for it. About 2/3 of the Members voted for it. It’s a good bill. Hope it passes the Senate. But the vote will have to be taken tomorrow, as one member demanded the reading of the entire bill & all amendments.
Wednesday, February 6, 1946. Rain
A dark& rainy day—but not cold.
Worked hard in office. Got out an opinion & about finished another.
The Russian delegate, Vichinsky[sic], finally withdrew his charge before the U. N. O. that the presence of British troops in Greece endangered world peace. A foolish charge.
Jews attacked a British port in Palestine today & killed one British officer. The attack was repulsed with some losses on both sides. These Jews in Palestine are going for their objects the wrong way.
The Case bill to regulate labor unions was pushed over to tomorrow for final action in the House.
Thursday, February 7, 1946. Clear & colder.
Fair & cold morning—N. Winds—
Worked in office. Got an opinion of about 8 pages completed. At 4 pm went with Judge C. for a golf game. Theo Brevard invited himself to play with us. Judge C. made a 46, I a 49. Tonight I worked for 2 hrs. on a case in which Div. A. is divided.
The Case bill was passed by the House this morning by a vote of 258 for and 155 against. For it were 149 Repubs. & 109 Democrats; Against, 120 Democrats, 33 Republicans & 2 mixed part members. Most all of the Southern Democrats, I am glad to say, voted for the bill. It was passed by a coalition of Northern Republicans and Southern Democrats.
The U. N. O. delegates from the Ukraine jumped on the British about Indonesia. charged that British troops made war on the Indonesians. Ernest Bevin got hot again, and said that the charge was a lie. The Convention of the U. N. O., its first, has not been very harmonious so far. Russia is back of the Ukraine’s charges.
Friday, February 8, 1946.
Partly cloudy.
On bench and in conference for about 2 hrs this morning. Worked balance of day on cases written by other judges.
The President has cancelled his intended trip to Florida within the next day or two. That means the negotiations for settlement of the Steel & Gen. Motors strikes have struck a snag. What the snag is we do not know, but the surmise is that it’s the question of an allowance of price increases, and how much. It is said that OPA Director Bowles demands that no price increases be allowed, while the other members of the President’s official family are of a contrary view, and that the only problem is how much. Both U.S. Steel and Gen Motors say that it will take a substantial increase in prices to enable them to pay the President’s proposal of 18-1/2¢ pr. hr. increase in wages. Meanwhile what the Country needs is production—and plenty of it. Otherwise, inflation looms.
Saturday, February 9, 1946.
Cloudy, warmer. So. wind.
Worked in office till 12, then went to Dr. Brown’s office. Had to wait awhile. Also had to park 2 blocks away. Got back to office at 1 p.m. The parking problem has become acute in Tallahassee.
Well—the Southern Senators won out in their fight against the misnamed Fair Employment Practices Commission bill. The effort to invoke the cloture rule did not muster the necessary 2/3 of the Senate. So, with the prospect of unlimited filibusters, the F. E. P. C. bill was withdrawn by its introducers—Chavez of New Mexico and others. Now the Senate can proceed to consider more worthy and important legislation.
Sunday, February 10, 1946.
Mostly clear & getting colder in late afternoon & night. Wind getting N.W.
Played golf this afternoon--& tonight Lizzie & I went to Mr. Bob McClure’s home where we met Mr. & Mrs Chas. Davis of Madison. Judge & Mrs. Chapman & Judge & Mrs. Terrell were there.
We took Susie Spence to dinner today out at the Chicken Place.
Monday, February 11, 1946. Cold.
Clear & cold. N.W. wind changing to West in afternoon.
My division was on for Motion day business. We were in session for about 2 hrs. Judge Buford sat in Judge Thomas’ place.
Had a very nice visit from Miss Abrams—formerly Judge Sebring’s secretary. She now has an easy job—Secretary to Fed. Dist. Judge Lang[?]
Worked on a hard case this afternoon.
Lizzie not at all well.
Jimmy W. called up tonight. Said he could not get any reservations to visit us sooner than the 26th—if then.
No settlement of the big strikes yet.
Tuesday, February 12, 1946.
Somewhat hazy, early morning, but clearing up by 10 and a bright pretty afternoon & night.
This afternoon I received a telegram from Lan (A.D.) Lipscomb, Auburn, Ala. telling of Aunt Kate’s death—which was not unexpected, as she has been very ill for a long time. I phoned Liz and she ordered flowers. Annie leaves on a 5:15 bus tomorrow morning to attend the funeral at 3 p.m. tomorrow. Lizzie is not well enough to go, and I will stay with her.
New York was like a deserted city today. Last night Mayor O’Bryan ordered practically all businesses and office buildings closed today—to save fuel and light & power for the hospitals and other essential activities. This was caused by the strike of 3500 tug boat men. Pittsburg was tied up by a transportation and Electric workers strike-Causing great confusion and endangering the carrying on of the hospitals. The electric Company’s rates are fixed by the state government. Philadelphia was tied up by a strike of taxi operators & bus operators. These are strikes against the public welfare.
Wednesday, February 13, 1946. Ickes resigns.
Partly cloudy—Strong blustery southerly winds. But very pleasant temperatures.
Spent most of the day writing an opinion. An hour or so passing on opinions and petitions for rehearing.
I am worried about Lizzie. She is far from well. Overworked. Nervous. Can’t sleep. I suggested that she go to the Atlanta in B’ham Clinic for a thorough examination and some rest. But she said no.
Sec’y Harold L. Ickes, who has made a very able and honest Secretary of the Interior for 13 years, resigned today, effective Mch 1st. The President made it effective Feby 15th. Cause: the President appointed Edwin W. Pauley as Under Secretary of the Navy. Ickes was called to testify before the Senate Committee investigating Pauley’s qualifications. In response to questions he said Pauley had asked him to drop the suit to establish the Federal ownership of timberlands. Many of these are oil producing. Pauley said if the suit was dropped he could raise $300,000 for Democrats campaign fund from oil men. This was back in 1944. Pauley denied it. The President said Ickes might have been mistaken. Ickes resented this.
Thursday, February 14, 1946. Formula on wages & prices announced.
Mostly clear. Wind veering to the W. and N.W. and getting cold in the afternoon & night.
Spent most of the day working on an opinion.
Annie returned allright tonight.
Ickes letter of resignation to the Pres. yesterday morning and his press conference about noon created a sensation. No such caustic letter has been addressed to a President of the U.S. But Ickes is in a class by himself. Able & honest, but with a very caustic tongue and plenty of grit, he has been a picturesque and colorful figure in Washington for 13 years. This episode will have repercussions in the elections of this year and 1948, and will probably be detrimental to Pres. Truman and the Dem party.
The United Nations Conference is about over, but the Security Council will have a session tomorrow. The Russian effort to have an investigation of British activities in Indonesia was defeated. N.Y. City was selected as the temporary headquarters while a permanent site is being prepared & build probably in Westchester County & adjoining sections of Conn.
The Administration gave out a formula tonight for raising prices and wages (U.S. Steel gets a rate of $5 per ton on steel) which it is believed will result in settling all the big strikes. The public pays the bill.
Friday, February 15, 1946.
Clear and cold.
In conference practically all morning. Busy in office this aft. to 6:30.
Well---The Steel strike is settled. Wages raised to 18-1/2¢ per hr., retroactive to Jan. 1st. U.S. Steel will get a rise of 5.00 per ton.
Chas. E. Wilson, Pres. of Gen. Motors, and R.J. Thomas, Pres of the Union-are conferring for the first time tonight and it is believed the strike of Auto workers will be settled. It has been going on for about 4 mos.
The Prime Minister, King, of Canada, announced tonight that government employees had given out information to foreign agents about the making of the atomic bomb and that a thorough investigation will be made under Supreme Court Justices.
The United Nations adjourned the London Conference last night. The Security Council will hold its last session tomorrow. Lebanon & Syria are complaining about the presence of British & French troops and the Russians are making a fuss about it.
Saturday, February 16, 1946.
Mostly overcast, cloudy & cool.
Worked in office all day. Most of the time working on that hard opinion in the case of Greenwood v. Rotfort, a Miami case—difficult.
Not much news tonight.
I read a case written by one of the other judges tonight.
Lizzie & Annie & Mrs. Cowles went to the movies. I stayed home & read a Perry Mason story that Ted Semple gave me when he was here recently—“The Counterfeit Eye”—a fine mystery story.
Sunday, February 17, 1946.
Mostly clear and warmer.
My hard mental work the past few days resulted in not much sleep last night and felt pretty bad all day & tonight.
We had Susie Spencer to dinner with us today. She stayed till 3 o’clock & then had to go to work at Capitol. She is one of a Committee of Teachers on Selection of school books.
Monday, February 18, 1946.
Cloudy. A light rain in afternoon.
On bench & in conference most of the morning.
Worked on that opinion this afternoon. Mr. Martin Adams of Miami called to see me. His daughter is in College here.
The telephone workers—long distance—are threatening to strike. What’s the matter with labor unions these days? They strike before any chance at mediation and settlement of disputes is given.
Tuesday, February 19, 1946. Rain
Hard rain this morning. Cleared up in afternoon.
Worked in office this morning and a little this afternoon. Had a very pleasant visit this afternoon from Mr. Wonder H. Surrency of Sarasota. He is a very well read and scholarly man. Lost his boy in the war and his wife last year. I enjoyed his visit though he stayed from 4 to 6 p.m.
Worked tonight on a puzzling case written by one of the other judges.
Lizzie feeling terribly today. Has been doing entirely too much for one who suffers from arthritis, asthma and sleeplessness.
Finished that hard opinion today—18 pages.
Wednesday, February 20, 1946. Pretty cold.
Clear & colder. N.W. wind again.
Busy day in office, and also worked tonight at home for 2 hours on two tough cases written by other judges, in which the court is split up.
A day or so ago the Canadian government said Russian espionage agents had been in Canada and had secured information as to some of the steps which had been taken in Canada for the making of atomic bombs. Today a Russian official in Moscow brazenly admitted that they had secured certain information, which they already knew, and which was worthless to them. Then he criticized Canada severely for making public this Russian spying. Russia’s attitude toward her former allies is very strange and beneath the dignity of a great nation which assumes to be working with other nations for preservation of world peace.
Thursday, February 21, 1946.
Still pretty cool-but very pleasant afternoon. Clear.
On bench all morning.
Played golf with Judge Chapman and young John Fain this afternoon.
Lizzie & Annie went to a concert tonight. I stayed home & worked.
Jimmy W. phoned about 8:45 that Tom Lovejoy was going to get him reservations to come to see us about a week from now. Jimmy said he got them, & didn’t know how Tom was so sure he could turn the trick.
Friday, February 22, 1946.
Fair and pleasant.
On bench & in conference all morning and from 3 to 4 pm.
At 5 I went to the golf course and watched the players in the Tournament. We had teams of six men from Thomasville, Albany, Moultrie and Valdosta. Some fine players among them.
We had a visit from Mary Maud from 6 to 8. Tonight Annie went with the Cowles to call on the Stickneys & play bridge. Liz & I stayed home. I did a little work tonight.
In spite of playing golf yesterday afternoon, I didn’t get to sleep till 4 a.m. I worked pretty hard reading records & briefs till 12 o’clock. May be that had something to do with it.
Saturday, February 23, 1946.
Mostly fair & warm, but while we were at the pictures tonight it rained and thundered some. The Cowles took us in their car. The picture was “They Were Expendable,” starring Rob[‘]t Montgomery & Donna Russ [Donna Reed]. Very good.
Worked in office all day. Cleared up all the cases from other judges. Next week I’ll start on my own cases. I have three to write, but one of them is such a big record & so hard I’ve been putting it off nearly a year. But I’m going to start on it next week, in spite of the oral arguments I’ll have to listen to.
Lizzie is worn out tonight.
Sunday, February 24, 1946.
Fair, with strong blustery winds. West to N.W. and getting colder in late afternoon & evening.
I slept till nearly 10 o’clock. We had late breakfast—too late to go to church. Lizzie not well enough anyway.
This afternoon I called on Judge Whitfield & Judge Ellis. I think I am the only one of our court who calls on them. Judge Ellis is completely blind, but his mind is as good as ever.
Monday, February 25, 1946.
A beautiful day. Very pleasant afternoon.
Wrote an opinion today in a comparatively easy case. Cleaned up everything in my office but the big hard case I’ve been putting off so long—Cone v. Benjamin—and I started working on that.
Had arguments this morning and one Motion-counsel from Miami; Jacksonville & Tallahassee all heard from
Took a long walk on golf course late this afternoon.
The election in Argentina passed off peacefully yesterday but it will be several weeks yet before the ballots are counted. It is believed that Tamborini won over Peron by a large majority, but what may happen to the ballots during the long counting period?
The epidemic of strikes goes on apace. New York is scheduled to have a subway strike tomorrow night, and utility workers in several other large cities are threatening strikes.
Tuesday, February 26, 1946.
Cloudy and warmer.
Spent most of my time today working on my income tax report.
This afternoon about 4:15 I joined Judge Ch. for golf. Enjoyed it. Felt better afterward.
Annie took dinner with “Bobbie” at the Stickneys & played cards afterwards. It is now 11:20 & she has not returned.
Hope Jimmy & family make the connection at Jax. for the morning train to Tallahassee. If not, they will have to take a long bus ride.
Lizzie is not at all well, & still we can’t get a cook.
Most of the threatened utility strikes were called off today. The subway employees were striking in N.Y. to compel the recognition of their union as the sole bargaining agent, regardless of the other unions involved. On this fantastic basis they intended to make several million people helpless. No wonder they backed down.
Wednesday, February 27, 1946. Rain
Cloudy, with rain. Clearing up for awhile in the afternoon, followed by a shower. Warm.
Worked in office this morning, stayed at home till 3 p.m. & then Annie & I went to meet Jimmy & family. Their train arrived about 3:20 Jimmy & Teddy & Barbara & Ricky were all in pretty good shape after their rather long trip from Stamford. Ricky had a cold, but was not sick to hurt. Jimmy looked fine. The children were asleep by 6:30, and Jimmy & Teddy went to bed by 9:30. We had a fine dinner, preceded by martinis.
I went to Dr. Brown about 4:30 to get my eyelashes fixed, and then by the office for a little work, and home by 6:30.
Senator Vandenburg made a fine speech in the Senate today on the recent meeting of the U.N.O. and our foreign relations—and especially on our relations with Russia and how we should deal with them.
Thursday, February 28, 1946.
Partly cloudy & cool. Quite cool after sundown.
On bench all morning. The Act consolidating all the school districts in Dade County into one district was argued on rehearing. We held the act unconstitutional several weeks ago. This afternoon I worked on my income tax return. About finished it.
Tonight we had a very pleasant time. Jimmy & Teddy are good company. The children were in bed when I got home about 6:50.
Sec’y Byrnes made a speech on our foreign policy in N. Y. today which was pretty firm warning to Russia, without calling any names. It was a good speech.
Labor troubles continue. The mounted police, 800 strong, broke up mass picketing in Phila. Some were arrested, some hurt. There were about 2000 picketers. The say they will be back tomorrow and prepared for the police—who were trying to enforce a court injunction.
Friday, March 1, 1946.
Clear and delightful.
On bench until 12:30. Conference till nearly 1. Then conference again at 2:30 until 4 pm., at which time Judge Chapman & I went out and played a game of golf. The afternoon was ideal. About 67°. No wind. I needed the experience in the open air and felt much better afterwards. Neither of us played so well. I won 1 up & 1 stroke. I made a 48, Judge C. a 49.
Tonight Jimmy & Teddy & Annie went out to the Cowles about 6:45 and got back about 8:15. Liz & I stayed home. Lizzie was looking after little Barbara, who had some feaver[sic], and cooking supper at the same time. Barbara has a cold. Ricky is allright.
The radio commentators are all very complimentary in their comments on Secy. Byrnes’ speech on our foreign relations yesterday. Without mentioning Russia by name he laid down certain principles which Russia has been and is violating. I hope it will do good.
Saturday, March 2, 1946. Sick
Clear and cool. Worked in office all morning. After lunch we ran down to the county line, but didn’t get much. I got Lizzie on[e] bottle of Scotch. Then I went to office and worked till dark. Got home about 7 pm[.] We all had cocktails. Then Lawrence Sully & Edna Ann & stayed till 9 pm. Lizzie fixed me some supper at 8:30. I was too tired to eat, but did so. From 10 pm until daylight Sunday morning, I had one terrible vomiting spell after another. A terrible night for me & poor Lizzie.
Sunday, March 3, 1946.
Not able to eat hardly anything today. Beautiful day, but I stayed in bed most for the time. Orange juice, bouillon, and ice cream in small quantities were all I could eat. Feel weak & sore today.
Monday, March 4, 1946.
Another fine, clear day.
While somewhat under par, I put in a pretty good day’s work today. Little Barbara was O.K. yesterday and was very active and ate too much. Today she has been suffering from a relapse of her cold—and pains in her stomach.
The British are complaining about Russia’s failure to withdraw her troops from Iran, and we through our State Dept. are registering a complaint about Russia’s removal of factory machinery, which the Japs. had put in, from Manchuria.
Tuesday, March 5, 1946.
Still another beautiful day. But the barometer has fallen ten points tonight.
Winston Churchill made a great speech this afternoon at Westminster College in the small town of Fulton, Mo. He was introduced by President Truman, and degrees of L. L. D. were conferred on both.
Mr. Churchill was in fine form. His rich voice, fine rhetoric and mastery of words were the same as when he made those masterly war time speeches. He is the greatest statesman and orator of our age. Tho today he spoke as a private citizen, He pleaded for our increasing friendship and collaboration between the U.S. and Britain; for the strengthening of the United Nations, and for firmness in resisting Russian aggressions and violations of the charter of the U. N. O.
I came home at 4:30 to hear it. It was magnificent.
Wednesday, March 6, 1946.
Cloudy early morning. Cloudy at time during the day. Southerly winds.
Busy day in office, but left about 4:30, went by home & got Teddy & Jimmy to accompany me for a round of 7 holes of golf. Played the last 4 holes with Miss Martha Adams, who runs the “Three Torches,” and Miss Peggy Barker. Fine girls[.]
Tonight Little Barbara is coughing a lot. Jimmy & Teddy went to bed early, but Annie & Lizzie are doing all they can for her.
Thursday, March 7, 1946.
Mostly cloudy, strong So. Breeze.
Pretty busy morning. At 4 pm I ran by home & got Jimmy and we Joined Judge Ch. at Club for golf. Jimmy & Teddy had played in the morning. I was off my game—took a 51—and Judge C. beat me 4 up. Jimmy just played a few of the holes.
The telephone strike was settled. Both sides made some concessions. So long distance operators went on with their work. The head of the Union, Joseph Bierne, showed more sense at fairness than most union leaders.
Friday, March 8, 1946. Showers in afternoon.
Mostly cloudy and warm, but some sunshine from 11 to 2 pm.
Barbara was much better, so all the folks drove down to Wakulla Springs, but I could not leave my work. Not feeling very well. No appetite. Got a light lunch at Busy Bee Café.
Had a long visit from Henry Tillman, good Tampa lawyer, from about 11:45 to 1 p.m. I have always liked him.
Worked in office this aft till 6:30.
Tonight Jimmy & Teddy & Annie had dinner at the Cowles. About 10:30 they came back & brought Bobby with them. About 11, Jimmy drove Bobby home. Teddy going along, and now at 12 they have not returned.
Some rain this aft. & a light drizzle tonight.
The G.M. strike still on.
There is almost unanimous approval of Sec’y of State Byrnes stiff policy toward Russia, and his able speech made a few days ago. A great speech.
Saturday, March 8, 1946.
Clear & cool morning, with N.W. wind. Clear all day.
Worked in office this morning. This afternoon I called on Mrs. Bessie Porter, whose good husband, Mr. A. R. Porter, died yesterday. Then I went to the office & worked till time to attend the funeral at 5 p.m.
Lizzie has had a hard day, and has caught cold. Is feeling mighty bad tonight. She has not been able to get her usual afternoon rest. I am uneasy about her.
It is reported that the Russians are removing their troops from Mukden but are adding to their forces in the Capital of Manchuria and at Port Arthur.
Sunday, March 10, 1946.
Clear & cool. Strong Northerly winds. But on the whole a very fine day.
Jimmy & I attended services at our Methodist Church this morning. Had a good sermon by our pastor and good music. A fine service.
This afternoon I played golf with young Mr. Jno. R. Burns and a Mr. Bowden of Monticello. I played the 10, 11, 12 & 13 holes in 18 strokes, but my game was bad from then on & I took a 50 but won[.]
Monday, March 11, 1946.
A fine clear day. N. to N.E. winds, moving by night to E. & S.E.
Our Division handled the Motion day business this morning, and then we had a court conference till near noon. This afternoon I worked hard in office till 6:15.
Had visitors tonight and didn’t get to hear the news.
Tuesday, March 12, 1946.
Clear and warmer. E. to S.E. winds.
I took Judge Terrell’s place on bench this morning. Worked in office all afternoon.
Tonight Annie gave a dinner to all of us out at the “Chicken Place” on the Quincy Highway. Jimmy, Teddy, Liz & I, the Cowles, & Mary Maud, & Lawrence Sully & wife Eileen. We had a good dinner & a very pleasant time.
Wednesday, March 13, 1946. Rain.
This morning Lizzie was not well enough to go over to Jacksonville with Jimmy & Teddy & their children & Annie, so that Jimmy & family could take the 2:25 Seaboard train to N.Y. So I went. We left at 8:30, Jimmy driving Lizzie’s car, stopped at Lake City for 30 min. & arrived at the Mayflower Hotel about 12:40. Good speed. We met Cousin J. Arthur Driver at his office & he gave us a room. Shortly after 1 p.m. we had a good lunch, and got to the Station about 2 p.m. After they left Annie & I lit out for Tallahassee. I drove to Lake City & stopped for a Cocacola; then to Live Oak where we stopped and bought 2 bottles of whiskey. A hard rain hit us & we lost about 25 minutes there and drove through the rain most of the way to Tallahassee, reaching home at 6:20 pm[.] Found Lizzie a bit better but yet unable to talk much. Some form of throat trouble that has rendered her almost voiceless for several days.
Well, at last the General Motors & Gen Electric strikes have been settled after 113 days & 58 days respectively. Both sides claim a victory, but at terrific losses to all concerned. Gen’l Motors offer of 18-1/2¢ pr hr. increase accepted.
President withdrew Pauley’s name at Pauley’s request today.
Stalin issued a statement attacking Churchill bitterly today.
Thursday, March 14, 1946.
Clear and pleasant.
On bench and in conference till noon. We had a conference on a motion to amend in the Hester[?] v. State Board of Administration. As Judge Barns wrote the opinion denying the mandamus, he was present with conference. His chances of winning the nomination to succeed me are good I hope he wins.
Lizzie is not at all well. Had a little fever and soreness—and a cough. I called Dr. Rhodes at 1 pm & he called to see her this afternoon, and prescribed a sulphur[sic] drug, but Lizzie has not taken any of it. Thinks she can recover without it. What she needs is rest, more than anything else.
Worked in office all afternoon.
Stalin certainly made a bitter attack yesterday on Churchill. The latter’s speech at Fulton, Mo. certainly stirred things up. May be that will do good in the end.
Friday, March 15, 1946.
Partly cloudy.
On bench all morning. An important case was argued—an effort by the Union of workers in the Water Dept. of Miami to enforce collective bargaining or consultation on the City Manager—an entering wedge for the right to strike against the City government.
Worked in office this afternoon. Had a long visit from Ted Semple. He’s a real friend.
Tonight Winston Churchill was given a great welcoming dinner by the City of New York in the ballroom of the Waldorf Astoria and made another great and forthright speech, which was broadcast by all the networks. He said that he stood by all he had said at Fulton, Mo., but denied that he had suggested a military alliance between Britain & America. Undoubtedly Britain & America must stand together.
Today the British Government offered India complete independence.
Saturday, March 16, 1946. Hard Rain—all day & all night.
Rained from 9:30 am. on, all day. And up to bed time. (and up to 10 A. M Sunday. 5.88 inches in 24 hrs.[)]
Put in a hard day’s work in office.
Tonight about 7 p.m. we had a surprise visit from Kenneth Strickland and a friend in uniform—Major _____. Kenneth is now engaged in the manufacture of furniture in High Point, NC. He is married and has two little girls.
Some members of Congress have attacked Mr. Churchill’s speech last night, among them our Senator Pepper. I am glad to hear that Senator Ball of Minn. has strongly endorsed it. We must not compromise on our principles in an endeavor to placate Russian aggressions.
Sunday, March 17, 1946. Rain
Clear by noon. Rained all night last night and for sometime early this morning. Beautiful afternoon. There was 5.89 inches of Rain.
Judge & Mrs. Thomas stopped their car in front of our house this afternoon and I saw the new baby—now about 7 or 8 wks old—for first time. It is a beautiful baby girl.
We gave a little party late this afternoon to the Cowles and their guests Mrs. D. Evans & Miss Schwab of Conn.
Monday, March 18, 1946. Clear.
Clear and a little cooler. Brisk S.W. winds.
Office work all day, except for about 2 hrs. of conference this Am.
Russian troops in Iran–& near the capital—evidently to bluff Iran into making oil concessions—is causing a lot of indignation in this country and England. Iran is afraid to send a representative to the meeting of the Security Council of the U. N. O., which meets in N.Y. in a few days, to complain of Russia’s interference in her affairs. The Russians have gained control of Northern Iran already.
Heard a good talk over the radio by Gov. Lehman tonight, pleading for greater aid to U. N. N. R. & Relief Assn. in its efforts to feed the starving millions in Europe. He has done a good job, but has not received the help he should have had. He is a fine man, but his health is breaking, and he must retire.
Tuesday, March 19, 1946.
Mostly clear and cool, with fairly strong west winds.
Worked in office till 4 p.m. Golf with Judge Ch. till 6 p.m. Did some work tonight.
U. N. R. A. is in session. Representatives of Greece & China made short radio talks tonight telling of the famine & starvation going on in those countries. Gov. Lehman calls for food rationing in this Country to meet these pressing needs. Others advise an appeal for voluntary action on the part of our people, as it would take so long to set up the rationing machinery and the next 4 mo’s are the most critical. This is also Mr. Hoeve’s[?] idea. Canada has been very generous to U. N. R. A. The burden of meeting that need falls on the U.S. & Canada. Even if we are generous, as I believe we will be, hundreds of thousands will probably starve. While we are doing what we can to send food abroad, Russia continues to grab everything she can for herself.
Wednesday, March 20, 1946.
Mostly fair and cool. N. to N.W. wind.
On bench and in conference most of the morning. Worked in office this afternoon till 6:40. And then at home tonight for 1-1/2 hrs.
Lizzie not at all well.
Russia has asked that the meeting of the Security Council, set for next Monday, be postponed till Apl. 10th. This will give them time to compel Iran to come to terms with them, or else. But the chances are that the Security Council of the U. N. O. will refuse the postponement. They would be acting unwisely to grant it.
Thursday, March 21, 1946.
Bright clear day. Cool morning and evening.
On bench and in conference this morning till noon. Worked hard in office this afternoon till 6:30 on an opinion.
Tonight Annie & the Cowles went to see Shirley Temple in a new movie. Reported very good. Lizzie not well enough to go. So we stayed home.
General Eisenhower, Admiral Nimitz and several other top Army & Navy officials appeared before the Senate Committee to plead for a continuation of the Selective Service Act for another year. The Act expires May 15th. I hope this plea will be granted. Otherwise our armed forces will be rapidly reduced below the standard of one million & 60,000 men at a critical time in world affairs.
Friday, March 22, 1946.
A fine pleasant day. Our warmest so far this year.
Put in some work on an opinion, and this afternoon at 4 pm played golf with Judge Chapman and Reeves Bowen. I was off my game—took a 52—and Judge C. about the same. But Reeves Bowen, in spite of his physical handicap—beat us both with a 47, which was below his average. He lost his left hand in some way years ago, but he manages to strap his left wrist to the golf club, and with his good right hand grips the club firmly and drives the ball from 175 to 200 yards as well as the average player. He’s an Asst. Atty-Gen’l, and a fine, able fellow.
Senator Claude Pepper is being criticized for his suggestion that we should destroy our atomic bombs and the plants used in making them as one of the means of bringing about better relations with Russia, which he made in a speech in the Senate during the past few days. I think he was dead wrong about this. Senator Joseph Ball of Minn. strongly attacked Claude’s position.
Stalin made a strong statement today in favor of maintaining world peace and supporting the U. N. O. But actions speak louder than words.
Saturday, March 23, 1946.
A clear fine day.
Pretty busy in office till 6:30.
At the Jackson Day dinner tonight Henry Wallace advocated keeping the Dem. Party as a progressive liberal party (lined up I presume with his C. I. O. friends) and Pres. Truman pleaded for party harmony and united efforts to carry out the party platform. The administration is worried over the fact that Southern Conservative Democrats and Republican conservatives are too often voting alike. But there’s a reason.
Sunday, March 24, 1946.
A little cloudy at times, but mostly clear and pleasant. Lizzie went to church with me this morning for the first time in several months. We took lunch at the College, along with the Cowles. Judge Ch. & I played golf this afternoon.
The report over the radio is that Russia is now removing her troops from Iran by agreement and that all troops must be out by the last of April. This probably heads off action by the Sec. Council.
Monday, March 25, 1946.
Mostly clear. & mild.
Our Motion day business turned out to be pretty heavy. Took all morning. Worked on opinion this afternoon.
Peron’s election as President of Argentina was not unexpected. Spruille[?] Bradon’s[?] bold fight against Peron, as Minister to Argentina and later as Madam Secretary of State, failed because the majority of the Argentine people like the picturesque dictator.
The test of the atom bomb on ships scheduled for May, has been postponed for 60 days. Our government evidently thinks it might have a bad effect on the already ticklish foreign situation.
I went to see Walter Richardson at the hospital Saturday & this afternoon, but this time he was sound asleep. So I didn’t get to see him.
Tuesday, March 26, 1946.
Mostly cloudy with a little rain about 11 p.m.
Busy as a bee in the office all day.
The Security Council of the U. N. O. met in N.Y. yesterday. Secretary Byrnes welcomed them with a brief message from the President and then made a very fine speech of his own.
Iran sent a delegate who filed a petition to be heard as to the Russian activities in Iran, which the Council set down for hearing this morning. When they met this morning the Russian ambassador, a member of the Council, Grymeko[sic], spoke for 6 hours and asked that the hearing on the Iran matter be put off till Apr. 10th. Sec’y Byrnes & the British member, Cadogan, opposed delay. The French member finally put through a compromise—that a Committee be appointed to report at 3:30 tomorrow as to what course should be followed. Grymeko had said that the Russian troops were being moved out of Iran under an agreement with the Iranian government. Iran’s representative said he had not been advised by his government of any such agreement.
Wednesday, March 27, 1946.
Cloudy. Warm. E. wind.
Busy day in office.
Liz is having new screens put in.
This afternoon, the Security Council decided to hear Iran’s appeal. Then Russia’s Grymeko walked out. Iran’s representative’s statement was not completed when adjournment was taken, but he said enough to show the Russian troops were not being removed pursuant to any agreement with the Iran government.
Thursday, March 28, 1946.
Rain last night & this morning till about noon. A good rain.
A busy day in office, but I took time to visit Walter Richardson at the hospital this afternoon.
Tonight we—Liz, Annie & I, and Mrs. Cowles went to the movies in my car. First time I’ve been to a movie in quite awhile. We saw a good picture—“The Bells of St. Mary’s”—staring Ingrid Bergman and Bing Crosby—two splendid actors who know how to act and sing. They are favorites of mine. Fine actors and singers & fine characters—I enjoyed it.
Friday, March 29, 1946.
Mostly cloudy. No rain.
In conference quite awhile this morning.
Busy in office balance of day.
The U. N. O. Security Council—Russia’s representative absent—decided today to request Russia and Iran to each file written statements of their respective positions and whether & what agreements they had or had not entered into, &c. It remains to be seen whether Russia ignores the U.N.O.
Fiorello LaGuardia of NY has been appointed to head the U. N .R. & R.A., succeeding former Governor Lehman, who resigned.
Walter Reuther has been elected Pres. of the U. Auto Workers over R. J. Thomas by a close vote.
Saturday, March 30, 1946.
Mostly clear.
Finally finished a hard opinion that I’ve been working on whenever I could, for the 11 days. I can’t write hard cases as promptly as I formerly could. My working capacity is not what it used to be.
Heard over radio tonight that our forces in Germany had rounded up about 1000 Germans who were organizing resistance to American authority, 200 arrested and 800 surrounded. Our intelligence Dept. had been watching them and through detective work had located their headquarters & their leaders. Then our armed forces surrounded them. So the Nazi underground has been stopped for the present at least.
Sunday, March 31, 1946.
Clear.
Went to church this morning.
Played golf this afternoon—Judge Chapman 46 and I 49.
Cooler tonight.
Liz still suffering much pain and very nervous.
Monday, April 1, 1946.
Bright & clear. A fine day.
In conference for some time this morning. Office work balance of day.
Tonight I went to the Little Theatre at the College and heard a fine lecture by a fine man—a Jew—Dr. Abram L. Sachar, head of the B’Nai Brith Hillel Foundation. He is deeply religious, learned but modest, eloquent and humorous.
We heard late tonight that a submarine earthquake in the Pacific had cause great waves that had done great damage at several places.
John Lewis’s 400,000 miners are not working. Their contract expired night before last, and they won’t work without a contract. John Lewis has stalled along, demanding the allowance of sick benefits, pensions, &c, to be paid by a royalty on each ton of coal, by the owners to the Union to spend as it sees fit. He has refused to discuss wages until he gets these benefits agreed on. So a coal strike is on which will soon compel the steel mills to shut down.
Tuesday, April 2, 1946.
Clear & fine. Cool early morning. Warm by midday. Hot in sun this aft.
The Earthquake beneath the Ocean, somewhere So. of the Aleutian Islands, caused tremendous high waves travelling at 300 to 400 miles per hour in the Pacific. These waves hit hardest in the Hawaiian Islands, especially the town of Hilo, 25,000 pop. on the Island of Hawaii, where heavy damage was done, and many lives lost. Those waves hit the West Coast of Alaska, California & as far So. as Chili. 94 lives were lost, nearly all in Hawaii.
The administration 65¢ pr hr minimum wages bill is having hard going in Congress. So is the bill to continue the O. P. A. [Office of Price Administration, created during World War II] The Southern Senators may force a reduction of 65¢ to 45¢ or 50, or 55¢ per hour. The farmers are very much aroused. The present minimum is 40¢ pr hr. Truman has called for 65¢. It looks like the Dem. party must choose between the C. I. O. and other left wing groups and the conservative Southerners.
Wednesday, April 3, 1946. Dow & Hilda arrive.
Clear.
On bench in whole court case & then in conference from 9:30 to 12:30.
This afternoon Dow & Hilda arrived on 2:35 p.m. Train from Pensacola. Lizzie not all well, but we had a good time this afternoon and a good dinner about 7 p.m. & then talked to almost 12 o[‘]clock tonight.
The Iranian-Russian crisis is about over. The Russian ambassador submitted a written statement by the Russian government that all their troops would be removed in 5 or 6 weeks, and that they were demanding any av’l concessions. The Iranian representative said that was satisfactory to his government. So the Security Council passed on to other matters. This shows that the Russians did not want to break with the U. N. O.
Dow is looking well & is the same old Dow. Great old boy—bighearted, full of fun, and lovable.
Thursday, April 4, 1946.
Still another fine, clear day.
On bench and in conference all morning. Dow and his Special Agent, Mr. Ruben Nix, visited Annie in my office for awhile and then sat in the court room for awhile. After we got through the arguments I introduced Dow to the judges.
We had Mr. Nix out to lunch with us, and after lunch Dow & Hilda and Mr. Nix left about 2:15 for Tampa in Mr. Nix’s car. He is a fine young man. Raised in Henry County, Ga[.] We all enjoyed Dow & Hilda’s visit very much indeed.
Tonight Emily called up and said she would arrive in Atlanta on the 11th & get Joseph to return with her on the 12th. Hope the trip up there will do him good. It should. Such a lovely place James & Emily have. But Dow said Joe said he couldn’t stand the trip. But he can.
Friday, April 5, 1946.
On bench or in conference most of the day till 4:30 p.m. Did some work tonight.
Claude Pepper made a sensational pro Russian-anti British speech in the Senate yesterday in which among other things he said the U.S. and England seem to be ganging up against Russia. His fellow Democratic Senators resented his speech and strong criticised[sic] it. It was ill advised.
Senator Andrews issued a statement saying that Claude should apologize to President Truman and Sec’y Byrnes for his unwarranted attack on our foreign policy: that Pepper’s speech did not reflect the sentiments of the people of Florida. I wonder what has happened to Claude.
Saturday, April 6, 1946.
The fine clear weather continues.
Spent the day in the office working. Have had a good deal of neuralgia this week in left temple and sinus. Don’t know what causes it.
The Senate passed the bill today curbing the powers of Cesar Petrillo & his union of musicians—which should have been done long ago.
Pres Truman’s Army Day Address in Chicago today was excellent. A fine statement of our foreign policy—and the necessity of our remaining strong militarily.
Sunday, April 7, 1946.
A beautiful day. Quite warm and partly cloudy in afternoon.
Judge C. & I played golf this aft.
Tonight we had a pleasant visit from our good & generous friend, Ted Semple.
Monday, April 8, 1946.
Motion day hearings consumed all the morning followed by a conference till nearly 1 p.m.
Office work this aft. till 6 pm except for my appointment with Dr. Conrad at 3 p.m. He took out the bridgework—upper front teeth—for some repairs & resetting Wednesday, & cleaned the balance of my teeth.
Come home about 6:15 and took a long walk on golf course.
Lizzie still unwell and suffering with pains in stomach.
Tuesday, April 9, 1946.
Cloudy morning: clear afternoon
On bench and in conference this morning. Did some work in office this afternoon & then went with the other justices to the laying of the corner-stone of the new So. wing of the Capitol. The ceremonies were conducted by the State officers of the Masons. Gov. Caldwell made a brief but good speech.
Went by the office for a little more work and then home and a long walk on golf course.
Wednesday, April 10, 1946.
On bench this morning. 3 whole Court cases. One of them the Vincent Giblin habeas corpus case, to test the validity of Judge Stanley Millidge’s order jailing Giblin for 6 months for contempt of court in filing a motion in a case attacking the character of the judge.
At 3 pm I went to Dr. Conrad’s office and he replaced the bridgework which he removed and revamped Monday. I was delighted to get my upper front teeth back.
Tonight Lizzie & Annie & I went the see Ingrid Bergman & Gary Cooper in “Saratoga Trunk.” Very good but not as good as “The Bells of St. Mary’s.” Entirely different. Ingrid Bergman is a great actress and very versatile. We didn’t get home till 11:45.
Thursday, April 11, 1946.
Rather murky early morning. Mostly clear in afternoon.
Worked in office all day, but did not feel well, and accomplished little.
Tonight we went to a party given by Dr. Richards and wife Hazel in honor of Catherine Stickney & Leonard Cowles. Dr. & Mrs. Diffenbaugh, Mr. & Mrs. Mendenhall, Mr. & Mrs. Cowles, & Mrs. Stickney were there. I was pretty tired but had a very good time talking to Dr. Richards—a grand fellow—& Dr. Diffenbaugh, a fine man, and Leonard C.
John Lewis walked out of the conference with the coal operators yesterday. So the 10 day old coal strike goes on. The Government Conciliators will now step in & see what they can do. Lewis has refused to discuss wages until the operators agree to his demands for a royalty on coal for a welfare fund for the Unions, the Management of which would be entirely in the hands of the Unions. Already the Steel Mills are slowing down for lack of coal.
Friday, April 12, 1946.
Cooler. N. Wind. Clear.
On bench for awhile this morning. This afternoon we drove down to Carrabelle and got some whiskey. The liquor store there is run by Mr. Mack Roth. Stopped for supper at St. Marks. Mighty poor supper. We used to get good suppers there.
Quite cool tonight.
Pres. Roosevelt died one year ago today.
Memorial Services at Hyde Park—Address by Pres. Truman.
It is said that the result of the recent election in Japan was disappointing—that it will put the same old crowd back in power. I hope this is not true. Of course as long as our occupation under MacArthur continues they cannot do much harm.
Saturday, April 13, 1946.
Clear & quite chilly. N. to N.W. winds.
Not feeling very well today.
Lizzie suffered severely after dinner today from intense pain in stomach. She finally got rid of it by drinking hot soda water.
In addition to the coal strike, we now have strikes called to begin tomorrow in 7 big sugar refineries—and we already have a shortage of sugar.
Sunday, April 14, 1946.
Bright & clear & warmer. E. to S.E. winds.
Went to Church this morning. We took in 100 new members.
This aft. Liz & I went out to see Mr. & Mrs. Walter Richardson. Walter is up, but suffering with pains & soreness. Mrs. R. & Lizzie are thinking of going to the clinic in New Orleans soon, & taking Walter with them. I hope they go.
Monday, April 15, 1946.
Warmer. A bit cloudy at times. Southerly winds.
We had a whole court matter this morning that was argued by good lawyers & which consumed most of the morning. It involved the power of the State Board of Administration to refund the bonds of the Monroe County Overseas Highway & Bridge Dist. “Kit” Carson argued for the movants and John Wigginton & Giles Patterson for the State Board. “Kit” Carson used to be one of our research clerks some 6 or 8 years ago. He argues his side of the case very ably. I was proud of him. The other two experienced lawyers, of course made excellent arguments.
This afternoon I worked on the Cone-Benjamin case and made some headway. But it’s a hard case.
Came home about six & took a long walk on golf course. Our invitation golf tournament is under way. Struck up with Dean Dodd & we had a very interesting conversation.
Tuesday, April 16, 1946.
Cloudy & warmer, with light drizzling rain for a short time about 6 pm. and some more tonight.
Annie fell while trying to pull our big rug this morning and hurt the end of her spine, but went to work this morning. However, the pain got worse and Lizzie took her up to Dr. Britt for X-rays. The[y] went at 3 p.m. & didn[‘]t get back till about 5. I think it is a sprain. Hope there was no fracture. Will find out about noon tomorrow after the X-ray pictures are developed.
Iran asked the U.N. Sec. Council today to remove Iran’s charges against Russia from the agenda. Grymeko strongly urged it, but our Mr. Stettinius and England[‘]s Cadogan, advocated retention of the complaint until May 6, when all Russian forces are expected to be removed. At the suggestion of the Chairman, a Chinaman, the question of procedure involved was referred to a Committee of experts, to report tomorrow. And tomorrow the Sec. Council will hear Poland’s request the U.N. take some action against Franco & Argentina.
Wednesday, April 17, 1946.
Mostly cloudy. Wind shifting to W. & N.W. Cooler tonight.
Pretty busy day in office. Mostly writing letters & pass on a number of cases from the other Judges. Read one at home tonight.
Dr. Britt reported that the X-ray photos did not show any broken bones. Annie says she will go back to work tomorrow.
Thursday, April 18, 1946.
Cooler & clearer but somewhat hazy.
Busy day in office.
The State Univ. Chapter of the Phi Alpha Delta inducted Circuit Judge Walker as an honorary[?] member this aft. & gave a banquet in his honor at Wakulla Springs Hotel tonight—from 8 to 11:15 p.m. Judges Terrell, Buford & I went. Julius Parker presided and did it well. We had a good dinner and a very pleasant time. Some of the many speakers spoke too long. I had a very complimentary introduction, but made my remarks brief.
Met a remarkable young man who made an excellent short speech at the banquet, a student of the University Law School, small of stature, but with a well shaped head and a highly intelligent face. He had no arms—was born that way. The boys said he had the best legal mind in the Law School. About 28 or 29 years old. Born in Dade City. His name is Jack Hayward. May make a great lawyer.
Friday, April 19, 1946.
A fine day. Clear and mild.
Our big invitation state Golf Tournament in full swing on this the 2nd day. Jimmie Lee defeated Carl Dann of Orlando this aft., 2 up., and he & Geo. Bolita of Tampa play 36 holes tomorrow to decide the championship. I got home in time to see them play the 16th & 17th holes. The[y] picked up at the end of the 17th. Jimmy won 2 up & one to go. I was delighted. Hope he wins tomorrow. They were in the first flight. There are 7 flights. Robt Parker is on the lead in the 2nd flight.
Worked in office all day.
Tonight we went to see Ingrid Bergman in the third picture in 3 weeks—“Spellbound.” Rather peculiar picture but splendidly acted, & we enjoyed it.
Russia is overly aggressive in Persia and Manchuria & several other places.
Charley McClure and Jack Goldsmith the two young men who are here to be in the wedding tomorrow night, spent the night at our house last night and we are expecting them tonight.
Saturday, April 20, 1946.
Clear & fine.
Our State Golf Tournament had ideal weather to wind up in, and the result also very pleasing to me. Jim Lee won the State Championship, handily. He beat Geo. Bolista[?] 6 up, and 5 to go, on the 36 hole match today, which wound up after 31 holes. I saw them play the last seven holes this morning and the last two holes this afternoon. Jimmy played some brilliant shots. He also won the low medal prize.
Tonight we went to the Cowles. Stickney wedding and the reception afterwards at the Stickney home. I do hope this fine young couple will make a happy go of it.
Didn’t do much work today.
Sunday, April 21, 1946.
Didn’t feel very well today. Lt. Jack Goldsmith left this morning. Before leaving he gave me the name of an official—a friend of his in Wash’n who could help James to stay in the Navy if any one could. He gave me a memo, and I wrote James an Air Mail letter & mailed it at 12:30. The Cowles had Charley McClure and Charley Brannon, Leonard’s friends, and us to lunch with them at the College and late this afternoon we had all of them and Mary Maud at a little cocktail party at our house.
Monday, April 22, 1946.
Hazy or murky—but almost clear by midday. A little cloudy at times, but no sign of rain. No rain for past 25 days. We need it.
Our Motion day business kept us busy all morning.
Worked on the Cone-Benjamin case this afternoon.
Chief Justice Harlan F. Stone was stricken on the bench early this afternoon and died at his home about 5:45 pm. His death was caused by a cerebral hemorrhage. Age 73. This is quite a blow to our U.S. Supreme Court. He was a fine man and a very able jurist.
The Loan to Britain is being debated on the Senate. Senator Vandenburg made a strong argument in favor of the loan today. I hope the Senate grants it. The House members are on vacation.
The Russians fired on one of our big C-47 bombers which was making a test flight in Austria today, but our bomber was not hit. What’s the matter with Russia?
Tuesday, April 23, 1946.
Clear & fine.
With many interruptions, I managed to get some work done today.
The Communist armies have overcome the Chinese Nationalist garrison in Changchun and now hold most of the Cities in Manchuria. It will take quite a war to overcome them. They went back on the agreement entered into Chiang’s Nationalist government, under the influence of Gen. Marshall, who has just returned to China. Doubtless Moscow has had a hand in this.
Ch. Justice Stone will be buried in Arlington with full military [ ? ] [ ? ] Civil honors. Pres. Truman is to return from his Sea trip to attend the funeral.
This afternoon Judge Chapman & Mr. Jim Lanier & I played golf. I was bad. Took a 53. Only made two pars—one on the 15th & the other on the 18th. First game I’ve played in over 2 wks. I enjoyed it.
Wednesday, April 24, 1946.
Mostly overcast, but almost clear at times. Southerly winds. Falling barometer. We may have rain by tomorrow. We need it.
This morning Judge Florence Allen called on the Justices of our Court. She is a Judge of the Fe. Circuit Court of Appeal of Ohio. This afternoon She delivered an address to the girls at F. S. C. W. We Judges had been invited by the President to be present and have seats on the stage. Four of us were there. Buford, Sebring, Adams & myself. She delivered an excellent address. An able and likable lady. She spoke for about 50 minutes on “Bridge to the Future.”
Thursday, April 25, 1946. Rain—a little.
We had one short shower during the day and two tonight. Short but pretty hard. And yet it was quite clear this afternoon. Southerly winds in morning, S.W. to W. this aft.
Worked in office all day.
Tonight we & the Cowles went to see “The Virginian” by Owen Wister, starring Joel McCrea, Barbara Brittan & Brian Donlevy. I think I saw this picture back in the days of the silent movies. It’s good.
A terrible train collision occurred today at Naperville, Ill. One crack train ran into the rear of another, killing 44 persons and injuring 75 others. One train had developed trouble and had to stop. The other behind it, going 80 miles pr hr could not stop in time to avoid the collision.
State Bar Ass’n Convention began today at Whitehall House in Palm Beach. I cannot go—have important engagement with my dentist.
Friday, April 26, 1946.
Cool and clear. N.W. winds. Rather strong & blustery.
Worked in office today. Read and passed on two cases written by other judges, and wrote a good many letters. Did a little work in office this afternoon, and at 4:30 went to the Confederate Memorial Day Exercises in the old City Cemetery. Phil Taylor made the address. One of the main incidents was the presentation of a War Service Medal, posthumously awarded to Sergeant Ernest I. Thomas, who raised the first American flag on Mt. Suribachi in Iwo Jima. The medal was presented to his mother, who works in one of the Departments here in Tallahassee—a very nice looking lady of about 38 or 40 yrs. of age according to her looks. Her son was killed on Iwo Jima only a couple of days after he & his men raised the flag. A Jap. bullet hit him while he was talking over a field telephone in an advanced position. He was a fine young man, only about 21.
Lizzie & Annie & Mary Maude and the Cowles went to a Musical concert tonight.
Saturday, April 27, 1946.
Clear and cool. Very pleasant in afternoon.
Worked on office all day. Most of the time spent in passing on a very important case written by one of the other judges—I cannot fully agree—This morning I worked on that terrible Cone v. Benjamin case and again tonight.
This aft. I took a good walk on the golf course from 6:30 to 7:15.
Am so sorry I was not able to attend the meeting of the State Bar Association at West Palm Beach. Had intended to, but dental work prevented my going.
Sunday, April 28, 1946.
Clear & fine. Some warmer.
Liz & I went to church this morning.
This afternoon we took a ride out on the St. Augustine Road & then home. That is a beautiful country, high hills & beautiful woods & fields.
News of the conference of the foreign ministers of the 4 big powers in Paris is encouraging.
Monday, April 29, 1946.
Another fine day.
Most of the morning taken up with hearings on important motions before the whole Court.
This afternoon I spent an hour in the dentist’s chair while Dr. Conrad ground down my broken upper right jaw tooth. He will put a crown on it Wednesday morning.
Got to the office at a little after 3 and worked till about 6.
Took things easy at home tonight.
In spite of Gen Marshall’s earnest efforts, the Communists seem determined to fight on and hold all the important cities in Manchuria. The Russians delayed withdrawing their forces until the Chinese Communist forces were ready to move in. Chiang Kai Shek’s 20 year struggle to create a United China seems hopeless.
Tuesday, April 30, 1946.
Partly cloudy morning, clear afternoon.
Office work today-with many interruptions.
This afternoon Justice Chapman & I (joined by Theo. Brevard, at his own invitation)], played golf from 4:30 to 6:15. Judge C. & I were even up to the end of the 16th hole, but I fell down on my putting badly on the last two holes and Judge C. won 47 to 49.
The Russian planes have shot at our planes in Austria 3 times in the past three weeks. The last time they “buzzed” Gen. Marc Clark’s plane. We didn’t shoot. Our protests have brought no reply so far.
The Conference of foreign ministers in Paris has made some headway, but Molotov is already beginning to make trouble—and more is to come I fear. The Russians have a chip on their shoulder. They were Pariahs so long. Now they have the largest army in the world. Six million men under arms. Our country has so greatly reduced our armed forces that we have not enough men to properly police our zone of occupation in Germany.
Wednesday, May 1, 1946.
Partly cloudy. Looked like it might rain, but only a few drops fell.
This morning Dr. Conrad crowned my upper jaw tooth—at 10 to 11 a.m. I hope I can get along allright for some time to come.
Lizzie went to a little party-given by Mrs. Lollman Bell to her lady friends this morning.
My Division is on tomorrow & next day for oral arguments—so I must quit and go to bed.
The Jews & Arabs are giving trouble in Palestine. Britain has 100,000 troops there. Without them there would be a bitter war on.
Molotov is making trouble at the Foreign Ministers Conference in Paris. Sec’y Byrnes is dealing firmly with him.
The soft coal strike, now in its 6th week, is threatening a national tie up of industry, lights and transportation. John Lewis is adamant in his unreasonable demands. Chicago has ordered a brown-out of lights at 9 p.m.
Thursday, May 2, 1946. Rain.
Cloudy with a good hard 30 or 40 minutes of showers about 5:40. Judge Chapman and I were playing golf. We got under big trees—I found the best one, and didn’t get very wet, but not so Judge C. We had just driven off on No. 15 when down came the rain. Well, we needed it badly. First real rain since Mch. 28th[.]
Strike of bus and street car employees in Atlanta has had that City in a terrible mess for past two days.
The Coal strike is commencing to cause real trouble and if it lasts much longer the country will be in a disastrous condition. Pres. Truman has said tonight that if the strike is not settled promptly he will take over the mines. John Lewis is not showing any signs of budging an inch.
On bench all morning.
My Tampa lawyer friend, Wm. H. Jackson—fine man & fine lawyer died in Richmond, Va. last night of a heart attack. Age 65. And Blount Myers died at his home several miles out on the Meridian road, of cancer. Poor Blount. What a contrast between the men.
Friday, May 3, 1946.
Cloudy with good hard showers this morning. Clear late afternoon.
On bench from 9:30 to 12:45.
Conference from 3 to 4. Then worked in office till six.
Sec’y Byrnes proposed that the U.S., Britain, Russia & France occupy Germany for 25 years to assure that the Germans do not re-arm and to assure World Peace—a very generous offer on the part of the U.S.—was received coldly by the other Foreign Ministers—especially Molotov—and no action was taken.
Attempted jail-break at Alcatraz yesterday—about under control. One or two guards were killed; also several of the prisoners. The Marines had to come and help quell the out break. The prisoners had secured full control of one large cell block.
Saturday, May 4, 1946. Rain
Cloudy but fairly warm.
Another moderate rain today. Clearing up in afternoon.
In conference for quite awhile this morning. Tired this afternoon, but did some office work.
Tonight we had at 10 p.m. a good 15 min. address by Spessard L. Holland. His voice was not quite as good as usual after 8 wks. of campaigning. I earnestly hope he wins out in the first primary on next Tuesday. I believe he will but if not, he will win in the 2nd primary. The Miami Herald has been fighting Paul Barns recently—but I believe Paul will win in the first or 2nd primary.
Sunday, May 5, 1946.
This morning Lizzie and I went to the annual home-coming day at Pisgah Meth. Church. There was a very good crowd present. Re. W.T. Dunkler, the pastor, presided and gave a history of the fine old country church which was built in 1847. The Secy of State Gray, whose grandfather had been pastor there, made a fine talk. The meeting closed at 1 p.m. Most of the 125 people stayed to dinner on the grounds. We came home.
Rain this aft. 2 to 3 pm.
Monday, May 6, 1946.
Mostly clear and quite warm this afternoon.
Our Division had a busy Motion day business. Kept us busy all morning.
This afternoon I did some work in office and wrote some letters. Also read a long brief tonight. Got home in time to take a walk on golf course.
State Senator Leroy Collins made an excellent speech over the radio tonight in behalf of Holland for U.S. Senator. Best speech I’ve heard in this campaign. Holland spoke in Bay Front Park tonight to a large audience and then at 10 to 10:30 made a good radio address over a state wide hook-up. At end of 8 wks of campaigning he was still vigorous and his voice clear. What fine physical stamina! I hope and believe he will win out in tomorrow’s primary. He will make us a great Senator.
Tuesday, May 7, 1946. Rain. Little Armstead B. Dowdell’s birthday
Election Day
Such a hard rain about breakfast time that I stayed at home till nearly 11 o’clock, when the worst was over. Liz left before the worst downpour, but stopped at Richardson’s Store until the water covering the road pretty deep at the underpass had gone down some. But it was pretty deep when she drove through it about 10 o[‘]clock. I drove down Meridian and over the R.R. to the voting place where Annie & I voted.
Got in some work this morning and this afternoon. Very little rain, and it almost cleared up by 5 o’clock, but is still overcast tonight.
The returns tonight show that Holland has defeated Green in this first primary by about 2 to 1.
But Pettway is 39,000 to Barns 35,000. The vote for Lee and Taylor is large enough to indicate tonight that Barns & Pettway will have to run it off in the 2nd Primary for the vacancy in the Supreme Court created by my announced retirement this year. I am delighted with Holland’s fine victory. Hope Paul Barns will win in the 2nd Primary if not in this one.
Wednesday, May 8, 1946. Anniversary of V. E. Day.
Pretty cool morning. Pleasant afternoon.
Took my car to Alford Chevrolet shop this morning to have leaking radiator and slipping clutch fixed—also lubrication job. Got it this afternoon about 6.
All but a few precincts heard from. Holland got around 200,000 votes to green’s about 108,000, almost 2 to 1. I am delighted.
Also delighted to hear that George Smathers of Miami won out in his race for Congress against Pat Cannon by a large majority.
Barns and Pettaway will have to run it off in the 2nd Primary for the Supreme Court Justiceship. Pettaway has a lead of about 7000 votes. Taylor and Lee pulled about 60,000 votes.
Efforts to settle the coal strike have all failed so far. The strike has lasted about 38 days. There is some talk of Congressional action, but the chances are the President will have to step in. However the miners have served notice that if the Government takes over the mines they will not work.
The U.N. Security Council was to take up the Iranian Russian question today, Grymeko did not show up.
On this anniversary of V. E. Day the world is still in a mess.
Thursday, May 9, 1946.
Another cool morning—delightful afternoon.
Worked in office all day, till 4:15: Then played golf with Judge Ch. & young John Fain, who beat us both. I was badly off my game. Took a 53. Something wrong with my left shoulder—a little rheumatism or neuritis.
The coal strike is threatening to bring all our industries to a halt. Ford has let 110,000 men off, and Gen. Motors & Chrysler will have to shut down in a few days. Railroads are cutting down on number of trains. 200 of our mail trains to Tallahassee have been stopped. The R.R. brotherhoods have called a strike for May 18th. John L. Lewis & his United Mine workers seemed determined to get what they want or ruin the country’s economy. Congress should promptly adopt some strong regulatory laws. The President is reluctant to take over the mines but may have to.
Sec’y Byrnes has asked the Foreign Ministers to call a meeting of 21 Nations on June 15th—to work out the peace treaties. Offer refused.
Friday, May 10, 1946.
A gorgeous day.
Spent the day working on an opinion in a case that ought to be handed down as soon as possible. A rather hard case involving constitutional questions. I have spent most of my time this week on it. Will probably finish it in the morning, and then resume my study—so frequently interrupted—of the Cone v. Benjamin case—a very different case, in which I have written some 8 or 9 pages of the opinion. I have been working on that case whenever I could get the time for over a year. Never have I kept a case on my desk for more than a month or six weeks before. Of course there are frequent interruptions—oral arguments, conferences, visitors, urgent cases that require prompt handling, and the study of the cases written by my fellow judges.
The President had a brief conference with John L. Lewis and a representative of the mine owners this afternoon. All we know is that Lewis agreed to a truce for two weeks, during which he has ordered the strikers to go back to work, while he and the operators consider a plan of settlement suggested by the President.
Saturday, May 11, 1946.
Mostly cloudy, but no rain. So. winds.
Finished that opinion today.
Played golf with Judge Chapman—5 to 6:45. He made a 44, I a 48. I played some of the holes better than usual. Made the long up-hill 14th in par 5. But made bad scores on several. But I felt better than usual during and after the game. At Club house I met a Mr. & Mrs. Phillips from Thomasville, a nice young couple.
Read the record and briefs tonight on a case that comes up Monday.
Must have left my pen at office.
Got in the traps on four holes in my golf game this afternoon.
Sunday, May 12, 1946.
Cloudy. A misty rain, light, about 8 to 9 p.m. We all got up late this morning. Lizzie had a bad night and I did not feel very well myself. Some neuralgic headache.
Took a long walk on golf course late this afternoon & felt better.
Had Leonard Cowles and his wife Catherine, & Walter & Elfrida over later this afternoon & Lizzie served champagne and light refreshments.
Monday, May 13, 1946.
Partly cloudy in Morning. Clear most of the day. A fine day.
We had quite a lot of arguments this morning. Motion day matters. One was a very interesting and spirited argument between Bob Anderson and Billy Rogers and Hal Adair—the latter two representing Ed Ball, and Bob representing Yates et al in the somewhat famous case of Yates v. Ball, which has been before us several times. Bob won a jury verdict against Ball the last time the case was tried, and Ball appealed, and Rogers & Adair filed a brief. Bob A. filed a motion to strike the brief, or at least most of it, on the ground that it attacked the “law of the case” as already settled on former appeals. It came on for hearing this morning. Quite a brilliant parlay[?]
This afternoon at 5 p.m. Judge C. & I played the first nine holes on our golf course. My play was very good on some holes and I won by a slight margin.
Tuesday, May 14, 1946. Rain.
Considerable rain last night, and a light rain tonight. Mostly cloudy all day.
Got in some work in office today.
Home by 6:20 and a good walk on golf course.
John Lewis met with the Mine Operators this morning and changed his demand for what he calls a “Welfare Fund” from a royalty in coal mined of 10¢ a ton to a contribution of 7% of the entire payroll. The operators said they would take no action on this until Lewis made known all his demands as to wages, hours, etc. So the meeting ended. Lewis seems determined to get action on his various demands one at a time.
Congress ought to pass a comprehensive arbitration act, or some good strong tribunal to settle all differences between labor and management that threaten the public welfare, such as strikes in vital industries and in all public utilities.
The R.R. trainmen say they will strike this coming Saturday. The President will probably take over the operation of the Railroad, if he fails to get a settlement.
Wednesday, May 15, 1946.
Mostly clear. No rain.
Busy day in office, passing on the cases from other judges, and visits from lawyers and considerable work this aft. on my own cases.
Got home about 6.45. Took a long walk on golf course.
Tonight we all went to a picture by Greer Garson and Clark Gable, called Adventure. It was not suited to a fine actress like Greer Garson, and I was disappointed.
Not [ ? ] to it.
No news of importance.
The car strike negotiations seem hopeless.
The old selfish interests of Russia and England have wrecked the Foreign Secretaries conference in Paris—especially Russia’s Molotov has been to blame.
Thursday, May 16, 1946.
Clear morning. A hard rain from 5:15 to 6 pm., and slow, light rain tonight.
Our Division was on bench from 9:30 to 12:45. In conference till 1 p.m.
This afternoon I worked in office till 4:45. Then drove out and met Judge Ch. for golf a[t] 5 p.m. We played one hole, and then came the rain. We hurried back and got in Judge Chapman’s car and stayed there, talking till about 6 p.m., when it cleared up but the course was so wet, we went home.
The coal mine operators have definitely rejected Jno. Lewis’s demand for a 7% pay roll levy to create a “Welfare Fund” to be administered by the Miners Union, which means by John Lewis, about 57 million dollars per year. No settlement in sight.
Ma has sent Lizzie 2 lbs of home made butter and a pkg. of rice & one of grits—none of which can be bought here.
Ted Semple has sent me a pkg. of a dozen Mangoes. They sure are good—the King of fruits.
Friday, May 17, 1946.
Mostly fair morning. Cloudy in late afternoon, with a shower about 6:15 which did not last over 15 minutes. It caught Judge Chapman and I as we began to play the 15th hole. We ran into the Shelter house this time and then went on with our game.
On bench & in conference from 9:30 to 1 p.m.
Tonight we & Mary Maud Jeffords went to dinner given by Catherine & Leonard. Of course Mr. & Mrs. Cowles were there. We had a very nice time & stayed till nearly 11 pm.
John Lewis & the Coal operators seem to have definitely been unable to agree on anything. The President has proposed arbitration, but Lewis don’t want that.
The President is [ ? ] to take over the operation of the railroads.
It is high time Congress does something. We need a good strong law.
Saturday, May 18, 1946. R.R. Strike postponed 5 days.
A light rain last night, and a pretty hard rain from 10 to 12:30. Mostly cloudy this aft.
Did quite a lot of work in office.
Came home this aft about 6:20 and took a walk on golf course watching Jon. Ausley, Glenn Sears, and another young man play.
Lizzie gave a morning party this morning in honor of Angie Fain and Pat Thomas, Judge Thomas’s daughter, who are each marrying in June. It was a nice affair. I got home in time to see the wind-up.
The President got the heads of the Trainmen’s union to postpone the strike 5 days while he endeavors to get a settlement.
Sunday, May 19, 1946.
Hard Rain.
Didn’t get up till late this morning. Breakfast at 10, Dinner at 2:20.
Cloudy with a very heavy rain in late afternoon and until 10 p.m. Lots of thunder and lightning for an hour or two. During a lull about 6:15 I drove to Judge Whitfield’s house and visited him for over an hour. Soon after I got there it rained harder than ever. I had to drive through 1 ft. of water at underpass.
Monday, May 20, 1946. Rain
Cloudy with hard rain in afternoon. Clear—almost—in late afternoon.
Our Division was on for Motion day business this morning. Took all morning.
Worked hard all afternoon.
Took it easy tonight.
We heard a fine radio talk of 30 minutes tonight about 10 p.m. by Sec’y of State Byrnes—a report to the American people—and incidentally to the world—on the recent Foreign Ministers Conference in Paris. He showed that very little was accomplished because of the intransigent attitude of Molotov, Russia’s representative on most of the problems. Mr. Byrnes shows a thorough familiarity with all the European & World Problems, and good reasons why he and Britain’s Foreign Minister Bevin could not agree to Molotov’s demands. Mr. Byrnes has grown with his big job. He is measuring up to it. He mixes firmness with courtesy and is making a great Secretary of State. He is more than a match for Russia’s Molotov, and showing up Russian’s unreasonable demands.
Tuesday, May 21, 1946.
Mostly cloudy, but no rain.
Spent most of the day passing on cases written by the other judges. Examined two tonight.
Last night an army plane, on acct. of darkness and fog, crashed into the 58th floor of the Bank of Manhattan Bldg on Wall St., N.Y., killing all five of the occupants, one of them a WAC. Too bad.
Had a good many visitors today—one of them D. Elmer Ward of Ft. Myer—a very fine young lawyer who was in the Service during the war. He married Gov. Carlton’s daughter, Martha, back when Carleton was Governor. He was a member of the State Senate when the war broke out. We will hear from this young man.
Mr. John Montgomery, Editor of the Miami Beach Post Tropics, called me up today and asked that I let him have a statement for publication to the effect that I would be gratified if the people would elect Judge Paul Barns to succeed me. I told him I regretted to very much but that I could not do so, as it would not be proper for a Justice of the Court to take part in a political campaign and might have a reaction unfavorable to Barns, who I hope will be elected. Sorry I couldn’t do it.
Wednesday, May 22, 1946.
Clear and bright morning. Somewhat cloudy in late afternoon.
This morning I received a telegram from Judge Richard Hunt of Miami and a letter from Martin Caraballa of Tampa urging me to make a public statement that I favored the nomination in next Tuesday’s run off primary of Judge Paul Barns. I consulted each of the Members of our Court, and they all of the opinion that it would be a breach of judicial propriety, a departure from the traditions and practice of the Court and its members in the past, and would have an unfavorable reaction which would do Judge Barns more harm than good; that the people would resent any such move on my part and attribute it to the Court as a whole. Every member of the Court is for Barns. I concurred in their view. I don’t think I should do anything that smacks of an effort to dictate my own choice as my successor. So I wrote those gentlemen along these lines.
Yesterday the President took over the coal mines. And may have to take over the railroads tomorrow if a proposition he made today is turned down.
Thursday, May 23, 1946. R.R. Strike begins.
Mostly bright and clear.
On bench all morning.
Spent afternoon passing on cases from other judges & writing letters.
Had a phone call this afternoon from Reid Dejarnette of Miami asking me to make a public statement in favor of Judge Barns. After I had explained why I should not do so, he agreed with me.
The R. R. trainmen, engineers, firemen, etc. turned down President Truman[‘]s offer of 18-1/2¢ and[sic] hr. increase in wages, and the strike took place at 4 p.m. as scheduled. The fact finding board has set 16¢ an hour increase as a reasonable selection. The strike is causing great inconvenience, especially to the thousands of commuters—one of whom is Jimmy W. I wonder how he will get back & forth to his work.
Its high time Congress should pass some strong Regulatory Measures with regard to strikes, especially those involving public utilities. The public welfare transcends the claims of organized labor, which should be settled by some tribunal or by compulsory arbitration. These strikes are a resort to force and intimidation, a most unreasonable method.
Friday, May 24, 1946. Pres. Makes Radio address on Strike.
Mostly clear, rather humid and sultry in afternoon.
On bench all morning.
Worked and wrote letters this aft. Came home at 6 and took long walk on golf course, watching the players & chatting with Dean Dodd.
Tonight at 10, President Truman made a radio talk to the nation about the R. R. Engineers & Trainmen’s strike which has tied up rail transportation in the Country.
He made a blistering attack on Johnson & Whitney, the chief officers of the 2 Unions; said that the 18-1/2¢ per hour increase was all he could possible allow, 2-1/2¢ more than the fact finding board had recommended; that the 18 other R. R. Unions had accepted the finding of the fact finding board: and that these two men had called a strike against the government.
He announced that he had taken over the R. R.s, and would operate them as best he could. He called on the strikers to go back to work.
Said he would address Congress tomorrow at 4 p.m. on this subject.
A good strong talk.
Saturday, May 25, 1946. R.R. Strike ended.
Cloudy & sultry.
Worked hard in office this morning. I passed on about 6 cases and affirmed p.c. one case referred to me.
This aft. we drove down to Carrabelle about 4 p.m. & got back at 6:45 with some liquid refreshments.
The Pres. addressed Congress at 4 pm and called for legislation giving him drastic powers to take over and handle any industry where a strike created a National emergency. The House passed such a bill promptly by 316 to 13 and sent it to the Senate, where it was being fought over tonight. No action reported up to 11 p.m. Before the President spoke Johnson & Whitney called off the strike, and much of this came during the strike, accepting the President’s terms—18-1/2¢ pr. hr. increase & postponement for a year in re. R. R. rules the President asked vigorously recently[?]
Sunday, May 26, 1946.
Clear and warm. Liz & I went to Church. At 3 pm I went to the Negro College to hear Dr. Jack Anderson preach the baccalaureate sermon.
After getting home I had a headache and took an aspirin—first I’ve taken in long time.
Tonight we had a very pleasant visit from Leonard & Catherine. They leave tomorrow for Washington by auto.
The Senate did not pass the President’s Emergency Strike bill last night, but will take it up tomorrow. They did pass a revision of the Case bill, which now goes back to the House.
Monday, May 27, 1946.
Mostly bright & clear and warm.
There is a hard and bitter fight on in the Senate over the President’s emergency strike bill which the House passed so promptly Saturday afternoon. The R. R. labor leaders, joined by Wm Green, are threatening reprisals. Vicious attacks were made on the President by some Senators—including Morse of Oregon, which was a surprise. Our Senator Pepper is one of the leaders of the fight against the bill. His strong pro[-]labor attitude is causing much criticism of Pepper in Florida, but all this will tend to give him strong labor support at the polls in the future. The President’s bill will undoubtedly be greatly amended before it is passed. But the general public is with the President.
We had one whole court case this morning & in conference till 12.
Russia’s Molotov came out with a long statement today attacking the United States and Britain and attempting to refute Mr. James Byrnes statement of a few days ago. Russia is going to give us and the world a lot of unnecessary trouble.
Tuesday, May 28, 1946. Paul D. Barns has apparently won in Supreme Court race.
Clear & bright.
In Conference till noon.
Worked till 4:45, then drove to Country Club & had a nice time playing golf with Judge Chapman. Fine golf weather.
They are having a stormy time in Congress over the President’s anti-strike bill which passed the House so promptly. Party lines are split.
Another disastrous strike is in the offing—set for June 15th—which will tie up the shipping industry & stop commerce and delivery of food to suffering countries.
The Coal Strike not yet settled.
Senator Carter Glass of Va. died last night at the Mayflower Hotel in Wash’n. A grand old man. 88 yrs. old.
Today was the 2nd State Primary day. Tonight’s latest news shows Barns leading by an apparently safe margin. I am delighted. I hope by tomorrow morning we will know for sure that Barns will succeed me in the Supreme Court.
Wednesday, May 29, 1946. Coal Strike settled.
Another beautiful day.
The news this morning indicates that my friend Paul Barns has won the Supreme Court race. At 11 a.m., with all but a few precincts to be heard from, Barns had 88,503 to Pettaway’s 79,998, a lead of 8,505 votes; 1261 of a total of 1455 precincts reporting. So it is practically certain that Barns has won, and I am delighted, as Barns is much the better qualified of the two. Senator Wilbur King, for whom I voted for R.R. Commissioner, has won by a large majority over Fred W. Brown of Tampa.
Much damage and several lives lost by the rampaging Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania.
The Soft Coal Strike was finally settled this afternoon. John Lewis did not get what he started out for. He got 18-1/2 cents an hour increase in wages, and a 25 million welfare fund to be administered by a 3 man Board, one for the miners, one for the operators & one for the public.
The Maritime strike is set for June 15th. The amended Case bill has passed both houses, and is now on the President[‘]s desk.
Thursday, May 30, 1946. [Memorial Day]
Mostly cloudy
Worked in office all day—mostly on the Cone v. Benjamin case—which has given me more work & trouble than any case I’ve ever had. But have written 10 pages of opinion.
Got home about 6:45, & took a short walk on golf course.
Tonight Lizzie & Annie went to see Paulette Goddard, Ray Milland in “Kitty” which they say was fine. They came home tired—had to stand in line quite a while.
Friday, May 31, 1946.
A fine beautiful day.
In conference for a large part of the morning. Worked in office till about 5 p.m. and then went out to the golf course. Judge Chapman out of town this aft., but Walter Cowles walked around the course with me. Still off my game, but made a few good shots. Score 49
The Case bill is still on the President’s desk. I hope he will sign it, but I’m afraid he will not. The labor unions need regulating. The general public needs some protection. But the public is unorganized, whereas the Unions are, 14,000,000 strong and they have lots of money.
Many Senators & Congressmen are afraid of this organized big block of votes. In the end, the people will win, as they did in regulating the railroad companies and the trusts. This is a government “of the people, by the people and for the people.”
Saturday, June 1, 1946.
Cloudy—strong So. to S.W. winds.
Showers this afternoon & tonight.
Worked in office till 7 p.m.
Then home & supper & at 8:15 Liz & I went to the home of Mr. & Mrs. R. J. Kellum on College Ave. to a party given in honor of Mrs. Shackleford, wife of former Justice Shackleford, and Mrs. ______. a very nice crowd. It was raining when we got there and in our hurry Liz forgot to turn off the lights, and when we started to leave we found the battery had gone dead. The Buford’s drove us home in the rain. Got home at 10:20.
Sunday, June 2, 1946. Rain
Mostly cloudy and very sultry with some showers at times.
We got Lizzie’s car back today. I got a young Mr. Chason from Don Johnson’s garage to take a battery to spark up the battery in Liz’s car which we had to leave last night in front of the Kellum’s, & he got the car going in no time--& drove it to the garage & recharged battery.
Monday, June 3, 1946.
Mostly clear and fairly pleasant—not so sultry as yesterday.
Very busy Motion day business until about 12:30
This afternoon at 6:45 I made a radio talk on Jefferson Davis, at the request of the Un. Daughters of the Confederacy, this being the birthday of Jefferson Davis. I was supposed to have only 5 minutes but took about 7. Was introduced by Mrs. Avant.
When I got home Mary Maud & Allen & Hattie Bell were here.
The Russian newspapers are making vicious & false charges against this Country & England & our Sec’y of State. They don’t print anything without Soviet gov’t approval. They think they can bluff us.
Tuesday, June 4, 1946.
A fine day—cool morning, fairly warm by midday & in the afternoon, cool after nightfall.
Had a good many visitors this morning. Didn’t get much work done today—Played golf with Judge Chapman at 5 to 7:00.
The U.S. Supreme Court on yesterday reversed our decision upholding the fining of the Miami Herald & its editor for contempt of court by Judges Barns and Wisehart. It’s a history making decision if it is stuck to. Of course the newspapers generally are highly pleased, but I think the opinions in the case—4 of them—go entirely too far.
Tonight the Cowles came over & stayed till about 11 p.m.
Edw. Stettinius has tendered his resignation as U.S. Member of the Security Council of U. N. I regret to see him go. He has rendered splendid service in various capacities since the war began.
Wednesday, June 5, 1946.
Clear—Cool morning. Pleasant midday—Cool evening.
Worked pretty hard today, but didn’t seem to accomplish much.
Sidney Diamond died this morning. He has been in bad health for a long time. Tonight Lizzie & I went to the Hotel to call on Miss Rubie, but the clerk said she was not receiving and [any] callers. We left our cards.
Took a good long walk on golf course when I got home this aft.
Ernest Bevin, Prime Minister Atlee & opposition leader Winston Churchill all agreed in their speeches in the House of Commons today that Russia is taking an arbitrary and unreasonable course. Churchill warmly praised Bevin for the firm stand he has been taking in opposing Russia’s policies in Eastern Europe & the Mediterranean area. Churchill says that Russia is sowing the seeds of a future war.
The President has appointed Senator Austin of Vermont to succeed Mr. Stettinious as Member of the Security Council as soon as he can leave the Senate. Mr. Herschell V. Johnson appointed as temporary member.
Thursday, June 6, 1946. 2nd anniversary of “D-Day.”
This is my 71st birthday. I am thankful that the good Lord has allowed me to live this long, and I pray that I may live to see the present United Nations Organization evolve into a world government—with laws to protect the peace of all nations and the power to enforce those laws—a United States of the World. Only this will save us from the destruction of our civilization.
We were on the bench—our Division—all morning. This afternoon at 5 pm Judge & Mrs. Thomas gave us, Lizzie & Me, a nice little birthday party.
John Fain & “Bob” Brooks are sleeping at our house tonight, as the Fains are crowded. Angel marries tomorrow. “Bob” is the prospective groom.
This has been a beautiful day—was quite cool for June.
These foolish strikes continue. The A. F. of L. Seaman’s Union went on strike today without warning.
We had a nice birthday cake on the table. I blew all the candles out allright.
Friday, June 7, 1946. Vinson appointed Chief Justice.
Another clear and beautiful day.
On bench all morning. And this afternoon we hear arguments by a Bar Ass’n Committee asking the Court to adopt the Federal Rules of Procedure. About 5 p.m. I went home so I could attend Angel Fain’s wedding. She married a young man name Robert Bruce Brooks—a good looking young man, a good honest & pleasant face. The marriage was an outdoors affair. Angel’s Cousin Rev. John Fain performed the ceremony on the lawn and under the big live oak in the Fain’s back yard. It was a beautiful and impressive wedding. A large crowd attended. Angel is a fine girl.
After supper the Cowles came to see us. They are leaving in the morning to join Leonard & Catherine at High Point, N.C. where Leonard has been detained by illness. Then they will go on to their Summer place in Vermont.
The President yesterday appointed Fred M. Vinson, now Sec’y of the Treasury, Chief Justice, and elevated Jno. W. Snyder to Sec’y of the Treasury.
Saturday, June 8, 1946. Dow taken to hospital, with pneumonia.
Mostly clear and a little warmer.
The appointment of Hon. Fred M. Vinson, Kentuckian, as Chief Justice, seems to meet with general approval.
Put in a good deal of work in office today—till 7 p.m.
There is a shortage on bread, milk and meat—quite acute in some sections. O. P. A. has advanced milk prices 1¢ per gallon but advanced the price paid to farmers 4¢ per 100 lbs.
Progress is being made in effort to avoid the threatened tie up of shipping by strikers.
Sunday, June 9, 1946.
Laura phoned me about 9:30 this morning that Dow had pneumonia and was taken to St. Joseph’s hospital yesterday at 2 p.m. and put under an oxygen tent, and that they would keep me informed as to his condition. That Dr. Carter Davis had been with him all night-and Hilda too. I was shocked out of my boots and have been deeply concerned all day. Little Hilda phone me at 5 p.m. that Carter said that his heart was holding up well and that his main trouble was edema, but not to be alarmed. They would keep me informed.
Monday, June 10, 1946.
In Conference for a part of the morning. Office work the balance of the day.
I worried about Dow a lot last night. This morning I had a call from Hilda that as somewhat encouraging. Tonight after supper I called up little Hilda, and she said Dow was holding his own, though he was somewhat “out of his head” or irrational most of the time, and the they were giving him intravenous nourishment. His breathing is still difficult. So I am still terribly worried about him. Do hope we will get better news in the morning.
Tuesday, June 11, 1946. Dow better! Case bill vetoed.
Still clear & fine, but dusty.
Mostly office work today.
Had a phone talk with Laura. She had left the hospital at 9. Thought Dow’s condition about the same. When I came home at noon I called up little Hilda. She said Carter would let me know tonight whether I should run up to Atlanta, but she felt somewhat encouraged. I got a reservation on the 12:30 plane to Atlanta tonight. About 8:30 tonight little Hilda called me up and said that Carter said Dow was better: that he had been able to eat mashed potatoes & something else, and was more rational, and his heart action was good, and that there was no need to go tonight. So I cancelled my reservation and got another for tomorrow at 11:30. Now that Dow has shown distinct improvement, I feel like a new man. I believe he will get well. Thank the good Lord!
Pres. Truman vetoed the Case bill today—in a long 4,000 word message. I think he has made a mistake. The Senate has whipped it into a pretty good bill—a step in the right direction.
Wednesday, June 12, 1946.
Mostly clear & warm.
Called up little Hilda this morning and she said Dow was better, and as I am very busy this week, I cancelled my plane reservation to Atlanta. I had planned to go at 11:30. And tonight I called her up again and she said that while he is still a very sick man, Carter feels that he has passed the crisis, though it may be several weeks before the fully recovers. He ate some solid food today. I feel like a different man, now that I feel that he will soon be well again. Little Hilda and Laura have been nursing him at night, and with their home duties they are worn to a frazzle. But now they have a night nurse at last.
Pres. Truman is being severely criticized for vetoing the Strike bill—the Case bill.
Justice Robt. Jackson’s outburst against Justice Black is most unfortunate. He issued it a couple of days ago. Whether well founded or not, it lowers the dignity of the Supreme Court. Did his failure to be appointed Chief Justice have anything to do with it?
Thursday, June 13, 1946.
Partly cloudy, with short hard shower about 12:30. Clear, mostly, in afternoon.
On bench & in conference this morning.
Wrote two short opinions this afternoon.
Judge C. & I played golf in late afternoon. My game was better than for some time.
Tonight I called up Dr. Carter Davis—called his home number about 9 p.m. & caught him at home. He said Dow was better, but not “out of the woods” yet. However he was confident of his full recovery, though it may take time.
He said they had a day nurse and a night nurse, but they worked 8 hrs. each; so the family had to nurse him 4 hours in early morning & 4 hours in the evening.
Friday, June 14, 1946.
Partly cloudy & sultry, but with fairly good breeze.
On bench this morning.
Wrote an opinion this afternoon in a case argued yesterday in which an important question should be promptly decided. I upheld the issuance of $1,300,000 of Stadium Revenue Bonds by the City of Miami without an election. The bonds to be paid exclusively out of Stadium revenues. The purpose of this bond issue was to increase the seating capacity of the Stadium by 22,800 additional seats in time for the Orange Bowl game, and also to retire an outstanding bond issue.
Bernard Baruch has come out with a fine statement of what should be done about the control of atomic power by the United Nations, we to turn over our bombs to the U. N. to be destroyed and the U. N. to strictly prevent any other nation from making them, & to use atomic power for civilian use and benefit, only. But we are not to do anything until all the nations agree that atomic power shall never be used for war, and submit their countries to inspection and control in this respect.
Saturday, June 15, 1946. Maritime Strike Settled.
Worked in office all day.
Tonight we went to the wedding of Pat Thomas, Judge Thomas’s daughter, and Walter Meginnis, at St. John’s Episcopal Church, and reception afterwards at the Thomas home. It was a beautiful wedding, large crowd, and a delightful reception.
It rained some during the day, but tonight was allright, except rather warm[.]
I hope Sec’y Byrnes will have some success at the resumption today in Paris of the Foreign Minister’s Conference. Russia has prevented any agreement on important matters so far!
Sunday, June 16, 1946. Dow Much better.
Phoned little Hilda this morning & found that Dow was much better, and they were all relaxing after the strain and worry of the past week.
Slept late this morning. We didn’t go to church. I drove up & got the Mail: then drove out to the airport to see about reservations to Miami & return.
This aft. I played 7 holes of golf with young Frank Burton Burch—just struck up with him. Nice 15 yr. old.
Monday, June 17, 1946. Showers.
Mostly cloudy. A little rain.
We had a busy Motions day. Hearing motions and in conference until 12:30.
Worked in office this afternoon until 7 pm.
Lloyd Mangrum, a native Texas boy, who was twice badly wounded in the battle of the bulge, won the National open yesterday. He & Byron Nelson and Vic Ghezzi had a 36 hole play off yesterday. They were all even at end of the first 18 holes, and Mangrum won by one stroke on the 2nd 18, which was played—the last 6 or 8 holes, in the rain.
Tuesday, June 18, 1946. Shower.
Rather warm, but mostly clear. However we had an unexpected shower about 5 p.m.
Had to go to Dr. Brown this morning to get the ingrowing eyelashes on lower lid of left eye pulled out. That eye has been giving me trouble for nearly a week. Have felt better since they—the lashes—were pulled out. That has been weakening my left eye for sometime and has given me lots of trouble.
Worked in office today. Mostly trying to pass on all the cases written by the other Justices, which I did. Put in some work on one of my own opinions.
This aft. Judge Chapman, Glenn Terrell Jr., and I played golf. As soon as I got to the club house a hard shower came down, with the sun still shining, which kept me in my car for 20 minutes. A beautiful rainbow showed itself—so near I could almost touch it. Phoned little Hilda tonight & found Dow nearly well.
Wednesday, June 19, 1946. Trip to Miami.
Clear morning, but quite hot and sultry during the day. This afternoon, Liz drove me out to the airport, Annie with us, and we had to wait quite a bit. The plane, which was due to leave at 5:15, left at 6 p.m. Mr. & Mrs. Frank Moor were on the same plane, & Mr. B.M. Duncan, formerly of Miami, & Tallahassee, & of recent years Key West. He looks after the Overseas Highway and bridge tolls for the Road Dept. He & I sat together all the way to Miami. I like him & enjoyed talking with him. We reached Miami about 9 p.m. E. S. T. Luther Mushon met me. We heard the first round of the Louis-Conn fight at the airport, then drove to Luther’s home in Coral Gables, & heard the 8th & last round. Conn was outclassed. Not much fight.
Mrs. Mushon was waiting for us. They have a pretty home, and are both such fine characters. The children were all asleep.
The Bar Ass’n. had arranged a nice room for me on the 11th floor of the Columbus hotel. About 12 o[‘]clock Luther landed me there. I enjoyed my visit with my good friends very much.
Thursday, June 20, 1946. Miami Bar Dinner.
A typical Miami June day. Fine breeze from the Ocean.
Had a good night’s sleep. After a nice breakfast I called on Bob Anderson’s friend Paul Scott. McCarthy, & others. Didn’t get to see Will Preston, the Pres. of the Bar Assoc’n. Then I called on Luther Murshon & his firm, Herbert Savage, & several others & had a good time. When lunch time came, Luther & Will Mehrtens took me to lunch at the Seven Seas. It was small. Then I went to the Hotel & took a nap. After that I called to see Ted Semple, & back to the hotel for a bath and dressing for the Bar Ass’n Dinner at 6 to 8:30. A big crowd was present. The Dinner was held in the large dining room on the 17th floor of the Columbus Hotel. I met scores of friends before taking my seat with Judge Barns, Will Preston & others at the elevated Speaker’s Table. There the Herald photographer took our pictures. Judge Barns was introduced first & made a good short speech. I was introduced by my old Montgomery friend, Stuart MacKenzie. He referred to my record as Judge in Montgomery & got some things mixed up. So I got started on that line, & never did get to my prepared speech. I expressed my appreciation of the loyalty and friendship of the Miami Bar & closed my 15 minute speech with the Valentine poem I wrote & handed to her soon after Lizzie & I were married. This really made a hit. It was a happy evening.
Friday, June 21, 1946. Miami.
About same as yesterday—clear: fine breeze.
Up fairly late last night, talking to old friends, answering and making telephone calls, &c. Got to bed around 12 or 12:30. Fine breeze from the S. E. Ted Semple had offered me the use of his car, his son to drive it. Young Ted is O.K. I got him to drive me up to Papa’s old subdivision, about 6 miles No. of the Court House. Beautiful day. Visited the Moncade’s who have been renting the place Dow & I had to take over. Found the place in good condition, and all the houses in the Subdivision looked good, in their setting of pretty tropical trees. Called on Joe Gorman. He looks well, but still complains of his health as of old. He thinks there will be a renewed demand for real estate this fall. I liked the Moncados. They have six children—fine ones too. They are good Catholics of Spanish stock.
Maybe Dow & I can yet sell Papa’s old home place, which we had to take over under a heavy mortgage, for enough to pay off the mortgage & what we have had to spend on the old place.
In the afternoon young Ted drove me out to see Joseph. He seems to be as hopeless and depressed as ever. After supper I had a delightful visit from my old friend John Gramling, & his wife.
Saturday, June 22, 1946. Home Again.
A fine morning but scattered white clouds.
I had an early breakfast, took the bus for the airport right at the hotel at 8:30 Miami Daylight time. Caught the 9:30 E. Airline plane, 8:30 by Tallahassee time, and reached the airport in Tallahassee at 11:35 E. S. time. Hollis Pemberton sat next to me. It was a beautiful trip.
Lizzie & Annie were waiting for me. It was good to be home again. After dinner, I slept soundly till 4 p.m. It had clouded up, was very warm & humid. I went to the office & put in some work till 6:30 p.m. Then home for supper and a quiet pleasant evening. Found Liz & Annie as well as when I left. Listened to some fine radio programs & went to bed about 12:30. Brought Lizzie two Miami papers with pictures of Judge Barns & myself.
Sunday, June 23, 1946. Murky morning.
It was clear this afternoon, and Judge Chapman & I played golf from 4:30 to 6.15. I made a 47, in spite of two bad holes. Judge C. made about 52.
Tonight we had a pleasant visit from Ted Semple. He has a case to present in the morning before Div. A. I hope he wins it. He brought it to test the validity of a Mortgage which he notarized. Signed his name as a witness & took the acknowledgement, but did not sign at the bottom of the acknowledgement.
Monday, June 24, 1946.
Cool & clear morning.
Busy in office with correspondence and passing on cases from other judges.
Ted Semple won his case before Div. A. Judge Chapman told me that Div. A had agreed and that a short opinion would be written this afternoon or in the morning. I drove by the Cherokee on my way to dinner and told Ted, and he was very happy and relieved. I am sure he enjoyed his lunch much more.
The Russian papers are screaming at us, saying the U.S.A. is trying to dictate to the whole world, and using the atom bomb as a means of bluffing. It is plain that they will not agree to Mr. Baruch’s reasonable plan. Nor do they show any signs of cooperation for world peace. I was afraid the Foreign Ministers Conference will end in failure again. Russia shows no effort to cooperate on important points.
Tonight we saw “Guest Wife” Don Amechee & Claudette Colbert. Good.
Tuesday, June 25, 1946.
Clear & cool morning and evening; pretty warm in midday, but nice breeze.
In conference for most of morning, and spent the afternoon passing on cases.
The House has drastically cut down the powers of the O. P. A and freed a great many items from price control. Opinions differ as to what the effect would be. Labor strongly advocates continuance of price control. The President may veto the bill if it passes the Senate.
All preparations are rapidly being completed for the atom bomb test on ships and water, in the Pacific next Sunday—Monday at the place where the test will be made.
Mabel writes Annie that she is out of a job and has no money for food for herself and Joseph. We are in for more expense. Lizzie & Annie are convinced Mabel is so extravagant. She has not made any of the monthly payments on the Mortgage--& never will.
Wednesday, June 26, 1946.
Cloudy morning. Clear afternoon.
On bench for awhile this morning. Then we had a visit from the Governor who desired some information on a matter of the best court procedure to adopt to get an important question as to transferring surplus funds of State Agencies to the building fund, as authorized by a legislative act which the Comptroller thinks was implicitly repealed by the later general appropriation bill. Most of the judges suggested mandamus as the most appropriate remedy to test the question.
Worked hard in office this aft.
Liz had a bad asthma attack tonight, following a long visit from Gene Carter.
Thursday, June 27, 1946.
Mostly cloudy and overcast.
On bench & in conference this morning.
Worked in office this aft. till 4:40 and then ran by home, put Annie out, and then to the Country Club, where Judge C., Glenn Terrell Jr. (accompanied by Miss Cordell) and I played 9 holes of golf. I played the first 4 or 5 holes pretty well. My drive on No. 12 was the longest I’ve ever made there. I could easily have been on in 3 on that 585 yard hole, but topped my 3rd shot, & was a little short. Glenn was on in 3 and sunk a long put[t] for a birdie 4. He also made a birdie on No. 16.
I have some neuritis in my left shoulder which I think caused my game to suddenly go to pieces. My left arm crumples up on the down stroke and spoils my shot. This trouble comes and goes. Sometimes I play a whole game without this trouble. But my left shoulder has a small area that is sore to the touch.
The Senate has not yet acted on the O. P. A. bill. Senator “Pappy” Donill of Texas is trying to delay the passage of the bill, so the O. P. A. will come to an end Sunday when the present act expires.
Friday, June 28, 1946.
Mostly cloudy & hazy, but very pleasant.
On bench & in conference from 9:30 A.M. to 1 p.m. Worked in office all afternoon.
The Senate passed the O.P. A. bill today, and while the President was opposed to such a drastic reduction of price controls, it is believed he will sign it. Otherwise O. P. A. would go out entirely this coming Sunday night. Mr. Chester Bowles has tendered his resignation as Economic Stabilizer. While the passage of this bill may result in higher prices for awhile, it may prove a good thing in the end. It is dangerous to tamper with the economic law of supply and demand. If full production soon gets going, prices will fall, but we are way behind in production now on account of the many big strikes.
Saturday, June 29, 1946. Pres. Vetoes the O. P. A. bill
Hazy & overcast, with light drizzle for a little while about 4:30 this aft.
Worked in office today. Cleaned up all the cases coming in from other Judges, and worked all afternoon on the Cone v. Benjamin case, which has hung over me so long. Have written 18 pages of the opinion and hope I can finish the case next week. But I have finally gotten to the hardest part of it.
Well—the President has vetoed the O. P. A. bill! So price regulations are all off tomorrow night. In his radio speech tonight the President attacked Senator Taft for one provision he got put in the bill. Taft is going to reply on the radio tomorrow night. I think Pres. Truman has probably made a mistake in vetoing the bill, and in attacking Taft.
Sunday, June 30, 1946. Today: —The Atom Bomb Test—
Cloudy, with slow drizzles this aft.
We heard over the radio an account of the atom bomb test at 5 p.m. Very interesting. Came from a ship 10 miles away. The bomb, aimed at the Nevada, in the lagoon of Bikini atoll, hit another nearby ship, an old Jap warship. The Nevada was still there when the cloud lifted. The Jap ship was badly damaged & apparently sinking. We will not know the whole story for some days.
Sen. Taft made strong reply to President tonight.
Monday, July 1, 1946.
Mostly cloudy or overcast.
Our Motion day business and one whole court matter kept us busy all morning.
This aft., I worked till about 5 p.m. Then Lizzie, Annie and Mary Maud and myself drove down the Perry Road about 39 miles and got a little liquid refreshments at Mr. Halden’s place.
Tonight Annie & Lizzie went to the movies.
It will be sometime yet before we learn the result of the atom bomb test. It seen now that 3 or 4 of the smaller ships were sunk, but none of the big one were. Those that were sunk were near the center of the target area. The Navada[sic], the center of the target area, was evidently not hit. The Japanese cruiser, nearby was not either, but was evidently listing. The palm trees on Bikini were not hurt apparently. Not a single person was hurt, nor were the goats on one of the ships. At least not from the air plane views. It will be several days or weeks before we know the actual results.
Much confusion has resulted from the veto of the O. P. A. bill. The House favors a 20 day extension, but the Senate intends to pass a new bill.
Tuesday, July 2, 1946. Little Armstead’s birthday
A pretty warm day.
Lots of visits from lawyers this morning. Div. A was on. But all the Court had to sit from 11:30 to 1 p.m.
The passing out of O. P. A. has not increased prices very much so far. The most trouble was a big rise in rents. Landlords have had a hard time of it with the cost of living up 30% or more over prewar, and rents frozen. Now some of them are asking too much rent, especially in the Miami area. The O. P. A. should have granted the landlords some relief long ago.
The President has received more blame than praise for vetoing the modified O. P. A. bill. Now if he vetoes the Hobbs Anti-racketeering bill, he will lose popular support, if he ever had it these past 6 months.
Played golf this aft. Judge Chapman made about 45, I made a 47 and Reeves Bowen a 49. I missed 4 or 5 short put[t]s—easy ones. Otherwise I would have made a 42 or 43.
Pretty warm tonight. So I’m going to sleep on the porch.
Wednesday, July 3, 1946.
Pretty cloudy. Sultry & warm afternoon & evening.
On bench most of the morning. Conference till 1 p.m.
Managed to do some work this aft.
Went home at 6:30 & took a walk.
Tonight after supper, we had a visit from a representative of the State Dept., a Mr. Madden, who wanting[sic] our opinion of Leonard Cowles who has applied for a position with the State Dept. in some form of the foreign service—apparently the Intelligence Dept., by the name of the Secret Service, or some such name. Mr. Madden lives in Miami.
The President finally signed the Hobbs Anti-racketeering Bill. He better had.
The Senate is working on a new OPA bill, much the same as the one vetoed, with some change in the Taft amendment, bring in on 1940 instead of 1941.
Thursday, July 4, 1946. Sprinkle of rain, but hard rain nearby
Mostly cloudy and sultry. There was rain this afternoon just to the So. & S.W. We got a light sprinkle. This cooled off the atmosphere in late afternoon.
The Phillipines became a free and independent republic today, as we promised them some 12 or 15 yrs. ago. Pres. Roxas & his government have a hard job on their hands. The Japs. demolished Manila and did all they could to ruin the country politically and economically. We wish the Filipino people well. We must do all we can to help them. But all the suffering peoples of the world—the the starving millions of Europe & Asia are begging us for help. So we cannot do very much to help the Filipinos for awhile, I fear.
I got in some real work on the Cone v. Benjamin case today—the best chance I’ve had. The 4th of July and no interruptions. Worked till 6:30. Then home and a walk. Liz & Annie went to the movies tonight.
Friday, July 5, 1946. Showers
Mostly clear and warm, but damp and showers—short ones—in late afternoon.
On bench all morning till 1 p.m. Four cases, but Judge Ch. does not put any time limits on the arguments as I did when I was Ch. J. Lets lawyers argue small & simple cases about as long as they want to—They like it, but it’s hard in a busy court.
This afternoon I passed on two troublesome cases written by other judges and then got in a little work on the hard Cone-Benjamin case.
When I got home about 7 p.m. I went for a short walk and got caught by a quick shower & got wet. Had to change my clothes.
Sam Snead won the British Open Golf Tournament at St. Andrews course in Scotland today. 2 under par for 72 holes.
Saturday, July 6, 1946.
Mostly clear and warm.
Busy in office all day.
Our Cook Mary’s brother reported dead. That means no cook for several days.
Mrs. Dr. Hallstrand, stricken recently with polio, died last night. Said to be a very lovely young woman. Leaves a baby and a young child. Sorry for Dr. H.
The foreign Ministers finally decided a day or so ago to internationalize the port of Trieste. It should have gone to Italy, but Tito demanded it—with Russian backing. Hence the compromise.
Sunday, July 7, 1946.
Clear morning. Cloudy in late aft. Liz & I went to church.
This aft. I did some reading & at 4:45 went to club house to play golf. Judge Chapman made a 46. I a 51. I was very tired after the game. This aft. & tonight I read & passed on two cases.
Good radio programs tonight.
Russia is still kicking & bluffing.
Monday, July 8, 1946.
Clear and warm, but with nice breeze and very little humidity. A very pleasant Summer day.
Put in a hard days work in office. Then home about 6:45 and a good long walk.
Not much news except that the big 4 foreign ministers have about agreed on a compromise plan for calling a peace conference. Russia got some important concessions. The plan is that the Peace Conference shall be left free to adopt its own rules of procedure except that Special Committees shall be set up to deal with the peace treaties with the countries in the Russian zone of influence.
Howard Hughes badly hurt late yesterday by the crash of a bran[d] new plane he had built—the first flight. Engine trouble developed. Crashed into houses in Beverly Hills. Hope he recovers.
Tuesday, July 9, 1946.
Clear with a pleasant breeze.
Worked in office all day till 4:45[.]
At 5 I was at the Country Club and was joined by Judge Ch. & Reeves Bowen. I started off fine. Made first two holes in par, and the first 4 in even 5s. Then my neuritic left shoulder began to get in its work and my game from then on was not good. I made a 49, Bowen a 48 and Chapman about the same.
A. J. May, Chairman of House Military Affairs Committee is reported to have had some unsavory connection with war construction contracting concerns headed by the Garson brothers. A Senate Committee is digging into it.
Am League beat the Nationals today. Each team was picked from it’s whole League.
Worked on one case tonight.
Sec[‘]y Byrnes is making some progress against Molotov.
Wednesday, July 10, 1946. Rain
Clear and warm, with hard rain from 4:30 to 6:40. Cool tonight. Won’t have to sleep on porch.
Finished that hard Cone v. Benjamin case this morning by 11 A.m. Necessarily long opinion. If adopted by the Court it will make quite a lot of New law in Florida. The record in the case was nearly a foot thick.
Prices have not risen much since the O. P. A. expired, and business men believe that if O. P. A. is allowed to stay dead, production will increase, prices will come down in a few months, and inflation will be avoided. I am glad the President vetoed the bill. Hope Congress does not pass a new one, except as to rent controls. There is such a shortage of houses.
I hope the House passes the British Loan bill, which passed the Senate some time ago.
The Palestine question is serious. The Jews want 100,000 Jewish refugees admitted into Palestine, which is already crowded. The Arabs threaten war if this is done. They say that the U.S. which has vastly more room for them, should admit them.
Thursday, July 11, 1946. Showers
Clear & warm morning. Sultry & hot afternoon, with light showers from 4:30 to 6. Pretty warm and sultry tonight.
This morning the case brought by the State Improvement Board and the budget Commission to mandamus Comptroller Lee to transfer unneeded surpluses in State agencies to the Building Fund, was argued at some length before our Court. All Justices present except Justice Adams.
Then we had a conference on that and several other cases till about noon.
I worked the balance of the day till 6 p.m. and came home so tired I only took a short walk.. I feel kind of down and out tonight. More so than in a long time. The heat I guess—and the humidity.
Another big plane crash today. One yesterday. More in the past ten days than ever before, I’m sure, in the same length of time.
Russia, speaking through Molotov, says that they stand for a self-governing Germany. They have a motive in trying to popularize themselves with the Germans. They want to communize them. And to wipe out the memory of their refusal to let an Allied Board in Berlin direct the government of Germany as a unit, as the U.S. & Britain requested.
Friday, July 12, 1946. Hard Rain
Mostly clear and warm morning, with a hard rain from 2:30 to 4 p.m. When the rain held up a bit, I started back to the office, going North by the Meridian road. When I got to the first street back of the Carter’s, it looked better than the road ahead, so I made a quick sharp turn to the right and my left rear wheel skidded sideways into a ditch I had to go to the Carter’s and phone for a wrecker to come and pull my car out. Then I found that the left rear fender was mashed in, and I went by Maner’s Garage. It took about an hour to get that fixed. So it was 5:15 when I got to the office. I worked till about 7 p.m.
Tonight I called up Hilda. Found that Dow had been brought back home several days ago. He was slowly getting better, but was still quite weak with a little fever at times. If it was not for the Georgia quarantine against Floridians on account of the polio scare, I would run up to see Dow.
Saturday, July 13, 1946. Showers
Cloudy, but warm and sultry with some light short showers.
The Senate passed an O. P. A. bill last night which appears to be weaker than the one passed by Congress two weeks ago and which was vetoed by the President on June 29th. Now it goes to the House. It would probably be better to drop price controls, except as to rent, entirely and let the law of supply and demand solve the problem—which it would do in two or three months. We’ve got to do it sooner or later—why not now, since we’ve gotten along pretty well for two weeks without it.
Hard day’s work in office. Not feeling very well.
Sunday, July 14, 1946.
About the same weather as yesterday. No rain, but overcast and sultry.
Secy Byrnes has returned, together with Senators Vandenburg and Connally, by air, from the Foreign Ministers in Paris.
Monday, July 15, 1946.
Mostly cloudy, but no rain.
Hearing of Motions & Conference afterward took up the morning.
Had a conference with Justices Thomas & Sebring this afternoon about one or two points in my opinion in the Cone-Benjamin case that they were doubtful about.
Pursuant to the telephone talk with Effie Gay at Orlando the other day, Lizzie & I met her at the bus station about 5:25 and had time to take her for a short ride around town before she left on the bus for Pensacola, thence to Evergreen, Ala. & LaFayette. I haven’t seen her in about 40 years. She is gray & has put on weight, but is quite a handsome & attractive woman. She says that she fears her sister Annie Mae Hollingsworth will never recover, but has some hopes. I do hope she gets well. She is a grand person.
Sec’y of State Byrnes made an able radio report to the nation tonight.
Tuesday, July 16, 1946. A little rain.
Busy in office all day. Dictated one opinion.
Slow rain at times—overcast sky, misty & sultry all day, but quite cool at night.
The Chetnik leader, Mickhailovitch who fought the Germans so well and so long when they invaded Yugoslavia, and then retired to the mountains when he kept up a guerilla warfare, was—as we expected—convicted by a Russian dominated military court, and sentenced to death within 24 hours—today. He was anti-communist. If, like Tito, he had collaborated with Moscow, he would not have been convicted of collaboration with the Germans.
Senator Vandenburg made a good speech in the Senate today, backing up what Sec’y Bryrnes said in his fine speech—to the effect that, when we are clearly right, we must go ahead in spite of opposition from Moscow.
Wednesday, July 17, 1946. Rain
Mostly cloudy and sultry, with light drizzling rain in afternoon. Much cooler at night.
The radio reports tonight indicate that Gen Talmadge has been elected Governor of my old home state of Georgia again. He appealed to race prejudice & carried most of the smaller counties, and was nominated by the unit system, although he did not get a popular vote majority. I was hoping that James Carmichael would be elected.
Worked hard in office all day, and for 2 hrs. tonight at home. Haven’t felt very well today.
Had a visit from Judge Ross Williams this afternoon.
Thursday, July 18, 1946. Lost my fountain pen.
A fine clear day—not humid and sultry as it has been for the past week.
Had a very busy day passing on disputed, tough cases written by other judges.
The opinion I wrote Monday interpreting a paragraph in the Workman’s Compensation Act which has caused considerable trouble to the Commissioner and the insurance companies, will probably be handed down tomorrow, as most of the judges have agreed to it. But my opinion in the Cone-Benjamin case is evidently going to have a stormy passage, as I expected. So many hard, new questions.
Judge Chapman, Reeves Bowen, Tom Van Brunt & I had a nice game of golf this afternoon. I felt much better afterward, thought I hesitated to play because I was not feeling at all well.
Too bad: I’ve lost my fountain pen—on the golf course I guess.
Friday, July 19, 1946. Light Rain.
Temperatures & barometer about the same as yesterday.
Mostly cloudy—a little light rain. Rather sultry.
Long Court conference this morning about hard cases the court is divided on.
Worked in office till 6:30 pm. Then home and a short walk.
Got a reservation by plane to Atlanta, leaving at 11:50 a.m. Sunday, but no return reservation yet. I want to run up to Atlanta Sunday to see Dow, return by Monday night or early Tuesday morning.
Saturday, July 20, 1946.
Clear morning. Cloudy afternoon, but no rain. Worked in office till 4:30, then went out and played golf with Judge C. It was very pleasant and unusually cool.
At noon today, I found I could not get a return reservation from Atlanta except at 6:45 p.m. Sunday. So I decided to give up the trip. I called Hilda up at 1:30 and had a talk with her and then with Dow. Dow is much stronger than a week ago, went on a car ride yesterday, and it was grand to hear his voice again. He is quite cheerful and feels much better.
Sunday, July 21, 1946.
Clear morning. We went to Church. Shower by time we got home.
Nice & clear late afternoon. Fine for golf, but Liz & I went to call on the Terrells at 5:15 and stayed until 7 p.m. Ruth was there. We had a very pleasant time.
Monday, July 22, 1946. Rain
Mostly clear, but a hard rain from 7:15 to 8:15. By 9 it was clear again, & Liz & Annie went to the movies.
We were in conference a long time this morning trying to iron out differences in one or two points in the opinion I wrote in the Cone-Benjamin case, which opinion, dealing mostly with close and novel questions is having a stormy passage. I have had to give ground on one point which I was not entirely certain about myself.
The Jewish terrorists blew up the Wing of the King David hotel in Jerusalem today, which was occupied by the British occupation & military headquarters. 54 persons were killed, including several high British officers, & the 4 story wing was demolished. Mass murders. What a cruel mistake.
Tuesday, July 23, 1946. Rain
Mostly cloudy with some rain in afternoon.
Busy day in office and worked at home tonight reading record in a case affirmed by Judge Thomas without opinion.
O. P. A.—revised—passed house today. Goes to Senate tomorrow.
Jewish leaders deplore the mass murder put on by Jewish terrorists in exploding two powerful bombs in the wing of the Hotel—the finest in the East—in Jerusalem, which was occupied by the British headquarters—killing 54 persons & injuring many others. Yesterday, the Jews in Jerusalem have put on mourning for several days. This outrage has hurt their cause.
Wednesday, July 24, 1946. Light rain. Atom Bomb Test.
Mostly cloudy. some light rains.
Worked in office. Finally got agreement of Div. B. on my opinion on the Cone-Benjamin case after making a few changes to meet certain ideas of Justices Thomas and Sebring and so it was filed in the Clerk’s office this afternoon after Judge Chapman had read and approved it. I was certainly glad to get that hard case behind me. Of course there will be a petition for rehearing in due course.
Played golf this afternoon late with Judge Chapman & Theo Brevard who joined us without being invited.
The second atom bomb test was had in Bikini Lagoon today. This time the bomb was exploded under water. Several nearby vessels were either sunk or damaged. A column of water shot up several thousand feet and a big cloud of mist still higher, which did not die down entirely all day. We will not know the full results for several days.
The New O. P. A. bill was passed today & will be on the President’s desk tomorrow.
Thursday, July 25, 1946. Pres. signs new O. P. A. bill.
Fair & pleasant morning. Cloudy afternoon with local showers that did not reach our place. Sultry tonight. On the whole a pretty hot afternoon.
Worked fairly hard in office. Came home about 6 p.m. Took a walk on golf course watching my friends play.
The President “reluctantly” signed the O. P. A. bill. Said if it didn’t prove adequate to prevent inflation, he would call Congress back in session this fall.
Further reports indicated that the under-water atom bomb explosion yesterday was much more destructive than first reports indicated. Eleven vessels of various types were sunk.
Friday, July 26, 1946. Light rain
Mostly cloudy, especially in afternoon. Very humid. Tonight we are having a little light rain.
Put in most of the day in passing on cases written by other judges. Am up with my work. My desk is clean.
This afternoon Judge Chapman couldn[‘]t play golf, so I started out about 6 pm playing by myself, but was soon joined by a couple of husky youngsters about 15 or 16 yrs. old who asked to play with me. Frank Hewitt and Chris Kalfus, a husky Greek boy. At every driving tee they lost their balls in the woods. Nice boys, but green golfers. After about 3 holes I was tired out, and was glad they had to go home. I then walked back & played the 17th & 18th holes one in bogey and the other in par.
Saturday, July 27, 1946.
Partly cloudy, but no rain.
Cleaned up everything in my office this morning. Went back after lunch and got the mail, went to town and made a few purchases. Then to Country Club and a game of golf. Reeves Bowen & I played against Judge Ch. & Mr. Frank Hintz. We lost by a small margin. I took a 48. When I got home Lizzie & Annie were calling on Mary Maud Jefferds. Tonight we listened to the radio & read till 12.
Sunday, July 28, 1946.
Mostly clear, but sultry morning; cloudy and cool in late afternoon.
We went to church this morning: good sermon and a fine duet by Mr. & Mrs. H. Cabel Cushing. Read a lot this afternoon and the[n] took a walk on golf course.
Sec’y Byrnes arrived in Paris today. Sorry Ernest Bevin is ill. Premier Attlee will take his place. The Peace Conference may last from 6 to 18 weeks.
Monday, July 29, 1946. Peace Conference begins. Rain.
Mostly cloudy with pretty hard rain during the morning. Quite cool and pleasant most of the day & tonight.
The Peace Conference of 21 Nations begins in Paris today. Russia opposed allowing any nations except the “big four” to participate in any way, but after a hard fight Molotov agreed that all of the 21 Nations who participated with us in the war should be invited to send delegates and express their views, but not allowed to vote on the adoption of the treaties. So this was the best Mr. Byrnes & Mr. Bevin could get and they agreed. Russia has done all she could to delay the calling of the Conference which should have been held last year.
We had a busy Motion day business followed by a conference this morning. I spent the afternoon passing on cases.
Tuesday, July 30, 1946. Rain.
Cloudy—and considerable rains. On bench & in conference all morning. The case of State ex rel Hawthorne v. Marshall Wiseheart—involving the validity of W’s appointment as Circuit Judge on June 4th 1943--& his right to continue to hold the office—was ably argued for about 2-1/2 hours.
This afternoon I had nothing on my desk. Went home about 5:45 & took a walk on the golf course, and tonight we & Mary Maud Jefferds went to a good movie—“Vacation from Marriage”—starring Robert Donat and [Deborah] Kerr.
The European Peace Conference has a big job on its hands. Secretary Byrnes made a ringing speech, pledging the U.S. to support any changes in the “Big Four” treaty drafts sought by a 2/3 vote of the 21 Nations represented at the Conference—and avowed that the U.S. would never return to a policy of Isolation. Good for Byrnes!
Wednesday, July 31, 1946. Rain.
Weather conditions about the same as yesterday.
No chance to play golf.
All the justices busy trying to dispose of as many cases as possible and to get a majority to concur in some opinion on the disputed cases. One of them was assigned to me to write an opinion, which I partly wrote this afternoon.
The dirt roads to our house are in a mess, making long detours necessary.
Jno. Sparkman elected, or rather nominated, as Senator from Alabama. His strongest opponent was James B. Simpson. The Dem. primary was held yesterday.
Thursday, August, 1, 1946. Rain. Congress adjourns.
In spite of rising barometer the cloudy, rainy conditions continue.
Finished that opinion by 11 o’clock & started it around (Brandt v. Shayne) Passed on all cases coming from the other judges. Clean desk this afternoon.
Went home about 6 p.m. & took a long walk on wet golf course. Wish Judge C. & I could have had a game this aft, but it rained hard from 4 to 6 p.m.
News tonight indicates that Senator McKellar of Tennessee was nominated by a good majority for another term.
Local issues were largely the incentive of an election day fight at Athens, Tenn. The 25 deputy sheriffs took the boxes to the jail. A big crowd, largely G. T’s, stormed the jail. A lot of firing of rifles & pistols was indulged in, by both sides. Several men were / some 18 seriously / wounded in the assaulting crowd. The deputies finally surrendered—boxes and all.
Friday, August, 2, 1946. Rain
Fairly clear morning.
Long conference this morning. My opinion in Brandt v. Shayne approved by a majority of the court, 4 to 3. No dissenting opinion. It seemed to be a very plain & simple case to me. At our conference, all cases argued at this term were disposed of except some two or three cases in which opinions have not been written. My own desk is clear.
This afternoon Judge Chapman, Glenn Terrell, Jr., and I played golf. We got caught in a shower and had to stand under trees for awhile. Glenn & I had bad scares.
Congress adjourned yesterday until November, their first real vacation in about six years. President vetoed the bill conveying all federal rights in tide lands to the States. Said the matter of title should be settled by the case now pending in the Supreme Court. I believe it will & should be decided in favor of the States.
Saturday, August 3, 1946. Rain
Took it easy today. Wrote a few letters. Studied a little on questions that are involved in two important cases that will be written by other Judges during the vacation period.
Got a letter from Mr. W. F. Lewis, Mgr. High Hampton Inn, saying he could give us a room Aug 9th to 16th inclusive. Hope we can go, as Hilda & Dow will be there then. So much rain today I didn’t try to play golf. Just took a walk.
Sunday, August 4, 1946.
Rained this morning. Cloudy and humid all day. We didn’t go to church. I ran up & got the mail and got a little wetting. We took it quietly at home, reading and tonight listening to some good radio programs. I followed a bunch of good golfers all the way to the club house late this afternoon.
Monday, August, 5, 1946. Rain.
A dark rainy morning.
Annie got up early (& Lizzie also) and had breakfast about 6, then went by taxi to take the 6:45 bus to Jax. From there she will go by train to Stamford to be with Jimmy & Elizabeth.
Lizzie & I talked it over at breakfast this morning and decided to give up the trip to High Hampton. The preparation for the trip and the long drive up there for only a week’s stay, is too much for us, especially for Lizzie. I will run up and see Dow in Atlanta after they get back. I may have my eyes examined when I go to Atlanta. My left eye has given me trouble for several months.
Judge Chapman & I played golf this aft. Judge C. made a 42[.] I took a 49. No rain. Clear by nightfall.
Tonight Liz & I went to see a pretty good movie: “Heartbeats,” starring Ginger Rogers, Montjou [Adolphe Menjou] Basil Rathbone and a good looking young man & a good actor whose name I did not get. [Jean-Pierre Aumont; the film name is Heartbeat, 1946]
Earthquake in the Caribbean area yesterday and today. Not much loss of life but great property damage in the cities and town.
Tuesday, August 6, 1946. Rain Important day in Peace Conference
Clear last night, but cloudy again this morning with some rain, then partly clear till about 5 p.m. with rain from 5:30 to 7 pm. Murky & cool tonight.
We have now had about ten days of daily rain. The rivers down in Taylor County have put several roads out of use, but the main highway from here to Perry is still open.
Yesterday Molotov made a speech opposing the motion to require consideration by the big four Council of Foreign Ministers of any question submitted by the 21 Nations Conference by a majority vote or a 2/3 vote. He made an attack on Mr. Byrnes saying in effect that Byrnes had gone back on the position he took in the big four Conference. Today Mr. Byrnes made a vigorous reply in which he said in a polite way that Molotov had lied. The session was pretty hot and lasted till 2 A.M. this morning. Finally by a vote of 14 to 3 Russia & several other nations not voting, the Conference decided that any proposal getting a 2/3 vote must be given serious consideration by the Big Four, and all proposals getting a majority vote must be discussed by the big four.
Wednesday, August 7, 1946. A little rain
Cloudy and overcast morning and afternoon, with slow rain in late afternoon.
The case involving the constitutionality of a bill passed by the 1945 Legislature, applicable to all Counties having a population of over 260,000 by the last federal Census, and so only applicable to Dade County until 1950, is ready to be handed down today. Judge Terrell wrote the majority opinion, holding the act to be a general law, Judge Buford wrote a dissenting opinion in which I concurred. The act makes the Dade County Commissioners a port Authority, and also give them power to acquire and operate airports. Judge Buford and I thought it was a purely local act. I regret that I could not see my way clear to uphold the act.
Judge Chapman & I played golf, part of the time in the rain this aft. He made a 46 and I a 47.
The Peace Conference is having heated sessions in Paris.
Thursday, August, 8, 1946. Light, short rain
The clearest and brightest morning we’ve had in two weeks. A little cloudy about 4 p.m. with a light rain for a few moments. Then clear and warm from 4:30 on.
I spent most of the day in the office, writing a few letters and reading. Home about 6 p.m. Warm but clear tonight.
In the Peace Conference today Molotov said Russia would not consent to consider any recommendations except those made by a 2/3 vote of the 21 nations, thus defying the action already taken. Evatt of Australia made a blistering reply to Molotov. Said he was trying to dictate. Byrnes is to speak tomorrow.
Friday, August 9, 1946.
Clear and hot, but quite comfortable in the shade.
Went to Dr. Brown’s office to have ingrowing eyelashes pulled out. He is out of town. Mrs. Benton, recently up from an operation and 3 weeks in hospital, did the work for me.
Did a little letter writing and general reading in office. Came home about 6 p.m. Took a short walk on golf course. After supper we went to Judge Chapman’s. They had Judge Paul Barns & wife & young daughter to dinner. We had ice cream and cake with them out on the rear lawn. Very pleasant evening.
Secretary Byrnes made a fine speech at the Peace Conference this morning and squelched Russia’s effort to reopen the voting question. He hit Molotov some hard licks, which were well deserved.
The earthquakes in Santo Domingo renewed. 72 Killed so far.
Saturday, August 10, 1946.
Cloudy early morning, murky and warm. Rain just to the South of us about 3:30 to 4:15. That cooled the air a little, and Judge Chapman and I played golf at 5 p.m. Both of us were off our games—Judge C. took a 46 and I a 50.
This morning Judge Paul Barns called to see me in my office. He is having a hard time finding a place to live. We plan to take the Barns and the Chapmans to lunch with us at Wakulla Springs tomorrow.
There were some tremors of the earth down in the Caribbean area today but negligible. During the past six days the earthquakes & tidal waves have cause some 76 deaths & much property damage.
Sunday, August 11, 1946.
Clear & bright morning, clouding up in afternoon.
At 12:30 Lizzie and I drove our car down to Wakulla Springs. Liz had Mrs. Barns and daughter Mary and Mrs. Chapman in her car and I had Judge Barns and Judge Chapman in my car. We had a fine dinner and then a free ride in the glass bottom boat, given us by Mr. Perry, the famous under water swimmer who is in charge of the outdoor activities down there. Little Mary was thrilled. As rain was threatening, we left at 4:30 and drove home most of the way in the rain.
Monday, August, 12, 1946.
An all clear day.
Started reading the very long briefs in the case of Ball v. Gates which will be argued early this fall. This is the 3rd or 4th time this case has been appealed to this Court. Also wrote a few letters.
Earthquakes again occurred in the Dominican Republic and Malaria has broken out in the camps to which many of the natives were transferred.
Tonight Dr. & Mrs. Doak S. Campbell gave a fine dinner in the E. College Dining Room to which all the State, City and County Officials, some out of town officials, and members of the faculty were invited. Gov’r Caldwell was the only speaker. Dr. Campbell merely introduced the other guests. We had some good music. I sat next to Pollie Lively Carroway and we had a good time.
Sec’y of State Byrnes acted as Chairman of the Peace Conference today. Russia wanted Albania to be admitted to speak its views. This was agreed to provided Brazil, Cuba & Mexico were also permitted, which was done. The all applied to the discussion of the Italian treaty. Much wrangling preceded this agreement.
Tuesday, August 13, 1946.
Clear—A few clouds in late afternoon. Warm all day and tonight.
Did a little work today, correcting errors in my opinions in last issue of So. Rep. [Southern Reporter] advance sheets, writing a few letters, etc.
Had quite a long visit from Judge Whitfield who talked quite interestingly about early Florida history, and some of our important early decisions.
This afternoon at 5 pm. to 6:45 Judge Chapman, Pierce Ford, Reeves Bowen & I played golf. It was pretty warm. All of us were off our games except Pierce F., who made a 40, which was more than he usually takes. He is really a very good player.
Molotov made a bitter answer to Italy’s representative today avent[?] Trieste.
The British are having a hard time with the illegal landing and attempted landings of Jews in Palestine. They stopped two ships from landing Jews at Haifa today and are transshipping them to Cypress. This caused a riot by the Jews in Haifa in which several persons were killed and a number wounded.
Wednesday, August 14, 1946. Rain V-J Day anniversary.
After 5 days without rain, this afternoon, after a bright, hot morning, we had a hard rain from 5 to 7—I came home just before it started, expecting to go to the V-J Day ceremonies at the Court House bandstand at 7, but gave up the idea.
James, a good Negro painter, finished painting Annie’s room & bathroom at 5 this aft.
We had a very pleasant call from Mary Maud from 7 to 8 pm.
The Chinese communists or their leaders rejected Chiang’s very reasonable peace proposals as soon as they read them, and made a sudden attack, killing 3,000 Chinese Soldiers and capturing 5000. I hope this war in China does not lead to trouble between Russia and the U.S.A.
Mysterious rocket bombs have been falling in Sweden & Norway for several days, and today one hit in Denmark. Origin not known, but they must have come from Russia—practicing perhaps.
Russia and her satellites continue their truculent attitude in Paris.
Thursday, August 15, 1946. Rain
Cloudy early morning; bright and hot in middle of day; cloudy, then rain in late afternoon. Pretty hard rain from 4:30 to 5. Then it stopped for awhile & Judge Ch. & I played golf, and got caught in a shower on the 15th hole. Got pretty wet.
This morning Liz & I left at 10 and drove down the Perry Road about 39 miles and bought some whiskey and gin, and got back home at noon. The men had come to put in the electric hot water heater and cut off all the electricity. So the refrigerator warmed up and everything in it melted and defrosted before the electricity was turned on again in the afternoon. I took dinner at the Cherokee Coffee Shop.
Got a welcome letter from Dow today. He is recovering his strength. He & Hilda are much pleased with High Hampton Inn and its good fare. I liked it when I was there some 10 or 15 years ago. Wish we could have gone up there.
It is cool and damp tonight but was very hot from 10 to 4 pm.
Friday, August 16, 1946. War is on between the Moslems and the Hindus in Calcutta.
Clear. Hot in late afternoon.
Didn’t feel so well today.
As Liz wanted to go to the movie I cut out golf. We took Mary Maud with us. As Claudette Colbert and John Wayne were in it, we thought it would be good. But it [was] really a poor picture. Name “Here is Tomorrow.”
Not feeling so well tonight.
About 650 killed & 1500 injured in an attack by Moslems against Hindus in Calcutta. The Moslems first accepted and later rejected the British plan for self government in India. The Moslems returned to their demand for Pakistan and are trying to bring it about by force. Poor Britain! Having trouble everywhere.
The Russians Continue to wrangle over matters of procedure in Paris.
Saturday, August 17, 1946. Rain.
Partly cloudy morning. Rain from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., and another shower or two during afternoon. Lizzie & I took dinner with Mary Maud and Jeff. Had a good dinner and a nice time.
Put in several hours in office today studying the well-written briefs in the case of Ball v. Yates, which will come up for argument Nov. 6th. Wrote several letters.
The British have sent quite a number of crack troops to protect their oil fields in So. Iran, and the Russians are reported doing likewise in Northern Iran and in Baku.
Very little news from Paris Peace Conference today. Took a good walk on golf course late this afternoon.
Sunday, August 18, 1946.
Rain in afternoon. Cleared up somewhat by 5:30 and I played golf with Att. Gen’l Watson & asst. Atty. General Heintz, and Major Truman / fine young Texan / & the former Jean Knapp.
Lizzie is still suffering with that pain in the lower right side of her abdomen.
The news as to developments in the general world situation is not encouraging.
Monday, August 19, 1946. Cloudy. War is on in China. The Communists have begun it.
Cloudy and rather cool in early morning and late afternoon and evening.
This evening we went to a very delightful party given by Mr. & Mrs. Phelps Long from 6:30 to 7:30 on the 25th anniversary of their marriage. The rooms in their home are spacious and beautiful. There were many present and a large number of friends.
An effort was made by some of the 650 Jews who had been put aboard a British transport to blow a hole in the bottom of the ship as it was leaving the harbor of Haifa for Cypress. The explosion shook the ship but no serious damage was done and it proceeded on its way.
The Russians are massing troops and bringing pressure to bear on Turkey for the control of the Dardanelles / and the Black Sea / ; also massing troops in Iran probably to get control of the Persian Gulf and threaten the British oil fields in Iraq, and their pipeline to the Mediterranean.
The British have sent three crack armored divisions to the threatened area. There are the makings of a war in this situation. The Russians are out for all they can get, but they are not yet prepared for war, I think.
England and America call Russia’s bluff, the better[?]. The Yugoslavs shot down one of our army transports yesterday, 3 U.S. officers aboard.
Tuesday, August 20, 1946. Cloudy & some light rains.
Temperatures & Barometer same as yesterday. Weather about the same.
Somewhat clear in mornings and mostly cloudy with slow rain in par of afternoon. The barometer has been low for some time now. Weather very humid and “muggy.”
O. P. A. control board tonight restored price ceilings on meat and livestock, also the government subsidy; was same ruling on cottonseed products. A mistake in my judgment. It means the return of the black market.
Dairy products and most grains were left free from price control.
No ruling yet on poultry & eggs, tobacco and petroleum products.
The U.S. has made an angry protest to Yugoslavia against the shooting down of an unarmed U.S. Army transport plane a couple of days ago. The reports indicate that most of the 5 men aboard were killed, 3 of them officers.
Am not feeling well. This continued damp, muggy weather I guess.
Wednesday, August 21, 1946. Showers
Mostly cloudy with very light showers. Hot sunshine for awhile in middle of day.
Our U.S. State department today called for a halt on Russian efforts to dominate the Dardanelles & Turkey and the efforts of Russia to dominate other nations, especially Turkey. The U.S. said it was ready to participate in an international conference on the future of the Dardanelles.
The Chinese Nationalists today took 30 miles of the Lunghai Ry. in Central China from the Communists. The war in China is on. My sympathies are with the Nationalists, headed by Chiang Kai Shek. Hope Russia keeps hands off. If she does, the Nationalists will win.
Played golf in late afternoon with my old friend Lewis Thompson. I was terribly off my game. The heavy humid weather has got me down to some extent. But I enjoyed the game.
Thursday, August, 22, 1946. Hard Shower.
Mostly cloudy with pretty hard showers in late afternoon.
Our sharp note to Yugoslavia had its effect. Tito didn’t wait the 48 hours demand, but returned the 7 Americans, who were compelled to land their plane about Aug. 9th and who were imprisoned, to American occupied Austria, and gave permission for us to search on Yugoslavian Territory for the 5 Americans whose unarmed plane was shot down near the border in mountain territory, about four days ago—Aug. 19th—and whose fate is not yet known. It is feared that all 5 of them were killed.
Our new Electric Hot Water heater has at last been installed. Our old oil heater has not been satisfactory for some time and has required so much expensive overhauling.
Friday, August 23, 1946. Hard Rain.
Bright and clear till 11:30; then a hard rain from about 12:20 till about 1:40. I left for home at 1:15 taking Mrs. Wilkins to her apartment, and had to go a round about way to get home. I got home about 1:35. The rain was over by 2 p.m. and we had hot sunshine till 5, then cloudy, but no more rain.
The OPA has been handing down a long series of price increases—made necessary mainly by the increases in wages due to the many strikes of the past 9 months.
There has recently been made a mass purge of Communist party officials in the Ukraine. Moscow didn’t like the trend toward real democratic policies in the Ukraine, where the Moscow brand of Communism is not popular.
This warm, muggy, humid weather has sapped my energies considerably. I am really lazy. But I did take a good long walk on golf course late this afternoon.
Glad to hear Judge Thomas back from his vacation trip to Fort Pierce.
Saturday, August 24, 1946. Slight showers.
Clear, warm morning. Still humid, but the sunshine looked good. A brief shower uptown about 3:30. Clear late afternoon and tonight.
Mrs. Wilkins left this afternoon on her vacation, accompanied by her sister who has been helping her, and Clerk Guyte McCord & wife returned from their trip about 4:30. Says they had a fine trip, as far North as Canada.
This afternoon was fine for golf, but I did not feel strong enough to play. The long spell of humid weather has made me lazy.
Ma writes that she is going down to Miami to live about Sept.1st. I think it best. She is all alone except for two Negroes on the place.
Sunday, August 25, 1946.
Foggy-early morning; but clearing by 10 am. It rained to the South of us about 3:30 p.m. but by 4:30 it appeared that it would not rain here. Judge Chapman called up and we played golf from 5 to 6:40, joined on last few holes by Paul Shelley and a Mr. Rankin. I was very tired afterward, but I felt O.K. after rest & supper.
Monday, August, 26, 1946. Rain.
Mostly clear until noon. Clouding up in afternoon. Heavy rain with lots of thunder to the South of us, but only the edge of the rain reached us about 2:30. Almost clear in late afternoon.
Had intended to play golf with Judge Ch. this afternoon, but did not feel equal to it. Neuritis in left shoulder and a general lack of energy.
Cloudy & cool tonight.
The bodies of four of our fliers shot down by the Yugoslavs on Aug. 19th were recovered, and buried in Belgrade with military honors, as requested by our State Dept., today. The body of the fifth member of the crew of the C-47 has not been found. But the Yugoslav newspapers still lay the blame for this unnecessary killing of our men on the U.S.
Progress is very slow on the peace treaties in Paris.
It remains to be seen whether Yugoslavia makes proper amends for shooting down two of our planes, the first being forced to make a crash landing & the second shot down. Capt. Colin Kelly’s remains have at last been located in the Phillippines.
Tuesday, August 27, 1946.
Foggy and cool and overcast morning. An almost clear afternoon. Somewhat foggy and cool by night. Still humid.
Delegate Beasley from Australia made a vigorous attack on Russia’s tactics in the Peace Conference today. He wanted a commission appointed to get the real facts on the disputed questions of boundaries, etc. The French representative offered a substitute which was much the same thing. This was adopted. Beasley said the Russians were deceitful and had told a lot of lies.
Judge Ch. & I played golf this afternoon and to our displeasure, Theo Brevard horned in and played with us. I am still off my game. This long spell of humid weather has a lot to do with it.
Wednesday, August 28, 1946.
Mostly clear all day.
Got to see Judge Sebring back in good shape from his trip to Kansas.
Took it easy today. No energy.
Didn’t play golf but watched other play as I walked on golf course.
Lizzie had a busy day directing Ben in cleaning up the accumulation of trash under the house.
The fight in the Peace conference between Russia and the small but independent nations, such as Australia still goes on. However, the effort if Italy to get a reduction in the reparations already agreed on by the Council of Foreign Ministers failed. Our own delegation felt bound to stand by what the Big Four had finally agreed on, though with great reluctance on the part of Mr. Byrnes.
Thursday, August 29, 1946. Rain.
Foggy morning. Partly cloudy day with hard rain in late afternoon.
We have some ships in the Eastern Mediterranean—the new big aircraft carrier Franklin D. Roosevelt—and a half dozen destroyers—under the command of Admiral “Bill” [he means “Bull”] Halsey. They have touched at several ports and are expected to visit Greece after the election next Sunday. These ships may have been sent there on account of Russia’s efforts to make Turkey divide the guardianship of the Dardanelle’s with Russia; also the threat to peace caused by the Jewish uprising against the British & Arabs in Palestine, and the threat to British oil resources in Iraq—and American oil wells in Saudi Arabia, and the efforts of Russian agents to stir up trouble in all of the Near East.
The brazen Russian efforts to dominate the Peace Conference and the meeting of the Security Council at Lake Success. Gromyko is trying to get two [of] her satellites, Outer Mongolia and Albania admitted to membership in the United Nations today. He failed but vetoed several small nations we wanted admitted—Ireland among them.
Friday, August 30, 1946. Rain
Mostly clear, but one hard shower.
Haven’t felt well today. Nice afternoon for golf, but I didn’t feel like playing, and did not even take a walk.
Finished reading the record—a big one—and the briefs in the Ball v. Yates case which will come up for argument this fall, which I have been working on intentionally for several weeks. One of the briefs was 365 pages long.
After a bitter wrangle last night the U.N. Security Council refused to approve membership in the U.N. of Russian sponsored Albania and Outer Mongolia. Gromyko then vetoed the application of Ireland, which had a vote of 8 to 2. The only nations approved after 8 hours of argument were Sweden, Iceland and Afghanistan (Trans Jordan and Portugal were also vetoed by Russia’s Gromyko.)
Administrator Small reports that our National production is now about normal and that our 57,000,000 are gainfully employed.
The Russians are still delaying the work of the Peace Conference by their long winded contentions and their effort to have their way on every disputed point.
Saturday, August 31, 1946.
Our first brilliantly clear and cool day. No clouds. No humidity.
Spent the morning mostly in my office, writing a few letters and doing a little desultory study.
Molotov in a speech at Paris today charged that the British & American governments were interfering in the election to be held in Greece tomorrow and trying to compel the Greek people to vote for the return of King George as the constitutional monarch. There was some rioting in Greece today by the Communists against the Conservatives & 31 people were killed.
I played golf this afternoon and was stricken with a bad case of old fashioned “heartburn”—acid stomach, but finished the game. At 11 p.m. I am feeling much better.
Sunday, September, 1, 1946.
Another fine, clear day.
Liz & I went to church this morning. A quiet day at home. I’m still not feeling at all well. Didn’t try to play golf. This is Monday in Greece.
The Election is going strong for the recall of King George. British soldiers kept to their barracks from Saturday until the election is over. The Russians are mad. Molotov has gone to Moscow for conference with Stalin.
Monday, September 2, 1946.
Our third clear and pleasant day in succession. Air light and dry.
Went to office this morning for awhile and wrote a few letters and mailed checks for some bills.
Slept on porch last night, and while it was pretty cool, it did me good. Have felt much better today. The cool dry weather is helping me.
Secured a reservation to run up to Atlanta Friday at 11:50 A.M. to see Dow. Haven’t got return reservation yet.
Played golf this afternoon with a young man named Barrow and Judge Chapman who returned yesterday from Waynesville, N.C., where he went to get his brother in law. I made a 46, Judge Ch. a 47, and Mr. Barrow about 49. I was feeling well and played the best game I’ve played in some weeks.
Pres Truman returned from his vacation cruise late this afternoon. His ship, the Williamsburg, went up to Narragansett Bay and then to Bermuda. He was gone 2-1/2 weeks. Returns rested and refreshed, but with several hard problems to solve. One is the dispute between O. P. A’s Paul Porter and Secy of Agriculture Anderson—and the Russian problem.
Tuesday, September 3, 1946. Court work begins again.
Mostly clear. Warm in afternoon.
Our Court’s recess ended yesterday. The Clerk sent a bunch of cases in which petitions for rehearing had been filed into my office for attention; also a petition for habeas corpus.
The Maritime workers have announced a strike at noon Thursday. This will tie up all shipping on the Atlantic Seaboard. They have already been given the 18-1/2¢ per hour increase which the government has allowed, but they ask the government board to change its policy and allow them a good deal more or the strike will take place as scheduled. So it is in effect a strike against the government. The shipping companies are willing to grant the demand. But if the government gives in, it will be a further step toward inflation.
Judge Chapman & I played golf this afternoon. I was off my game and got beat.
Went to Dr. Brown’s office to have my ingrowing eye lashes pulled out. He was out of town, but Mrs. Benton, his fine lady assistant, did the work for me.
Wednesday, September 4, 1946.
Clear and a bit warmer.
Busy all day in office passing on petitions for rehearing.
Went out to airport and purchased my airways ticket to Atlanta & return—about $23.50.
By the aid of a very proper vote by Hon. Herschell Johnson, Am. representative on the Security Council, the Ukrainian premier was permitted to make his speech before the Council attacking Greece and the honesty of the Greek election and charging that Greece was a threat to the peace of the Balkans and the world and that England was urging her on. But Mr. Johnson very properly stood for freedom of speech and voted to let Mr. Manuilsky[?] air his views. Of course Moscow put him up to it. Poor Greece is not able to threaten any other country.
Haven’t felt well today.
Thursday, September 5, 1946.
Slightly cloudy, N.E. breeze.
Very nice afternoon—clear.
Busy today passing on petitions for rehearing & two new opinions.
This aft at 5 Judge Chapman, Reeves Bowen and I played golf. My long shots were as good or better than usual, but my approaching & putting were terrible. Judge C. made a 44. Bowen about 56 and I a 58.
Tonight Dow phoned me he could not get a reservation for Sunday night for my return trip; so I’ll probably have to use my present reservation on the 6.45 p.m. plane leaving Atlanta Monday evening.
At 9:25 Liz & I went to the Deeb home on Calhoun St. and attended a party given in honor of Charley Deeb and his bride. Syde & Rosa Deeb—new Mrs. _____, were there—and old Mrs. Deeb and a number of Charley’s friends.
Friday, September 6, 1946. Trip to Atlanta to see Dow & family.
Mostly clear and pleasant.
Did some work this morning, leaving my desk clean, and went home about 11 A.M. & packed my grip for my trip to Atlanta to see Dow, whom I couldn[‘]t visit when he was so ill in June. Liz drove me to the airport, and I took the 11:50 plane, arriving at the Atlanta airport at 1:15—1 hr. & 25 min. There was a fairly strong N.E. breeze, and the going was a little rough until we got up around 6000 ft., above the clouds. It was a beautiful trip. I took the bus to the Piedmont Hotel where Dow & Hilda were waiting for me. Then we drove to the Capital City Club & had a great lunch. Dow was looking fine, but not yet quite back to his usual weight. then we drove by little Dowdell’s home and picked up Lauren and her two fine little boys, “Ducky” and little Armstead, and then drove to Dow’s home, and enjoyed seeing the little fellows play with the balloons and sparkler which Liz had bought for me to take them. Little Armpy got the sparkler. They are both fine little fellows, but my namesake is about the liveliest and most interesting 2 yr. old little boy I’ve ever seen—and so good looking. Dow & Hilda and I had a grand dinner and delightful evening in their nice, roomy apartment.
Saturday, September 7, 1946. Trip to Atlanta, Continued.
Cool & mostly clear. I went to the office with Dow and while he worked I knocked around some, talked awhile with Gene Ransom—fine man—Dow’s Asst. Mgr. We took the bus and went to lunch at Dow’s about 1 o’clock. Hilda’s cook didn’t show up today, nor any time thereafter while I was there. But Hilda is a fine cook and we fared well. We all took a nap after lunch and then sat around talking & had a good time until late afternoon when Dow and I took a good long walk. After a good dinner we went to see little Hilda and Dr. Carter Dovio[?], her fine husband, and their four fine and lovable children. They had just returned from a trip of several days to Burton’s Lake, near Clayton Ga. We had a grand time. Then Back to Dow’s apartment for the remainder of the evening.
Sunday, September 8, 1946.
Warmer. Clear.
Hilda went to early Church—Catholic—and Dow & I went to the First Methodist Church at 11, and heard a fine sermon by a fine man—Dr. Pierce Harris. Big church. Well filled. After a good dinner and a good nap, Dow drove me in the car to little Dowdell’s house, the latter was busy painting. We took Lauren and the two little boys, and had had a fine, long drive, in the Druid Hills section, and in the grounds of Emory University and its big fine hospital: also to Decatur, where we intended to call on Dr. T. D. Longino, but missed him.
Monday, September 9, 1946. Warm. Home again.
A real warm day here in Atlanta. About 10 o[‘]clock I went down town and went to Dr. Phinizy Calhoun’s office, but didn’t get to see him. Intended an eye examination. His waiting room was full and a long line of people waiting in the hall. So I left and walked down to Dowdell, Jr.’s, office in the Federal Reserve Bank Bldg., but he was trying a case in Court. Then I walked to Dow’s office—hot & tired. At 12.15 Dow and I and Mr[.] Bob Troutman, prominent attorney, and a fine man walked to the Ansley Hotel and attended the Rotary luncheon, which I enjoyed. Then I took the bus to Dow’s place, & took a short rest, & packed my grip. Shortly after 5 Dow & Hilda drove me to the E.A. [Eastern Air] Line office in Piedmont Hotel , and I took the 6 o’clock bus to the airport. The 6:45 plane was late, & I didn’t get started home ward until 8:12. Arrived Tallahassee about 9:45. Poor Lizzie & Annie had been awaiting me there for 1-1/2 hours. We drove home and I took a good stiff drink and ate supper. Then we talked awhile, & I got to bed about 12. Good to be back home, but I enjoyed my trip.
Tuesday, September 10, 1946.
Busy day in office.
Lizzie has the painters at work. So she got no afternoon rest. They discovered some rotten wood in and behind the baseboard on North and East side of dining room. Thought it was caused by termites. So Liz phoned M. Marshall but he didn[‘]t get any one to us today.
Got home about 6 pm & took a long walk on golf course watching some of my young friends play golf. Felt better tonight.
Wednesday, September 11, 1946. Light drizzle.
Mostly clear morning. Cloudy afternoon, with light drizzling rain from 5:30 to 7:30. Cooler tonight.
Worked in office all day, except when entertaining callers.
The War Labor Stabilization Board, today, by a vote of 4 to 2 refused the demand of the striking maritime union, A. F. of L., for a considerable raise in wages. They stood by their previous decision which brought on the strike. The C .I. O. unions threaten to go on strike also. So shipping, already crippled for a week, will now be tied up completely on both East & West Coasts. The President will probably now step in and see if he cannot arrange a settlement—probably by yielding in large part to the Unions.
The painters finished repainting our dining room, breakfast room and living room this afternoon. After two or three days work. Also our bathroom.
Thursday, September, 12, 194s6.
Mostly clear and pleasant.
We had a heavy oral argument docket today. On bench and in conference till about 5 o’clock. I came home about 6 and took a walk on Golf Course. Not feeling quite so well tonight.
The A. F. of L. shipworkers strike was settled today by John R. Steelman, acting for Pres. Truman. He gave the strikers all they were demanding, but said his plan did not overrule the W. L. B. decision, but merely set up a new rule as to ways applicable only to industries which had government competition—which is the case only as to shipping. Not very logical. A bad move.
Henry Wallace made a Russian appeasement speech today, which the President unfortunately approved. That was no way to deal with Russia. Among other / foolish / things, he said we should assure Russia that we were not going to try to uphold the British Empire / or have anything to do with Eastern Europe / and yet the British are our best and most understanding friends, and our national allies.
Liz has had men working today to keep down termites, but they found none.
Friday, September 13, 1946.
Mostly cloudy. A light drizzle about 4 p.m.
On bench all morning till 1 o’clock, and a conference at 3 p.m. I was tired, and so I joined Judge Chapman and Reeves Bowen for a game of golf. It was cool and nice. I made a 47, Judge Chapman 44, Bowen 49. I felt much better afterward.
Henry Wallace’s speech last night was reported in the morning papers. It is reported also that a copy of the speech was submitted to Pres. Truman before it was delivered and approved by him. I don’t know what he was thinking about when he approved that speech. It set forth a foreign policy which is radically different from that which Secretary of State Byrnes has so wisely and ably stated and promoted in the Paris Peace Conference, the meetings of the Foreign Ministers and in his Stuttgart speech. Having approved Wallace’s speech, the President has left Mr. Byrnes in a very embarrassing position. He may have to resign.
I did not know until I read today’s papers just what Wallace did say: It was worse than last night’s radio indicated. A harmful utterance.
Saturday, September 14, 1946. Showers.
Worked in office all day.
Mostly cloudy & cool today, with pretty heavy showers about 3 to 4 pm.
Henry Wallace’s speech has created a sensation here and abroad. It came as a shock to the British in view of the President’s reported approval, and was pleasing to Moscow. The President saw that he had made a serious mistake, and said today that he had been misunderstood; that what he said was that he approved Mr. Wallace’s right to make the speech, not the speech itself. A very weak explanation. True it is that some parts of Wallace’s speech was all right, but some parts were wrong and dangerous.
Sunday, September 15, 1946. Rain.
Quite a lot of rain today & cloudy all day. I stayed at home and indoors until nearly 4 p.m., when I went to the office and got the mail, did some study and letter writing. Then home about 6 and as the rain had held up, I took a long walk.
Tonight we had several excellent radio programs. I finished the job of unscrambling the books that had been taken out of the book shelves in our living room when the painting was being done a few days ago. Now the job is done and the books nicely arranged.
Monday, September 16, 1946. Rain.
Cloudy. Rained off and on all day. Dirt roads quite a mess.
Our Div. B had the Motion business today which took all morning and quite a long conference this afternoon. Too wet to take a walk when I got home.
The City of New York has had an awful time of it for the past two weeks. First the strike of the truck drivers, which has caused the groceries and food stores to have empty shelves, and most of them closed entirely for several days. No real effort to settle the strike on the part of the strikers. And for the past 5 or 6 days the C. I. O. ship & dock workers unions have been on strike and for past two days they have, by mass picketing, prevented most of the A. F. of L. workers from loading and unloading ships.
The same is largely true of New Orleans and other ports.
The President made a great mistake in vetoing the Case bill. The government cannot govern. We have reached a pretty low level.
Tuesday, September 17, 1946. Rain
Cloudy, but no rain. A slight drizzle in late afternoon. Rained last night.
Div A. was on the bench this morning and the whole court this afternoon for a little more than an hour. Then we had a rather long conference. I worked for awhile on cases written by other judges and came home about 6. Tried to take a walk, but soon the drizzle started and I came home.
The strike situation in New York—the trucker’s strike—is about over—higher wages given—and the Seamen’s strike is in better shape, now that the C. I. O. has quit their efforts to keep the A. F. of L. seamen & longshoremen from working.
Claude Pepper made a speech to a labor convention in Miami last night that was very radical—strongly pro labor and pro Russian.
Wednesday, September 18, 1946. Rain
Rained last night and this morning until near midday.
Cloudy all day, but no rain this afternoon—only a slight drizzle in late afternoon which caught Judge Chapman and I as we played the last hole of golf.
I had so many visitors today—mostly lawyers who were here from Miami and Jacksonville to argue cases before Div. A.
Senator Andrews died of a heart attack in the Navy Hospital in Washington last night, and Judge Geo. Couper Gibbs also passed away last night at his home in Jacksonville from a similar attack. Too bad.
Both good, fine and able men, and good friends of mine. Both about 69 yrs. old.
The C. I. O. maritime strike has continued to hold about 75% of the shipping idle in Eastern ports from N.Y. to New Orleans, and some on the West Coast.
Thursday, September 19, 1946.
No rain, but still cloudy, though the clouds were not as heavy and dark as they have been.
Our Division was on bench or in conference all morning. I spent the afternoon writing a memorandum on a case originally referred to Judge Thomas which presents some puzzling questions due largely to the incompetency of the lawyer who handled it below and who brought it before us in an irregular way. Judge Thomas thought certiorari should be denied without opinion. I will send the case around with my memo.
The government allowed today the C. I. O. Maritime workers the same wages as were formerly allowed to the A. F. of L., but the union leaders say their men will not go back to work until a contract is signed with the owners. Meanwhile the U. N. R. A. food shipments to Europe are held back from starving peoples by the 13 day old strike.
Today the President and Mr. Byrnes talked by teletype radio today. The radio telephone would not work because of sun spots. What was said is not known. Byrnes has been badly treated. Reports from Paris say that Wallace’s speech, endorsed by Pres Truman, has seriously handicapped Mr. Byrnes in his work in Paris which was already so difficult.
Friday, September 20, 1946. Rain
Lots of rain today and tonight with some sunshine (the first in a week) between rains.
My Division was on the bench and in conference all morning.
Worked in office till after 6 and again tonight until bed time.
Pres. Truman called for and received Henry Wallace’s resignation as Sec’y of Commerce this morning. The President also announced that no member of the Cabinet would be permitted hereafter to criticize the government’s foreign policy as administered and formulated by himself or the Secretary of State and his delegation in Paris, and all comments on our foreign policy by members of the other departments could not be issued without first clearing them with the State Dept. So Mr. Byrnes and his foreign policy has been vindicated, and the American public generally including myself are well pleased. Such a pity that the Pres. didn’t see the light sooner.
The Rescue party reached the victims of the airplane crash in Newfoundland yesterday. 18 of the 44 persons are still alive but in bad shape. It will be hard to get them to the airport 22 miles away.
Saturday, September 21, 1946. Rain & plenty of it.
Rain off and on all day. Not a ray of Sunshine. Very hard rain from 1:40 to 3 p.m. and another from 3:50 to 6 p.m.
I did quite a lot of office work today. When I left for the office at 3 p.m. I found the paved highway covered with a pond of water for a block this side of the underpass. So I took a side street and went up So. Adams St. Soon after, I got to town another hard rain started. No sunshine for 8 or 9 days.
There is a feeling of relief reflected by the radio and newspapers that Henry Wallace is out of the cabinet. He is generally regarded as a man of ability, a good speaker, and sincere, but impractical and not well grounded in American democratic principles—and inclined to line up with radical and dangerous elements.
Sunday, September 22, 1946.
Some sunshine today, but a pretty hard shower in afternoon, clearing by 5 o’clock. I took a good long walk on the rather wet golf course.
The Cowles returned today and we had them to supper tonight.
I have felt rather lazy and listless today and have not read a word of the bunch of briefs I brought home last night.
Monday, September 23, 1946.
Cloudy, but no real rain.
Very warm and sultry afternoon.
W. Averill Harriman was appointed Sec’y of Commerce today. A very good appointment.
Gov. Caldwell & his Sec’y, John Wigginton, came over to talk over with the judges in Conference a new and knotty problem—a legal problem—He did this because he had to act promptly and did not have time to ask for an advisory written opinion. This was unusual, but we accorded Gov. Holland the same courtesy once. The problem related to his power to appoint a successor to U.S. Senator Andrews for the full unexpired term, which expires Jan. 1st, or thereabouts, or only until the general election in November, and then make another appointment for the rest of the unexpired term. We found the question difficult but finally reached the conclusion that he could appoint now for the full unexpired term. He did not say who he would appoint. I hope he appoints Gov’r Holland, who will be elected in November for the term beginning in January.
Tonight we went out to the Fains and met Buppy Fain and his pretty fiancé. Mrs. Ragsdale and her daughter, Mrs. Burr Ragsdale, were there.
Tuesday, September 24, 1946.
Mostly clear. Bright sunshine this morning—Cloudy in late afternoon, & sultry, with a light misty drizzle which dampened Judge Ch. & I as we were playing the last four holes of our game of golf.
Well, Gov’r Caldwell decided he had better request an advisory opinion on the questions arising about the appointment of a successor to Senator Andrews, and we received a letter from him this morning. Judge Ch. referred it to Judge Terrell to write an opinion. I guess he will have it ready by tomorrow morning.
Stalin answered in writing 9 written questions submitted to him by the Moscow correspondent of the London Times. This morning.
He expressed his belief in the possibility of a long and friendly collaboration between Russia and the Western Democracies, but said that our retention of troops in China (23,000 Marines) threatened peace. He could not have believed this last charge. He made an interesting and on the whole a conciliatory statement. He said that the U.S. now held a threat to peace in the monopolistic possession of atomic weapons, but that this monopoly could not last long and that a war could not be won by atomic bombs. He said he saw no real danger of a new war. If we could believe Stalin, his statement would be encouraging.
Wednesday, September 25, 1946.
Mostly clear. No rain. After a long period of Southerly winds, today there was a light breeze from the North. A very pleasant day.
I caught up with the work of passing on the opinions of the other judges, & got busy on the cases assigned to me. Dictated opinion in one case this aft., & read the record & briefs on another case tonight.
Took a good walk late this afternoon.
This morning about 10:30 Judge Terrell’s advisory opinion to the governor was handed me, and I signed it and passed it on. The other Justices who were in the building also passed on it and it was sent to the Governor, who promptly appointed Senator-elect Spessard L. Holland to fill out Senator Andrews’ unexpired term, which expires about or soon after Jan 1st next. The paper this afternoon said the governor had offered the appointment to Mrs. Andrews & she had declined it. I am glad Holland was appointed. This will give him seniority over some 10 or 12 new Senators who go in Jan. 1st.
I feel sure Senator Holland will make a grand record in the U.S. Senate. He is a fine and able man.
Thursday, September 26, 1946.
Mostly clear. No rain. A very pleasant day.
Had a call from Paul Barns this morning. He’s still looking for a place to live. Also a call from Mr. Nile Cowan Bestwick[?] of Jacksonville.
Senator Holland issued a very good statement last night. He said he would wait till he could get to Washington and investigate the facts before committing himself on specific matters, but that he was strongly inclined to the view that our foreign policy as outlined in the speeches and acts of Mr. Byrnes should be adhered to.
Got one opinion finished—about 6 pages—this morning, and two memorandum opinions written this afternoon.
Tired tonight, but went with Lizzie and Annie to call on Walter Cowles, who is suffering from phlebitis.
Friday, September 27, 1946
Pretty early morning, but a bit cloudy and hazy the balance of the day.
didn’t do much today but write a few letters and pass on a few cases. Had a long visit this afternoon from Mr. O. O. Bick, agent of the West Pub’g Co., and a very pleasant gentleman. He told me the approximate values of the books in my office which I personally [ ? ].
This afternoon about 5 p.m. Lizzie, Annie, Mrs. Cowles & I drove down to the Taylor County line and bought some liquid refreshments.
There is quite a stir over President Truman’s refusal to authorize the lifting of price ceilings on meat. The meat shortage is acute, and the farmers are not willing to sell stock at the present low prices.
Saturday, September 28, 1946.
Mostly clear and a bit sultry.
Pretty busy morning, but this afternoon I merely went to the office and got the mail. Then 4 pm I was at the club house and Judge Chapman & I played golf. The last 4 holes we were joined by Mr. Godfrey, a very nice young man who has been in Tallahassee only a few months. My game was very spotty—a few unusually good wood shots and many poor ones. Made about 51 or 52. Maybe I’m too old. My last 3 or 4 games have been in the fifties.
King George of Greece took back his throne today. But what a job he has on his hands.
Did some work tonight, but was very tired after my game this afternoon.
Sunday, September 29. 1946.
Mostly clear, brilliantly so in the afternoon. Liz & I went to church, and this afternoon about 5 I took a walk on the golf course and then we all went for a ride with the Cowles. Tonight we listened to some good radio programs. Milo Balton’s “We the People Speak” was the best.
The maritime strikes have held up 125 U.N.R.A. relief vessels. Another strike of longshoremen & ship workers on the West Coast is threatened for tomorrow.
Monday, September 30, 1946.
Clear. Fine Day. Coolest night we’ve had this fall.
We were quite busy with Motion day business. Several motions argued. I worked on one of them this afternoon. Had a needed hair cut today.
The International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg read a long opinion today in connection with their verdicts which will be announced tomorrow. For the first time in history they ruled that conspiracy to wage aggressive war was a Supreme Crime. This is a great addition to international law—and it is high time this pronouncement should be made. Their verdicts in individual cases of the 21 defendants will be announced tomorrow.
A strong effort is being made in San Francisco tonight by government conciliators to avert another ship tie up.
Tuesday, October 1, 1946.
Clear and cooler.
The Tribunal at Nurnberg this morning imposed death sentences upon eleven of the Hitler gang (including Goering, Von Ribbentrop, Keitel, Streicher, Rosenberg, Jodl, and Borman) Life sentences for Hess and Funk & others & terms of years for others. Von Papen, Schacht & Fritsche were acquitted. The general staff and high command were acquitted yesterday. The Russian members of the tribunal dissented to the acquittals and the failure to impose death sentence on Hess. The convicted men have 4 days to appeal to the allied Central Council. Those on whom death sentences were imposed will be executed by hanging about Oct 15th, provided no appeals are taken, & if the verdict and sentences are not reversed.—which they will hardly be.
Secretary Hull had prepared a fine message in behalf of unity and cooperation between the former allies in the interest of a just and lasting peace which he was ready to make public when he was stricken last night with what is feared to be a fatal stroke. A grand old man!
The St. Louis Cardinals beat the Brooklyn Dodgers this afternoon 4 to 2 in the first of the World Series. The other two games will be played in Brooklyn.
Wednesday, October 2, 1946.
Clear and quite cool. Our lowest temperatures so far this fall.
The news of Hon. Cordell Hull’s conditions is ominous. It seems that the end of his useful life is near.
The eleven condemned war criminals have appealed their convictions and sentences to the Allied Central Council in Berlin.
Was not able to get any work done this morning. Too many visitors, but I enjoyed talking with them. Lawyer friends who were here to argue cases before the other Division.
When I got home after accomplishing some work this aft., I took a long walk on golf course.
Tonight I studied a case written by Judge Sebring and concurred in his opinion. We will miss him when he goes to Europe a week hence to act as one of the judges at the further trials of war criminals.
Bad news from little Joe came yesterday about his father[‘]s condition. He says Dr. Amiras says Joseph is a mental case.
Thursday, October 3, 1946.
Clear and fine.
On bench and in conference all morning.
Played golf with Judge C. this aft. He made a 45, I a 50.
Sec’y Byrnes made a fine speech in Paris today—a strong, fair statement of U.S. foreign policy. Molotoff[sic] left for Moscow—to see what Stalin thinks about it, I guess.
Mr. Bernard Baruch demands that Henry Wallace correct publicly five misstatements of fact regarding the U.S. Atomic control plan—statements which Wallace made in his July 23 letter to the President—and which Mr. Baruch says Wallace has admitted to him privately were not true. Wallace refuses to do so.
Tonight I studied a record in a case I’m writing, for 2 hours.
Friday, October 4, 1946.
Mostly clear and mild—a fine day. A little cloudy in afternoon.
Busy day. On bench from 9:30 to 1, and worked in office this afternoon, and read a record and briefs tonight.
This afternoon late we had a very pleasant call from Judge Jno. C. Gramling and wife of Miami. John, who is an old Miami friend of mine, argued a case in our court this morning. Lizzie and I both liked Mrs. Gramling too. She is much younger than John but they get along fine.
Wallace made public a long statement today attacking Mr. Bernard Baruch for his views and plans for atomic control. Baruch is a grand old man and much abler than Wallace and has much better judgment.
The Army’s B-29, 4 engined, “Pacusan[?] Dream boat” left Honolulu at 11[:]21 A.M., E. S. T[.] yesterday morning, to make a flight over the Arctic regions and then over Greenland & Iceland and down to Cairo, Egypt. It started out with 12,892 gals. of gasoline.
Saturday, October 5, 1946.
Another fine day.
Pres. Truman has made another bad break. He sent a message to the British Prime Minister insisting that Britain admit 100,000 Jews into Palestine. The British naturally resent this, and the Arab world would resort to war to prevent it. They have said so, & they mean it. This move may get the Democratic party the Zionist vote, but it only adds to the bad[?] dilemma that the British have been and are facing, and our butting in can do no good. The problem is hard enough now.
The big B-29 passed over Rome about an hour ago, and is expected to reach Cairo about 2 a.m. tomorrow. Hope all goes well. Left Honolulu day before yesterday morning at 11.21 E. S. T (Later: It reached Cairo at 2:54 A.M. on Oct 6th. All O.K. But gasoline very low.)
Sunday, October 6, 1946. Col. J. M. Lee died today.
Clear & mild. Liz & I went to Church this morning and Judge Ch. & I played golf this afternoon.
Comptroller James M. Lee died this afternoon of a heart attack. Lizzie and I went over to the Lee home after supper tonight. A large crowd there. Mr. Lee has made a fine record as Comptroller. I liked him very much. A fine man.
Reported that a hurricane is headed for Miami. Our radios won’t work tonight.
Monday, October 7, 1946. Hurricane to the South of us.
Cloudy and slow rain most of the day, with increasing winds. Mostly from the N.E. & then N. to So. & S.W. blowing in the direction of the hurricane which now is reported moving toward Tampa. It is predicted that it will then move toward Jacksonville. The report last night was that it would hit 40 miles So. of Tampa and move N. westward. It is said to be blowing at rate of 125 m.pr. hr. Winds are getting pretty strong here tonight.
Had a busy day writing opinions. One of them the Ashmore case.
This afternoon just before dark I started home and couldn’t find my car keys. Must have dropped them when I took off my rain coat before getting in car. After searching around the car and in my office, in vain, I phone Liz, and she succeeded in finding my duplicate set and drove her car up & brought the Keys. So, we got home in short order, but it was very dark by then, & raining.
Tonight I studied a case written by Judge Buford and an article written by Judge Terrell for the Bar Journal on procedure.
Lizzie took lunch today with Miss Ruby Diamond, Mrs. Carl B. Smith, and Mrs. Maxwell.
Tuesday, October 8, 1946. Hurricane blew itself out when it hit Florida. Col J. M. Lee buried this aft.
Mostly cloudy all day, with winds this morning of 20 to 30 m. pr. hr. The hurricane had weakened when it hit in Tampa Bay area, and did little damage to citrus. It passed W. of Lakeland and Jacksonville and was down to 35 m. pr. hr. when it petered out in Georgia.
This morning we had a request for an advisory opinion by Gov. Caldwell, and we talked it over with him. He said an appointment of a successor to Comptroller Lee should be made as quickly as possible and he was in doubt as to whether to appoint until the General Election Nov. 5th or to Jan. 7th 1947 or for the 2 yrs. of Col. Lee’s unexpired term. The statutes are puzzling.
Col. Lee’s funeral took place this afternoon at 4 p.m. Services at the Baptist Church. All the cabinet of course the Gov’r, and all members of the Court attended. His old past[or]. Rev. Baldwin, now of Chipley, paid him a fine tribute—which he deserved.
Worked pretty hard this morning—In conference till 11:30. Finished the opinion in the Ashmore case and passed it on to Judge Sebring at 3 p.m.
Wednesday, October 9, 1946. Justice Sebring leaves for Wash’n—then to Germany
Beautiful, clear day. Mild.
Justice Sebring was at his office for a short while this morning and then drove over to Jacksonville and is due to arrive in Washington tomorrow. From there he will go, at the direction of the President to be one of the Judges of the Zonal Military Courts to try Nazi war criminals. He will be gone for 6 months to a year. Mrs. Sebring and his son will join him in Germany some weeks hence. As soon as I got to the court this morning, I was called to sit in a whole court case and did not get to see Judge Sebring. However when I went to his office I found that he had joined in my opinion in the Ashmore case before he left. He had also called by my office in my absence. I am going to miss him, & so will the Court and the lawyers. He is an able, upright and likable judge, and a fine gentleman.
I have not been feeling very well today. Working too hard here lately.
Fortunately, Judge Paul Barns was able to come up and serve in Judge Sebring’s place. He is going to make a valuable member of the court.
Thursday, October 10, 1946.
Another bright and beautiful day.
My Division heard arguments in four cases this morning. On bench till about 12:30. Judge Barns fits in well with our Division but we miss Justice Sebring.
This afternoon I worked till 4 o’clock and then I went out for a game of golf with Judge Chapman. Neuritis in my left shoulder interfered with my playing for the first five holes. On the 15th green my second shot hit one of the trees near our home and wound up on the grass just a few feet from our front door. I felt much better after our game.
The Cardinals beat the Red Sox in Boston today 12 to 3. I think that makes the World Series stand 2 to 2. The 5th game will tell the tale—possibly—but the winner must win 4.
The Peace Conference today approved the American proposal for free transportation on the Danube. Very sensible action.
Hon. Cordell Hull is reported improving with chances of recovery from his recent stroke[.]
Annie & Lizzie went to the picture show tonight.
The beef industry demands the immediate scrapping of price controls on meat. This has become a big political issue. The meat farmers threaten Democratic success in the fall elections.
Friday, October 11, 1946.
Somewhat cloudy, with light shower at 1 pm. Quite warm in afternoon. South winds.
Our State Dept. sent a note to Moscow today saying that any act of aggression against Turkey to get Russian control of the Dardanelles would be deemed an unfriendly act and would be submitted to the coming meeting of the United Nations.
Also in Paris our representatives said that the U.S. would join any United Nations defense of Greece if its safety was endangered by the acts of any aggressor Nation.
But our delegation decided to let the boundaries between Greece and Bulgaria remain as they are except that some provisions[?] we make for Greece’s protection thus denying Greece[‘]s demand that Western Thrace be given to Greece. There are two sides to this question. A part of Western Thrace should be given to Greece.
On bench & in conference all morning till 1 p.m.
After repeated cabinet conferences, on the lifting of price controls on meat and cattle, the President has made no statement. He is expected to go on the air in the next 48 hours.
The Red Sox beat the St. Louis Cardinals today. So it is now 3 to 2 in favor of the Red Sox.
Saturday, October 12, 1946.
Warm morning. Getting cooler in afternoon & evening. Somewhat cloudy.
Went to a luncheon at the Floridan given by Mr. Leigh Powell, Pres. of the Seaboard Ry. Co. to about 100 Citizens. With Mr. Powell were 6 or 8 of the Directors. A very nice affair.
Gen Joseph Stillwell, able Military leader, died today in San Francisco. But Hon. Cordell Hull is getting better.
Worked in office all day. Tonight the Cowles came over. We heard some good radio programs.
The City of Pittsburgh is still paralyzed by the Electric strike, coupled with the street car strike. Practically all industry is shut down.
Sunday, October 13, 1946.
Clear & quite cool.
Big crowd of College girls in our church this morning & became “Affiliate Members.” Our church was overcrowded.
The Cardinals beat the Red Sox in the 6th game of the Series at St. Louis today. They now stand 3 & 3. The 7th and deciding game will be at St. Louis Tuesday. Today’s game was a thriller.
Monday, October 14, 1946.
Clear and cool. Getting warmer in late afternoon and tonight.
Worked pretty hard in office all day except for a short Motion day business 9:30 to 10:30.
President Truman, in a radio address tonight, announced that all controls on meat and cattle prices would go off tomorrow morning. He made a vigorous attack on the course that Congress had pursued, under the lead of “selfish” interests, in hamstringing and crippling price controls and the O. P. A. and defended his own course of action. But some of his arguments were fallacious. Any way, I think this means the end of price controls. The law of supply and demand will take care of the situation from now on better than the O. P. A., which should have been allowed to die last June 30th.
Molotoff made an angry and bitter speech in Paris today. Said the U.S. had dominated the Conference, and that he would not be bound by its recommendations when the Council of Foreign Ministers reconvenes. Byrnes was visibly angered, but made no reply. He is returning to Washington right away and will probably make a radio address.
Tuesday, October 15, 1946.
A fine fall day—Bright and clear. Cool in early morning and again by nightfall.
Spent the day in passing on cases coming in from the other judges and working on a hard case referred to me. And worked on it some tonight.
The St. Louis Cardinals beat the Boston Red Sox 4 to 3 and so they won the World Series 4 games out of 7. It was a great game. I heard the radio report of the first 2 or 3 innings after lunch and returned home in time to hear the last inning. Both teams put up a great fight.
Tonight I heard a hot debate on the American Forum of the air program between two representatives of the Political Action Committee, one of whom was the President, a man named Crow, and Senator Ball of Minn. A fine outstanding American who I think will be President of the U.S. some day, and Mr. Wallman, an able attorney. Subject discussed was “Is the P. A. C. a benefit or a threat to the U.S.” I thought Ball and Wallman showed that the P. A. C. was “a threat.” Ball is an able and forceful mind. Wish we had him in the Democratic Party. He’s a great American.
Wednesday, October 16, 1946.
Clear and warmer.
Busy day at my desk.
The hanging of ten condemned men at Nuremberg and the suicide of Goering featured the news today. Goering in some way had hidden a small vial of poison, thought to be cyanide of potassium, and was found dead in his cell when they came to take him to the gallows. As he and his room had been closely watched, it is a mystery how he hid the poison. Some broken glass was found in his mouth. An investigation is on.
So an important precedent in international law has been set. The deliberate making of aggressive war, without provocation, is a crime against humanity, and it was high time that it should have been recognized as such. Hitler & his bunch engaged in mass murder.
Thursday, October 17, 1946.
Clear and pleasant, but the barometer has been gradually going down for the past 24 hours. So we may have rain tomorrow.
A case was argued or rather reargued, before Div. A., this morning—2 of them—and I was called to sit in Judge Adams’ place, as he was out of town.
Put in the balance of the day reading briefs & records.
Sec’y Byrnes arrived by plane with Senator Vandenberg this morning. He will speak over the radio tomorrow night on the work of the Peace Conference, and Senator Vandenberg will speak Saturday night. Senator Connelly is returning by sea on the Queen Elizabeth, and Molotov is on the same ship. He is coming to attend the United Nations Conference next week. Senator Connally will probably make a radio speech next week.
This afternoon I enjoyed a game of golf with Judge Chapman, Reeves Bowen, & Atty General Watson. My game was better than it has been lately but not as good as it should be.
Friday, October 18, 1946. Byrnes
Clear and mild. In spite of the low barometer for past 48 hours, no rain.
In conference for quite awhile this morning. Put in balance of day reading the record in a case from one of the other judges in which he recommended affirmance without opinion.
Tonight we heard Secretary of State Byrnes who made a great speech. He reviewed the work of the Peace Conference and discussed the tense relations between Russia and our country, due to the attitude of Russia and her satellite nations—their suspicions and unfounded charges against the United States—and the course of patience, combined with firmness, which he and his associates had pursued; their earnest efforts to protect the freedom of all nations and promote the cause of world peace, based on the Constitution of the United Nations. I wish the Russian people would be allowed to read this great speech, but the will not.
Our State Dept. today wrote a strong note to Yugoslavia, charging that the[y] were holding as prisoners at forced labor 165 American citizens merely because they were of German descent.
Saturday, October 19, 1946.
Mostly clear and quite warm in early afternoon & up to about 5:30.
Busy in office this morning. About 4 pm went to Country Club & played golf with Judge Chapman and young Glenn Terrell. My game is still spotty—played some holes very well, majority pretty badly.
Dow phoned tonight that he & Hilda & little Hilda and Carter Davis, her husband, would arrive in Tallahassee tomorrow afternoon and spend the evening with us, and asked me to get hotel rooms for them for tomorrow night. They leave early Monday morning for Indian Rock for a week or so.
Tonight Senator Vandenberg made an excellent talk over the radio, backing up Sec’y Byrnes. I hope Wallace & Pepper heard him. He showed the fallacy of their position on the Russian question.
Sunday, October 20, 1946.
A fine, clear day. We & the Cowles had a nice luncheon at the College Cafeteria.
This afternoon I watched for awhile the golf match between Miss Louise Suggs, former Ga. champ, and Jimmy Lee, vs. Sonnia Hay and Mary Rivers Faulk a good young lady player, Georgia champion, from F.S.C.W. Jimmie & Miss Suggs won 5 up. At the club house after the match Jimmie Lee & Ronald Brough on behalf of the Lee family presented me with a fine walking stick which Ronald had sent Col Jim Lee from Naples during the war.
Dow & family arrived about 6:30. We served drinks & orderves[?] & had a good time. At 9 P.M. we all had a fine dinner at the Silver Slipper. Then they went to the Floridan & will leave in the morning for Indian Rock. Dow & Hilda & little Hilda & Carter Davis all looked well.
Monday, October 21, 1946.
A fine day, but a bit cloudy at times. Commenced getting much cooler after nightfall.
We had a busy time of it this morning with Motion day business. Oral arguments from 9:30 to 12:30, then in conference till 1 p.m. I was pretty tired.
Had a visit from Gunter Stephenson and Paul Ritter, both of Winter Haven, this afternoon, and tonight Gunter came to see us and brought me a bottle of Bourbon. Lizzie & Annie had gone to the picture, but he stayed until after their return at 11:30.
The Communists lost out yesterday in the Berlin election. They cast only 19% of the vote. The Social Democrats had 48.7 of the total vote and the Christian Democrats 22%. Quite a rebuke to Moscow.
Tuesday, October 22, 1946.
Cloudy and cool early morning, but quite clear and warmer during the day.
I was called in to sit in a whole Court case about 1.50, and not finished by noon. We reassembled at 2:30 and listened to arguments till about 4 p.m. The case was Dr. Bryant v. City of Lakeland. There was more heat than light in the arguments. I worked in office till nearly dark and got home about 6:15. Then took a walk on golf course.
Judge Paul Barns arrived yesterday and was on the bench today.
The 1400 pilots of one of the big international airlines went out on strike a day or so ago—for higher wages. They already get from $8000.00 to 10,000.00 per year. The Company had to cancel all its flights.
Had a pleasant visit this afternoon from Snow Martin, young lawyer from Lakeland. I like him very much. Good large & fine fellow.
Wednesday, October 23, 1946. United Nations Assembly Mets.
Mostly clear and a bit cool.
The Delegates of the 51 Nations to the Assembly of the United Nations met today in Flushing Meadows—the old World’s Fair grounds—in New York.
The[y] were addressed (by Secy of state Byrnes this morning and . . .Planned but not carried out) by President Truman this afternoon. Both made good speeches. The President made the best speech he has yet made. The speeches ought to plan the way to mutual good will and understanding between all nations, and strengthen the U.N. as an instrument to preserve the peace and progress of the world.
Also Ernest Bevin and Winston Churchill made notable speeches in the House of Commons today. They did some plain speaking which ought to bring Russia to her senses.
Passed on a number of cases today.
Judge Chapman & I played golf this afternoon at 4:30. He made a 41, I a 51.
I have not felt very well today, but felt better after the game.
O. P. A. lifts price ceilings on practically all food products.
Thursday, October 24, 1946.
Somewhat cloudy at times.
On bench all morning. My opinion in City of Tallahassee V. Ashmore was approved by Justice Thomas yesterday, two weeks after it was approved by Judge Sebring & sent to Justice Thomas’s office, and Judge Chapman approved it this morning. It will be handed down tomorrow. I think this opinion will be helpful in the decision of intersection collision cases in the future—at least I hope so.
This afternoon I was, with several interruptions, busy passing on cases written by other justices—some pretty tough work.
Tonight the Cowles spent the evening with us. So I didn’t get a chance to do some reading I wanted to do.
The Russians have taken 3500 Germans in their zone and sent them to work in Russia. Looks like peonage, but the Russians say these men are going of their own volition. Also the Russians are stripping industries of tools and machinery and sending all that to Russia. So the Germans in the Russian zone will have a hard time. All this may be a retaliation of the very small vote which the Communist party received in Berlin on Oct. 21st.
I didn[‘]t get to hear the news tonight. So I don[‘]t know what was done by the U.N. Assembly today.
Friday, October 25, 1946. Rain
Cloudy. Falling barometer. southerly winds. Rain, fairly hard, but in showers. No rain after nightfall. so the boys were able to pull off their football game tonight. Leon High v. Panama City. The latter has won 21 straight games but the Tallahassee team won tonight, 7 to 6.
First real rain today since Oct. 7th
Had a busy day. On bench and in conference all morning. Worked this afternoon and tonight.
Too tired at this late hour to write my diary.
Yesterday they had a scrap in the United Nations on the question of whether the use of the veto power should be discussed. Russian delegate Vichinsky[sic] opposed putting it on the agenda. Senator Austin, our representative, let the fight for free discussion. The large majority were with him. Vichinsky saw he would lose and withdrew his opposition.
Russia has used the veto 9 times. No other nation has resorted to it.
Saturday, October 26, 1946.
Cloudy morning and most of the afternoon with a light shower about 2:30.
Didn’t get to do much work today. Interruptions. Had to have two new tires (Atlas) with new inner tubes put on my car today. Cost 42.44. Out of the 5 tires which came with my car when I bought it in Jan’y (2nd) 1941, three are still pretty good, and the two I bought today give me 4 good tires on my car and one good spare tire. I think I can get along a year or so now before buying any more.
This afternoon Judge Chapman, Paul Barns, & Mr. Jim Lanier and I played golf. I felt as well as usual and did not get tired but my game was about the worst I have ever played. Old age, I guess. The others played very well, though Judge Barns is out of practice. Mr. Lanier did quite well, but Judge Chapman was a little off. But we all enjoyed it.
Sunday, October 27, 1946.
Clear and a little cooler. Northerly breezes.
Took things quietly today, as I did not get to sleep last night until 4:30. Have not felt at all well, but am better tonight. Lizzie is suffering with a headache. She got very little sleep last night also.
The maritime strikes on the East & Gulf Coasts were settled yesterday. Considerable increase in pay was allowed.
Monday, October 28, 1947.
Mostly clear. A fine day.
A good many interruptions—callers—but did some work in office, thought I did not feel like working this afternoon.
A day or so ago, Atty, Gen’l. Tom Clark fired Asst. Atty. General O. John Rogge, who in a recent speech on the infiltration of foreign agents—communists and fascists—into labor unions and other organizations in this country, using facts in a report of his investigations made on orders of the Atty. General. Clark says that this was a violation of the rules of the Dept. of Justice. Rogge, one of the ablest men in the Dept., says he thinks the Am people are entitled to know what is going on, and that he will keep on speaking.
Stalin granted another of his pre arranged interviews today, answering a number of questions. Said that Russia did not have the atomic bomb, and that he was in favor of strong international control. Also that Russia had 60 divisions of troops in Europe, not 200 as Churchill had said.
The Pres. today appointed a Civilian Board of Control of Atomic Energy with David Lilienthal as Chairman.
Tuesday, October 29, 1946.
A fine day. Mostly clear. Some clouds at times, but not rain clouds.
Spent a busy day in office passing on cases written by other judges.
Tonight we heard over the radio a splendid program—the Herald-Tribune Forum of the Air—presided over by Mr. Bernard M. Baruch, and talks were made by him and a half dozen other fine and prominent men on the subject of international control of atomic energy for peaceful purposes, including a strong and effective inspection and supervision by the International body. Practically all the speakers were in full agreement with the Baruch plan.
Meanwhile Molotov was this evening speaking before the Assembly of the U.N. in favor of the Russian plan to outlaw the making and the use of atomic weapons and the destruction by the U.S. of all the atomic bombs we have made. He did not want any inspection service, but merely an international agreement without any power to enforce it. An impractical idea.
Wednesday, October 30, 1946.
A beautiful clear day.
We had one small case argued this morning, and I managed, with some interruptions, to get some work done. Got home about dark, but took a short walk.
Senator Warren Austin, leader of our American delegation in the U. N. Assembly, made a fine speech today in which, with suavity, he debunked Molotov and made the latter’s provocative speech of yesterday look ridiculous. I have always admired Austin since I heard him speak in the Senate some ten or 15 years ago.
The President announced today that there would be no coal strike. He has arranged for the meeting which John L. Lewis demanded. Krug refused to cancel his engagements in the West in order to meet with Lewis on Nov. 1st. It seems that Pres. Truman arranged for Krug’s chief assistant to meet with Lewis. I hope this does not mean that they are going to give in to Lewis.
Thursday, October 31, 1946.
Another clear and beautiful day.
Didn[‘]t get much work done today. About 11 A.M., dear old Judge Whitfield came to see me and stayed until about time to go to lunch, and this afternoon I had quite a long confab with Judges Chapman and Buford. Then at 4:30 I went out and played golf with Atty. Gen’l Tom Watson & Mr. Heintz. The weather was ideal and I played a better game than for sometime.
The Russian satellites have sent delegations to the U.N. Assembly whose speeches today are even more belligerent toward the U.S. than was Molotoff’s on Tuesday. Russian tactics are designed to make the world believe that we are determined to rule the world even if we have to resort to war to do it, and thus divert attention from Russia’s enforcement upon Poland and the Balkan Nations of communistic governments which the people of these countries do not want.
Our delegation countered by submitting to the Assembly a plan for world disarmament to be enforced by a U. N. inspection service. This put the Russian groups on the spot. They don’t want the world to know what they are doing.
Friday, November 1, 1946.
Mostly clear. More cloudy at time than yesterday. Falling barometer indicates rain tomorrow
There has been unseasonably warm weather in the Northeastern States.
Over the radio tonight Congressman Clarence Brown, Repub. Campaign Director, predicted that the Republican will gain the Senate and the House, the latter by at least 40 seats majority, and Dem. House Leader Jno. W. McCormack predicts that the Democrats will retain control of both House and Senate. Of course these party leaders are running true to form. I believe that the Republicans will make substantial gains—but how much I don’t know. They may get control of the House, but I doubt their getting control of the Senate.
The Moscow radio advises the American voters to elect all candidates supported by the Political Action Committee that shows that the Communists have gained control of the P. A. C.
Saturday, November 2, 1946.
Cloudy. Looked like it was going to rain, all day, but it did not.
About 60 or 70 Estonians, men, women and children escaped (evidently from fear of Russia) in three small boats, and after a long and dangerous passage across the Atlantic, landed at Miami, but to their dismay the U.S. Immigration officers held them up for the past week. Through the efforts of President Truman they were allowed to land today. They were overcome with gratitude and happiness. It would have been a sham to cast them adrift.
Today the U. of Ga. football team beat the crack U. of Ala. team 14 to nothing. The U. of Miami team won its match today.
Many interruptions this morning but I got in a lot of work this afternoon.
Sunday, November 3, 1946.
The weather today was much the same as yesterday. Overcast.
I did not wake up this morning until 9 o’clock or after. We were all late. It was about 10:30 when I finished breakfast. We had dinner about 2:30.
This afternoon I watched the golf players in the finals of the Club Tournament.
Jimmy Lee won by 2 up over Robt. Parker. They both played very fine golf. 36 holes. Jimmy made the last nine in 31. Medal[?] [ ? ] 14.5—36h. [ ? ]
Monday, November 4, 1946.
Cloudy most of the day, but clearing in late afternoon and evening.
We were busy with Motion day business all morning, till 12:30.
This afternoon Lizzie, Annie, Walter Cowles & I drove to the Taylor County line and got some liquid refreshment.
Tonight we heard some good radio programs and lots of election prognostications.
It looks like the Republicans are sure to win a majority in the House, and maybe a slight majority in the Senate. At least that’s what most of the prophets say.
Tuesday, November 5, 1946.
Clear and mild. A beautiful election day.
Of course Hon. Spessard Holland and all other State Dem. candidates were elected today by overwhelming majorities, here in Florida, and the same thing happened in all the Southern States.
But the returns late tonight indicate that the Republicans will probably control the House, but the control of the Senate is in doubt.
Governor Dewey was re-elected as Governor (over Sen. Jas. M. Mead) by a tremendous majority and Ives defeated former Dem Governor Lehman for the Senate.
The Republican victories may be a good thing. Pres. Truman has made so many mistakes in the past few months, and his apparent lack of courage and devotion to the general public welfare in his dealings with labor leaders and pressure groups have weakened the Dem. Party. But maybe he just did understand.[sic]
I am delighted that we are to have Gov. Holland in the Senate. He is a good and universally able man.
Wednesday, November 6, 1946.
Partly cloudy, but quite pleasant.
This morning the radio reports were to the effect that the Republican party will control both Houses of Congress by comfortable margins.
It was a Republican landslide. All the New England States except Rhode Island elected Republicans for the Senate and House. Senator David Walsh of Mass. was defeated by young Henry Cabot Lodge. But I have a feeling that this was a good swap.
The Solid South remained solid. What would become of the Democratic party were it not for the South? However, most of our Southern men in Congress are really progressive Conservatives—not radicals.
This morning the whole Court was on the bench to hear the arguments in the case of Yates v. Ball. Now Ball v. Yates. Hal Adair and Billy Rogers of Jacksonville opened for Ball & was followed by Bob Anderson of Miami for Yates et al. About 12:30 we adjourned until tomorrow morning—when arguments will be resumed.
Thursday, November 7, 1946. Showers.
Mostly clear and warm, but some light showers in afternoon.
This morning we were on the bench and in conference till 12:30. The arguments in the Ball v. Yates case were resumed with a very good argument by Harry T. Gray, of the firm of Marks, Gray & Holt. Mr. Gray announced that he had just received word of the death of his partner, Mr. Frank Holt,--a very fine and useful citizen and a good lawyer. Mr. Gray was followed by Counsel for Ball—Wm H. Rogers and Hal Adair. The case was well argued, and after discussion in conference was assigned to Judge Paul Barns. I do not envy him the job. It’s a hard case.
I dictated an opinion this afternoon on the rehearing in the case of Hawthorne v. Wiseheart. By a 4 to 3 vote we held originally that Judge Wiseheart could not be ousted from his Judgeship. I am writing an opinion to deny rehearing. I was not at all satisfied with our original opinion written by Judge Terrell, though I thought his conclusions were sound.
Friday, November 8, 1946. Showers last night.
Brilliantly clear and a bit cooler. There was some light rain last night.
We were all in conference most of the morning. Paul Barns is doing good work and is valuable in conference. He is a pretty rapid worker too. I am delighted that I am going to have such an able successor.
This afternoon Judge Chapman and I played golf, 4:30 to 6. We were even in holes and strokes, each making a 48.
Am working tonight, tho I am having a little stomach trouble.
Saturday, November 9, 1946.
Another brilliantly clear and delightful day.
I put in the whole day with office work. A bit tired tonight. Liz, Annie and I had a quiet but pleasant evening reading, talking and listening to several good radio programs.
The Army v. Notre Dame football game in New York was a tie—nothing to nothing.
The President has removed price controls from everything but rents, rice and sugar. Even building materials are off the control list.
Sunday, November 10, 1946.
Partly cloudy, but mostly clear, and warm in afternoon. We had lunch along with the Cowles at the College Cafeteria out at Dale Mabry—former Army Air base.
This afternoon Judge Chapman & I played a rather poor but enjoyable game of golf. We were all even at the end. I made a 49. Didn[‘]t feel well, but was about as well as usual after the game.
Monday, November 11, 1946. Rain
Mostly cloudy, with some showers. Cooler tonight.
I attended the Armistice Day ceremonies at 11 Am., held in the bandstand area back of the County Court House, and sat with the other Judges and a number of other people on the speaker’s stand. The address of the occasion was by Congressman Bob Sikes, and it was excellent and well delivered. He is quite a good speaker.
This morning Pres. Truman issued an excellent statement saying that he would cooperate with the Republican Congress for the general welfare, regardless of political considerations.
Sec’y of State Byrnes made a fine speech tonight at a dinner in honor of the Members of the Security Council and heads of delegations to the U. N. Assembly in the dining room of the Waldorf Astoria. I did not get to hear the other addresses.
Tuesday, November 12, 1946.
Mostly clear, and cooler.
Did some office work today, but had two long visits from lawyer friends—which took up about half my time.
Paul Barns has read my opinion in the quo warranto case of State ex rel Hawthorn v. Wiseheart, which I finished yesterday morning, and thinks it is all O.K. The case is now before us on motion for rehearing. Judge Terrell wrote the majority opinion, which I did not like very much, but concurred in. The Court stood 4 to 3. On petition for rehearing, I have written an opinion upholding our former ruling, but on different grounds from those Judge T. had expressed. I have come to the conclusion that his reasoning was largely fallacious.
Got home in time to take a good walk on golf course. Beautiful golf weather.
Wednesday, November 13, 1946.
Clear and quite cool. We had the steam heat on in the Supreme Court Bldg this morning, and tonight we made a wood fire in the living room.
The whole court was on the bench from 10 to 12 and then in conference afterwards till about 1 p.m.
This afternoon Judges Chapman and Barns and I left at 4 pm and played golf till nearly dark. Paul Barns played a very good game indeed, and Judge Ch. did very well, but I played worse than usual.
A storm in southern California and a blizzard in the West have caused considerable damage and some loss of life.
Thursday, November 14, 1946.
Clear and cooler, but very pleasant in the afternoon.
This morning we were on the bench. Then in conference afterward until near lunch time.
This afternoon I was busy in my office, except for quite a long and interesting visit from Dan Redfearn, one of my old Miami friends, which I enjoyed very much. He argued a case before us this morning. The Second edition of his valuable book on probate law is now out. I don’t see how a busy lawyer could get the time to write such a book.
I got home in time to take a good walk and tonight I worked on a case and listened to a few radio programs.
The Republican leaders have had a conference in Washington, and they say they will cut income taxes 20% and also balance the budget next year. They can’t do both. They had nothing to say about labor legislation, though they had a lot to say about that during the recent campaigns.
Friday, November 15, 1946.
Clear and cool. A fine day. somewhat warmer tonight.
On bench all morning. Two cases involved the validity of a Tampa ordinance which imposed a gross receipts tax on the newspapers in Tampa; the Tribune and the Times sought to enjoin the collection of the Tax on the alleged ground that it violated the constitutional guarantee of the freedom of the press. The Tampa court ruled against that contention. I think the judgment should be affirmed. It is a mere ordinary occupational license tax. T. Paine Kelly, Jr., and Mr. Howard MacFarlane represented the papers, Mr. Ralph Mersicano the City. The case was referred to Judge Barns. I am glad it was.
Tonight we learn the John L. Lewis has defied the opinion of the Att[‘]y-General and decided that the Coal Miners Union contract with the Government will be ended next Wednesday. So his miners will quit work then. The strike will be a major disaster to this Country. It is said that in doing this Lewis violates the Smith-Connelly Act & will be prosecuted and put in jail. I hope so.
Saturday, November 16, 1946.
Mostly cloudy, with some shine in afternoon, fairly strong Southerly winds—warmer tonight then last night.
This morning I went to see Governor Caldwell and told him that I expected to resign late this month to take effect Dec. 1st. Reason: my greatly diminished working capacity and inability to do my share of the Court’s work. He expressed his regret, and said he thought he would offer to appoint Judge Paul Barns as my successor. I told him I thought that would be an excellent appointment, as Paul had been elected to succeed me when my term expires next Jan 7th. I feel that, as I am not able to do my share of the work, thereby increasing the work of the other members of the Court, during the busy days between now and Jan. 7th, I should retire on Dec. 1st.
Sunday, November 17, 1946.
Mostly cloudy. Light rain this afternoon lasting some time.
The morning we went to Church and had a fine sermon by young Dr. Wm. R. Cannon of Emory University. A brilliant young man.
This evening we had a little party for Frances Thompson & her sisters Lucy Hilvirston Hastings, Ansley Hotel, Atlanta, & Mrs. Braswell of Jacksonville.
The P. W. A. Airplane Pilots strike ended a day or so ago. They agreed to arbitrate. Should have done that to begin with.
Monday, November 18, 1946.
Cloudy and cool.
We had a heavy Motion day business. Took all morning, mostly in oral arguments. And then it took a conference from 2:30 to 4:30 to agree on proper orders in the rather numerous cases.
Dept of Justice officials have obtained a temporary injunction against Lewis’s termination of the Government’s contract with the U. M. Workers on Wednesday night. But he has already announced that the contract was terminated as of that time. It remains to be seen whether this Court action will accomplish anything.
The extremists in the House of Commons in their attack on Ernest Bevin and the Labor Government’s foreign policy didn’t amount to much. The vote of confidence was 355 to nothing. Attlee made a good speech & Churchill voted with him. However some 160 or more of the dissidents did not vote.
Tuesday, November 19, 1946.
Cloudy and cooler.
Div. A was on for oral arguments today but the whole court had to sit in one case involving a constitutional question.
This afternoon about 4 p.m. Judge Chapman and I played golf. Neither one of us played very well, but I won, 1 up. It is reported that the big 5 have come to an agreement as to the government of Trieste which is practically the same as Mr[.] Byrnes has been standing for, but I think there must be some mistake about this report. Molotov is not given to making concessions on anything.
The U.S. Steel Corp’n says that if the Coal strike is not settled soon, they will have to close down all their steel mills.
A laundry plant in Greenville, S.C. was completely blown to pieces this evening by a terrific gas explosion which was heard for 50 to 60 miles away. Several persons killed and a score or more severely injured and adjoining buildings damaged.
Gunter Stephenson called to see us tonight and took Annie & Lizzie to the movie. When they came back he stayed and talked with us for awhile. Gunter has always been a favorite of mine.
Wednesday, November 20, 1946.
Weather a bit cooler, but otherwise the same—cloudy, and a little slow rain this afternoon.
On bench in one case—a capital case. The appellants, two negroes convicted of rape in Broward County were represented by a real good Negro lawyer of Miami named Thomas, He had a hard case, but he argued it well.
We were in conference nearly all this afternoon with reference to our budget for the coming year, and considering several hard disputed cases.
John Lewis’s declared several days ago that the Miners contract with the Government would be terminated at midnight tonight—a unilateral action without the government’s consent. So the soft coal miners will all walk out tonight. I doubt the efficacy of the injunction, regardless of the court’s action. Even if they put Lewis in jail, the strike will go on. We face a national disaster.
The Trieste matter has not been settled yet.
Thursday, November 21, 1946. Our 45th Wedding Anniversary.
Weather quite similar to yesterday. A little bit clearer
Lizzie and I were married in Montgomery 45 years ago today. So we have much to be thankful for that we have both been spared to this good day. I feel quite sure that I would not have lived this long if it had not been for her love and care and attention during my several serious illnesses.
The Cowles sent over a beautiful vase of gladiolas. I gave Lizzie an electric blanket some weeks ago as an anniversary present and a hundred dollars at breakfast this morning.
The Cowles & Mary Maude came over this evening for a little party, but Mary Maud had to leave soon as she was expecting a long distance call. We had cocktails and then an oyster supper.
Friday, November 22, 1946. My resignation sent to Governor.
Mostly cloudy. Rather misty this morning. Almost clear in afternoon.
I was pretty well fagged this morning and got Justice Buford to sit in my place. I had a good many visitors, among them B. F. Pety and Pat Whitaker, both of whom I like very much. I met Mrs. Pety in the corridor. She and a young daughter came up with B. F., who had a case to argue. I haven’t seen Mrs. Pety for 10 or 12 years. She has not changed any that I could see-just as pretty and charming as ever.
I wrote and sent to the Governor this morning a letter announcing my decision to retire, pursuant to sec. 25.12 of Fla. Statutes, and asked him to accept my resignation effective Dec 1st; that I was no longer able to do my share of the work of the Court. I regret to have to do this, but I can no longer stand the strain without breaking down. My working capacity has been greatly reduced during the past year. Tonight pursuant to a phone call we went to the Floridan Hotel and had a very pleasant visit with Mr. Judge Danson of Opelika and her daughter “Fralie”[?] whom we knew in Lafayette, and two maiden ladies from Memphis with whom they are making an auto trip.
Saturday, November 23, 1946.
Clear and cold—at least colder than any day this fall. But overcoats not necessary.
I received a very gracious and complimentary letter from the governor this morning, accepting my resignation as of Dec. 1st next.
Fairly busy day in office—working on a big bunch of cases coming in from the other Justices—some pretty tough.
This afternoon at 5:30 I took Paul Barns home with me. We took a short walk on the golf course and then home, where we had a very pleasant hour. Lizzie served us with a good drink of Scotch—the best we had. Paul is good company. I hope the Governor appoints him to succeed me, and I believe he will. It would be an excellent appointment.
Sunday, November 24, 1946.
Mostly fair and warmer.
I went to Church this morning and this afternoon Judge Chapman, Mr. Heintz & I played golf. I made a 48—the others about the same.
Tonight Ted Semple and a Mr. George Walker of Miami came out to see us. Ted is always welcome, & Mr. Walker was O.K. I never met him before. Ted brought me a bottle of Johnny Walker Scotch. First I’ve seen for several years.
Monday, November 25, 1946.
Mostly clear and warm.
A good many visitors today-with very little opportunity to work.
This afternoon’s paper carried an article about my resignation and Judge Paul Barns appointment by the Governor to succeed my Dec. 1st, with our pictures. Am glad the Governor has appointed Paul. It was the logical thing to do, as I told the Governor several days ago.
Tonight we had Mrs. Sebring and Paul to dinner. Before dinner, we had Scotch high balls. Lizzie fixed up a delightful dinner. We had a most pleasant evening. They left about 11 p.m.
Tuesday, November 26, 1946.
Mostly cloudy and warm.
Long conference this morning. Whole court, trying to iron out disputed cases. Took all morning. The petition for rehearing was denied in the Wisheart case. I had written a 6 page opinion giving my reasons for denying the rehearing, in which Judge Chapman concurred, and which departed to some extent from the original opinion by Judge Terrell.
This afternoon I took my car to Alford’s to have the clutch fixed, and then walked to my office and worked hard till nearly dark. Also worked at home tonight
Liz went to a party at Hattie Bell’s at 6:30 & got back about 8:30.
Wednesday, November 27, 1946. Rain.
Hard rain last night and early part of morning. Cloudy all day, with showers at times.
Worked hard all day, and passed on all opinions from the other judges, except a capital case in which I am reading the record. Wrote one concurring opinion, and one dissent. Tried to do some work tonight, but too tired. Had visits from Paul Barns and Judge Terrell, who wanted to talk over with me cases in which they were writing opinions.
Foreign Ministers of the Big Five finally agreed on the much fought over Trieste issue. Molotov finally gave in.
The trial of John L. Lewis for contempt of court for disobeying the temporary injunction issued a week or so ago, began before Judge T. Allan Goldsborough[?] in Washington today and was continued over until Friday. The judge turned down Joseph Padway’s argument that the Government could not get an injunction against Lewis & the miners because of the Norris-LaGuardia Act. The Judge made some very cogent and cutting observations that defendants counsel could not reply to.
Thursday, November 28, 1946. Thanksgiving Day
Somewhat cloudy and murky, but nearly clear in middle of day.
I worked this morning. Came home at noon, and about 12:15 we, Annie, Lizzie and the Cowles and I—drove down to Wakulla Springs and had a very nice dinner at $1.00 per person. I also tipped the waiter $1.00. We got back home about 3 pm and I rested till 4 pm. Then went to the office and passed on the last cases coming in from the other Judges. Lots of them have been passed on to me this week. Now my desk is clean except for one hard case assigned to me to write some weeks ago. I have been working on that tonight. Tomorrow morning we will probably have a long conference, but I hope to get my opinion finished and ready for filing by Saturday afternoon.
Friday, November 29, 1946.
Mostly cloudy. Cool morning.
We were in conference nearly all morning.
This afternoon I had so many interruptions that I did not get a chance to do much work. Did some work tonight on a case I want to write up tomorrow, but was too tired to do much.
Saturday, November 30, 1946. My last day on the Supreme Court.
Weather much the same as yesterday.
We were in conference all morning trying to dispose of all cases in which I had taken part, and we did. I had hoped to have all day to write an opinion in the Norwood v. Davis et al case, but had to do it this afternoon. I didn’t have as much time as I needed, but finished dictating it by 5 p.m. Annie wrote part of it this aft. by 5:40 and will finish it tomorrow, and I’ll file it as of today, and the Court can act on it later.
Tonight I was very tired, but rested in bed till 9 p.m. Then we all went to a party given by Mr. & Mrs. Walter Richardson. Walter’s brother Jewett was there from Montgomery. We had a good time. Home by 11:30
Sunday, December 1, 1946.
Not quite so murky today. Almost clear this afternoon. Annie & I spent the morning sorting out the files and papers that I wanted to bring home, and also wrote some letters. I am leaving my desk and the papers thereon, and my chair, for Judge Harrison to use. He will sit in Judge Sebring’s place for the next 2 or 3 weeks. Judge Adams is moving into my office, and I will put my desk in his office for Judge Harrison to use.
This aft. Judges Chapman and Barns & I played golf. Paul Barns made 40, Judge C. about 45 and I a 48. Felt better after the game.
Monday, December 2, 1946. Our coldest day so far.
Clear and cold. N. and N.W. wind.
I felt a bit strange this morning. Court in session, and I not there. I went up and brought Annie to lunch: also a lot of things in my office—my former office—that I had overlooked—including some pictures on the walls, and files of practically all the Fla. Bar Ass’n Law Journals from the beginning. I suggested the publication of magazine or journal when I was President back in 1922-23, but it was several years before it was done.
This afternoon I took a good nap, and went to town about 4 p.m. to attend to several matters and about 4:40 I went by the Court and had chats with some of the Judges and at 5:15 I brought Annie home. Judge Adams has moved into my office and my desk has temporarily been placed in Judge Adam old office for Judge Harrison to use while he is here for the next two weeks; then I’ll bring it home. Myrtle Johnson is acting as Secretary for Judge Barns for December, and Annie for Judge Harrison. On Jan’y 1st Annie will be Judge Terrell’s Secretary for the year.
Tuesday, December 3, 1946. Cold.
Clear and colder.
I went to the Supreme Court Bldg. this morning to meet Judge Harrison. Found he was occupying Judge Sebring’s office, and Judge Barns had taken over Judge Adams office. The latter had moved into my old office. I think Judge Barns has profited by the change. My former office, being on the N.W. corner and with so many high windows, was the coldest office in the winter and in the afternoon the hottest in Summer. I am letting Judge Barns use my desk until he can get one.
Received several letters and telegrams from lawyer friends today, about my retirement. Henry Williams of Tampa came up to attend the [ ? ] testimonial service in my honor. This Announcement in the papers last Friday was corrected the next day, but Henry had not seen the correction.
I took a good walk on the golf course this afternoon about 4 p.m. Have felt very well tonight.
We spent the evening reading and listening to the radio.
Am glad I did not have to work today. I did not feel like it—today or yesterday. I feel sure I did right to retire.
Wednesday, December 4, 1946.
Clear and cold again. Foggy, in early morning.
Don’t feel very well this morning. Lay down for some time after breakfast.
Went to town about 11:45. Called on Kenneth Ballinger and thanked him for his good words about me in one of his recent broadcasts. Then I went to the Supreme Court Bldg. and had a few pleasant words with Judges Barns, Harrison and Adams; then brought Annie home.
This afternoon I had a good nap after dinner, and about 4 p.m., Lizzie & I drove down to the Taylor County line and got something to drink. I got one bottle of “Old Taylor” bourbon—first I’ve seen in some time.
Tonight we hear over the radio that Judge Goldsborough fined John Lewis $10,000, and the United Mine Workers 3-1/2 million dollars, renewed or reissued the restraining order and fixed a fine of a quarter of a million dollars per day on the U. M. W. for every day they remain on strike against the government. An appeal is expected. The U. M. W. has $13,500,000 in their treasury. The coal strike is badly crippling the whole country.
Thursday, December 5, 1946.
Bright & clear and cold.
Went to Judge Barns’ office in Supreme Court Bldg., while he was on the bench, and dictated answers to a number of fine letters from lawyers expressing their views as to my work on the Court. Then when court was over, I chatted with Judges Barns, Harrison & Terrell & C. J. Chapman.
This aft. I attended to some small matters uptown & took a long walk on golf course. About 6 p.m. we were invited over to the Cowles and had a very good “old fashioned.”
Tonight we read, listened to the best radio programs, & all but me played cards—Liz, & Annie & the Cowles.
John Lewis & His lawyers are evidently worried. That daily fine of $50,000 on the Union makes them wary about appealing. If they appeal & lose the fines would empty the Union Treasury.
Friday, December 6, 1946.
Clear and cool. Delightful afternoon.
I have felt a bit better today—especially after a game of golf this afternoon with Judges Barns and Chapman.
Went to town this morning and also this afternoon, attending to various small matters. Went by Sup. Ct. Bldg and wrote a few letters while Judge Barns was on the bench—using my old desk.
I have not yet felt quite myself. The reaction from the long strain of work. It may take me some time to get in really good shape.
Philip Murray of the C. I. O. and Wm Green of the A. F. of L. have called on their unions to support Lewis in his fight with the Government—by financial help it is assumed.
Lewis has taken an appeal from Judge Goldsborough’s decision and made bond by depositing $3,500,000 of U.S. bonds out of the Union’s Treasury with the Clerk of the Court.
We and the Cowles went to the movie tonight. First time I’ve gone to the movies in a long time. It was Van Johnson & Pat Kirkwood, both very good.
Saturday, December 7, 1946. (Pearl Harbor Day) Coal Strike called off.
Another beautiful day: a bit warmer.
This morning early, while it was still dark, there was the worst hotel fire in American history in Atlanta. The Winecoff Hotel in downtown Atlanta, supposed to be fireproof was gutted by flames from the third to about the 12th of its 15 floors. There were 280 persons in the hotel. All rooms occupied. It was reported tonight that 120 to 124 people were killed. Many jumped. One of the dead was Mr. Winecoff, former owner. The cause of the fire and its rapid speed is unknown.
This afternoon about 2:30 John L. Lewis called off the strike in the mine fields. Later the President cancelled his radio talk scheduled for Sunday night at 9:30. This ends a bad economic crisis, also the fine of $250,000 per day. But the fine of $3,500,000 on the Union and the $10,000 fine on Lewis still stands unless reversed on appeal from Judge Goldsborough’s contempt judgment.
Sunday, December 8. 1946.
An ideal day. Liz & I went to church this morning. This afternoon Judge Chapman & I went to play golf and Dr. Edson Andrews and his father joined us. The latter plays about the same game I do. He is 66. Young Dr. Andrews plays an excellent game. He made a 39 or 40. I am still off my game.
The latest report are that in the Winecoff hotel fire in Atlanta early Saturday morning, the number of dead was 116. This is the worst and most deadly hotel fire in our country’s history. An investigation is on.
Monday, December 9, 1946.
Another ideal day. Clear, cool early morning, warm by midday, and in the afternoon.
In John Lewis’s statement ordering the miners back to work last Saturday, Dec. 7th (17 days after the strike began) he said that the back to work order would remain in effect until Mch 31st 1947, when the present contract with the Government expires. This was a complete back down and defeat for the arrogant John L. His strike was defeated. He evidently thought that by striking at this critical time, he could make the government change the contract while it was in full force. But this time Mr. Truman and Mr. Krug determined to fight him to a finish. His bluff was called, and Judge Allan Goldsborough, whose restraining order he had defied, brought him down with his contempt order. I hope the Supreme Court upholds Judge Goldsborough. The case is set for argument Jan. 14th.
This afternoon Judge Barns & I had a nice game of golf, and then I brought him by home, & he & Lizzie & Annie & I all had a fine drink of Bourbon. I feel better.
Tuesday, December 10, 1946.
Still another fine day. Really quite warm in afternoon.
Made two trips to town today. Went to Dr. Brown and got some lashes pulled out, then by the Supreme Court Bldg. to get my mail and write a few letters. The appeal of Vincent Giblin from a contempt judgment—a fine and 30 days in jail—imposed by one of the Circuit Judges down in Miami—was being argued at length today by good lawyers on both sides. All the Court sat except Judge Barns.
This afternoon I went up and got a hair cut.
Was glad to find that the last opinion I wrote, on Nov. 30th, in Norwood v. Davis et al, had been unanimously agreed to and filed today.
Paul Barns told me that his wife was not at all well, and the he was leaving for Miami tomorrow.
Tonight Judge & Mrs. Chapman gave a delightful party to the members of the Court and the Governor & his wife and the Members of the Cabinet, and Lizzie and I were also invited. A very nice affair. The New Comptroller Clarence M. Gay, and wife, were there. I liked them very much.
Wednesday, December 11, 1946.
Still warm and mostly clear. A bit foggy in morning and a little cloudy in afternoon.
Haven’t felt at all well today. Had to lie down after breakfast until 11 A.m., and then for 1-1/2 hours after dinner.
But I did go to town this morning and again late this afternoon, about 4:30. Went to Judge Harrison’s office in Supreme Court Bldg. and found Annie had gone. Had a chat with Judge Harrison and about 5:00 drove him to the Cherokee Hotel where we picked up Mrs. Harrison and I took them for quite a drive around town and the Womens[sic] College and the Negro College, then back by our house and, as Lizzie was at a party given in honor of Godfrey Smith’s wife, I drove them back to their hotel.
On my return, and Lizzie’s and Annie by taxi, we all went to see Mary Maud & Jeff.
Tonight I lay down for an hour or so after supper, but could not sleep. Then we listened to several radio programs. And now to bed.
Thursday, December 12, 1946. Rain.
Depressingly warm most of the day. Some rain this afternoon.
I moved my desk and chair from Judge Barns’ office to my home office and library, this afternoon. Bought a chair mat, so as to protect the carpet. Also got my envelopes and letter heads from Rose Printing Co. So I’m all fixed up at last.
But I have not felt well since I quit work. It’s a natural reaction, I suppose. Now that I have my home office fixed up, I think I’ll feel better.
I had accepted an invitation to attend a luncheon of the Past Presidents of the State Bar Ass’n. in Jacksonville tomorrow, but cancelled it by wire today.
The President is cutting down the wartime agencies, rapidly, but I think he made a mistake in refusing to cooperate with Wilson Wyatt, head of the Veterans Housing Administration, causing Wyatt to resign several days ago. Wyatt considered the emergency so great, he wanted the Gov’t to finance the building of prefabricated houses. I believe he was right. But the R. F. C. didn[‘]t like it. Probably private building concerns were back of that.
Friday, December 13, 1946.
Mostly cloudy, and a little rain.
Went to town for awhile this morning, attending to small matters, then came by the Sup. Ct. Bldg. and had a chat with Judge Harrison whom I like very much. Then brought Annie home.
This afternoon I took a nap and then Judge Chapman and I played golf from 4:15 to 5:45. It was almost too dark to play on the last hole, being somewhat cloudy. Even on a clear day, it gets too dark to play by 6 p.m. or a little before.
Lizzie has been suffering with a peculiar place—a dark spot on her thigh—for the past three days. Very much like one she had last winter. She went to Dr. Rhodes about it yesterday and today. It is not a boil. The Dr. thinks it may be a bursted small blood vessel.
I have been feeling badly today and was tired after my golf game.
Saturday, December 14, 1946.
A bright clear day—fairly cool.
Judge Harrison went goose hunting down on the Coast today. We took Mrs. Harrison for a drive to Lake Bradford, stopping on the way at the Monticello Pecan Co., where we all bought some nice shelled pecans.
When we got home we found that the Express Co. had delivered one large box of oranges & grapefruit, sent by Judge Bird, and three baskets of oranges sent by Mr. Robert Klaeppel. We, this afternoon, re expressed the box to “Little Hilda” and one basket to Dowdell Jr & Laura, and one to the Pickett girls.
After getting home I took a long walk on golf course. Felt a little better tonight. and Liz is some better.
Sunday, December 15, 1946.
Clear and bright; cool but comfortable.
Lizzie is having a bad time of it with that peculiar place on her thigh. We did not go to Church, but I ran up about 12:30 and got some ice cream.
This afternoon Judge Chapman & I went to the club to play golf & Atty. Gen’l Watson & Mr. Heintz teamed up against us. Due to Judge Chapman’s good playing, we won. It was a perfect afternoon and I felt better afterward. Tonight we read and listened to some of the radio programs.
Monday, December 16, 1946.
Still bright and clear, and a bit cooler.
The U. N. Assembly and the conference of the Security Council and of the Big 5 foreign ministers adjourned yesterday.
The meetings of the Assembly, the representatives of 54 nations, gave opportunity for the small nations to be heard in open debate. While their actions were subject to the decisions of the Security Council, this opportunity to be heard was very much to the liking of the United States, which believes that all nations, the small as well as the great, should enjoy complete freedom of action as to the government of their internal affairs, and that the people of each nation should be free to choose their own form of government, as promise in the Atlantic Charter. These free debates had its effect on the Russians at last and they changed their tactics considerably.
All treaties of peace were concluded except as to Germany and Austria which will be concluded in Moscow next March.
Tonight we went to see a picture called “Notorious” starring Ingrid Bergman (a great actress) and Cary Grant & Claude Rains.
Tuesday, December 17, 1946.
Partly cloudy and cooler.
I had my first experience in shopping around for a few Christmas presents this morning. It took me nearly 2 hours to find the fun things I wanted and then got them mailed. Completely worn out. I could sympathize with what Lizzie had to do every day. I went to the Supreme Court Bldg about 12:30 and had a chat with Judge Harrison, got the mail, mostly numerous X-mas cards, and then took Annie with me to home and dinner.
Took a good rest after dinner, and then at 4 pm played golf with Judge C. He made a 46 and I a 49.
After I got home Lizzie and Annie phoned Mary Maud and the Cowles to come over, and we delivered our Christmas presents to them, as the Cowles are leaving tomorrow for the North and Mary Maud leaves soon for her old home in Georgia.
Mrs. Fryer came over & brought Liz an attractive present.
Then I took some rest and spent the balance of the evening listening to a few radio programs and reading. Miss Frances Perkins “The Roosevelt I knew.” A very well written and entertaining book.
Harold Stassen, Former Gov’r of Minnesota, announces his candidacy for the Presidency in 1948, as a Republican. Whether he wins or not, I think he’s able and honest.
Wednesday, December 18, 1946.
Mostly clear and a bit cooler. Much cooler tonight than last night. Tomorrow will probably be quite cool.
The Senatorial Committee which has been holding hearings in Washington to determine whether the Senate should refuse to allow Senator Bilbo to be seated as a Senator next month took the testimony of E. S.[?] Terry, Bilbo’s former Secretary today. His testimony reflected discredit on both Bilbo’s part and on the part of the witness. It’s a bad mess.
Did some errands in town today, dropped by the Supreme Court for talks with Justices Terrell and Thomas, purchased a new fire screen for our living room fire place, etc.
Had a letter from Annie Mae Hollingsworth today that has made me feel very sad. It indicates that she believes she has not very long to live. A fine and gifted girl and woman, she has had such a hard and tragic life. I hope we can run up to LaFayette and see her soon.
Thursday, December 19, 1946.
Cloudy, overcast and cold.
Did a little X-mas shopping today. Had to park my car several blocks from the stores, which were crowded. Shopping is hard work. I can sympathize with what Lizzie has been going through.
Today Senator Bilbo said that Terry, who testified against him was a liar. I wouldn’t be surprised if that was correct. But aside from all that, it seems that the evidence as a whole shows that Bilbo accepted quite a lot of expensive gifts from the man he got war contracts for, and that he should be put out of the Senate.
We took Annie out to the airport about 11:20 to catch the 11:50 plane to New York. It was reported an hour late. So after awhile we returned home.
Tonight we were somewhat disturbed by a collision of two big planes—larger than the one on which Annie was travelling—near Aberdeen, Md., but both planes were able to land safely. But this was disturbing. It was not good flying weather.
Friday, December 20, 1946. Rain.
Cloudy and overcast with considerable rain in afternoon.
I came to the Supreme Court Bldg. this morning and delivered presents to the girls in the Clerk’s office—a box of candy to each—Mrs. Ellen O’Neill Wilkins, Ruth Closson and Miriam Davis—and a box of cookies that Lizzie had prepared for Mrs. Wilkins. I had already delivered presents to the elevator girl Mrs. Reichert, and to Miss Winifrid Kilpatrick, Judge Chapman’s stenographer. Also gave the Negro employees $1.00 each, and $5.00 to old Frank. I intended to go to town and get a present for Mrs. Sibley, Mrs. Wilkins sister, who has been working for Judge Terrell lately, and whom I like very much, but couldn’t get up town, the traffic was too heavy. Then I wrote a letter to poor Annie Mae Hollingsworth who I fear has not very long to live. She is a grand woman and my true and devoted friend.
Tonight we had a long visit from Gene Carter and as I cannot understand him Lizzie had to do the entertaining.
Saturday, December 21, 1946. Disastrous Earthquake & Tidal Wave Strike Japan 90 miles S.W. of Tokio. 600 lives lost.
Foggy early morning. Then later clearing and getting Colder by 11 A.m. Strong N.W. wind, and quite cold by night.
This morning I wrote a few letters and went to the Supreme Court Bldg. and got the mail; also had chats with Judges Buford and Adams. Also called to see Julius Parker at his office. He has had a time of it with Mastoid operation, then an operation for sinus trouble, but is about well now. He’s a fine and able lawyer. While I was there Governor Caldwell came in, and also John Wigginton, now Parke’s partner, and Mr. Paul Brook.
This afternoon I called on Judge Whitefield, who has been ill with flu, but I could not see him. He was in bed upstairs. Had a nice chat with Mary. Tonight we had a pleasant but quiet evening at home.
Sunday, December 22, 1946.
Our coldest day so far, but clear & fine. Former Gov. Eugene Talmadge died this morning at 7 a.m. He was to have been sworn in for his 4th term as Gov. of Ga. early in Jan’y. Under the Georgia Constitution there is some doubt as to who will be Governor in his place. It may be that the present Gov. Arnall will have to hold on till a successor is duly elected and qualified.
Lizzie & I went to church this morning.
This afternoon about 3 p.m. Judge Chapman, Andy Grant, & I played golf. I played the first 4 holes very well and most of the other badly. Making a 52.
Monday, December 23, 1946. Coldest day so far this winter.
Still getting colder. There was ice on exposed places this morning. But the afternoon was very pleasant. Very little wind.
I went to the Supreme Court Building about 11 o[‘]clock. Mrs. Wilkins was the only there, except old Frank and Rambo. Mrs. Wilkins said her brother died in New Orleans Saturday and that his sister, Mrs. Sibley, had arrived in time for the funeral yesterday.
Still lots of Christmas Cards coming in. It took me an hour tonight to open them up.
I put in this afternoon writing letters, and have quite a lot more to write tomorrow; mostly thank you letters.
Lizzie went to a nice party late this aft. given by Mrs. Caldwell at the Gov’s. Mansion.
Tonight Mrs. Warren Richardson brought us a fine dressed turkey. Liz had a present for her too.
She told us about her trip to New York to see Susanne off on the ship, on her way to school in Switzerland. She’s a big hearted lovable woman.
Tuesday, December 24, 1946.
A bit warmer. Clear and very pleasant in afternoon.
This morning I went up to mail a lot of letters. Found the Supreme Court outer doors unlocked. Went up and got my mail. Noticed Judge Adams office was open & Judge A. and his son both there. Had a very pleasant chat with both. I have always liked Judge Adams, and he has a well balanced legal mind.
This afternoon I played golf with Judge Chapman. I played the first few holes very well but fell down on the others. Wound up with a 50[.] Judge Chapman about the same.
When I got home I found that Liz was not feeling at all well. In some way she has caught a bad cold.
My good young friend, Bruce Davis, Jr. was hurt in an auto accident, several nights ago, a few miles South of Savannah—a 4 car mix up. He was riding with a young friend who owned his own car. It was not their fault. His mother & father rode all night to get to him. He was in a hospital in Savannah. They got back tonight & I called up Mrs. Davis, and she said he had a bad scalp wound but was about all O.K. now.
Wednesday, December 25, 1946. Fine Christmas Weather.
A beautiful, clear Christmas Day.
We opened our present after breakfast. Lizzie felt so bad from her cold that she spent the morning in bed.
But, as we were due to be at the Terrells for dinner at 1:30, she pulled herself together, and we went to the dinner. The whole family were there—Doris, and her husband “Bob” Johnson, got in last night from Palmyra, MA, after a strenuous two day drive, and Ruth, who has a travelling position with our State Health Dept., and Glenn, Jr., who is in the insurance business here. I was delighted to see Doris, a very fine young woman, and I like her husband too very much. Ruth is pretty and I wonder why she has remained single this long. Glenn is a splendid young man. And Mrs. Terrell is the salt of the earth. And of course I have always liked my old comrade of the Bench Justice Terrell. Lizzie, in spite of her being sick with a cold, was the center of attraction, as usual.
Tonight we had a visit from Angie Fain and her likable husband.
Thursday, December 26, 1946.
Weather much the same. A bit hazy in early morning.
Lizzie has been suffering with severe asthma all day & tonight. But our cook Mary didn’t come, and so Lizzie had to get the meals.
I did not feel well this morning, but am better this aft. & tonight. I did very little letter writing today. I have a good many letters I ought to write.
Friday, December 27, 1946.
Clear morning; cloudy afternoon. Somewhat warmer.
Lizzie still feeling very badly.
I went to the Supreme Court Bldg. about noon, and fount the back door unlocked. Went to Judge Barns office and got the mail. The accumulation of several days. Still getting X-mas cards.
Found a letter from the Manhattan Life Ins. Co. which contained good news. George Gorman had paid his note of nearly $3,000 and the Manhattan had applied over $1800 on the mt’g[mortgage]. Dow & I gave them on Lot 1 of Block B, reducing that mt’g. to a little less than $5,000, and had applied about $1,000 on Ma’s mt’g. The mortgage which Dow & I gave some 14 yrs. ago was for $8747, which was for more than Lot 1 of Bl[‘]k B was worth, but this saved the estate from being wiped out by a big deficiency decree when values were very low. Now the property is worth as much or more than the mt[‘]g and we may yet get out without loss.
I played golf this afternoon with two nice boys 10 and 11 years old---David Morris and John Perry. They play remarkable well for their age & came near beating me.
Saturday, December 28, 1946
Clear and warm. We have had a wonderfully find Fall and early Winter. With the exception of a few days, the weather has been clear and mild.
In spite of the comfortable weather, Lizzie has had a bad cold and asthma for several days.
“Jimmy” Fain McGough gave birth to a baby boy last night. She was not expecting it so soon. She and her husband Jack McGough have been visiting the Fains for about a week. I saw her uptown two days ago.
Liz and I went to the Whitfield’s this morning. Mrs. Whitfield’s brother, Dr. Randolph, of Jax . . died in Jacksonville Thurs. night and was buried here today. Judge Whitfield looks well.
Sunday, December 29, 1946.
Rather murky and overcast, with a few light slow showers. Cold wave up North, but rather warm here all day. I think we are in for a change in the weather.
I haven’t felt well at all today. Was all O.K. yesterday. Don[‘]t know what’s the matter. No energy at all today.
We had a very pleasant call from Edna Salley and pretty and dear Jane King, this afternoon. Lizzie has been feeling very bad today, but got out of bed and dressed, & made them have a good time.
Monday, December 30, 1946.
Somewhat cloudy and cool.
This morning I called to see Velma Keen to express my sympathy in the loss of his mother who died Friday and was buried yesterday in Marianna. Velma told me that the Pres. of the State Bar had requested him to make a talk at the testimonial meeting which has been called by the Court in my honor the afternoon of Jan. 14th and he wanted some data as to my career & the most important opinions I had written. Some order.
I also called to see the members of the firm of Ausley, Collins & Truett in their offices in their new building on the E. side of Calhoun St. opposite the rear of the Court House. The 3 story building, recently completed, is a very nice one & well built, and their law offices are very attractive. LeRoy Collins thought the meeting in my honor should be set just a day or so before the legislature meets.
Tonight Mr. & Mrs. Bud Johnson (formerly Doris Terrell) spent an hour with us. They begin their return trip to Palmyra, Ma. early tomorrow.
I didn’t feel very well this morning—a numbness in my legs which interfered with my walking, but this afternoon I have felt as well as usual
At a historic meeting of the Atomic Control Committee of the U. N. today Russia’s Gromyko voted against the Baruch plan.
Tuesday, December 31, 1946.
Partly cloudy and warmer.
I spent this last day of the year very quietly. Went to town this morning and attended to various little matters, returning home about 12:30. Lizzie and I took an auto ride in the country this afternoon. Lizzie is some better, but still far from well. I have felt better today than yesterday, when I suffered some from dizziness and a peculiar numbness in my legs. Think I’ll run up to Dr. Wahl in Thomasville and have a checkover.
I am afraid from my last letters from Effie Burton Gay that Annie May Hollingsworth, my fine and very dear friend of my early days in LaFayatte, who was stricken with cancer a year ago, has not very long to live. I hope Liz and I can run up to LaFayatte and see her soon.
Thanks to the good Lord for all his blessings during the past year, and with prayers for forgiveness for all my sins and shortcomings, I pray His blessings upon us all in the New Your 1947—which has this moment arrived.
[second to last page in the book, after 10 unused leaves: ]
Memoranda
Number of Cases disposed of by our Supreme Court for 20 years before and 20 years after I became a member.
June Term 1905 to
beginning of June Term
1925, ------------ 3516 cases
June Term 1925 to
end of June term 1945,
16,281 cases
[last printed page in the book, verso of the above page: ]
Memoranda
Mrs. Hugh A. Mitchell
“Danesdyke”
Coombe Lane,
Kingston Hill,
Surrey, England.
_____
Dr. R.C. Davis, Atlanta-
Phone Cherokee 7136
709 Woodward Way—N.W.
_____ ” _____
Dow’s home phone No.
Hemlock 1937-
Atlanta
_____ “ _____
[END]
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