Armstead Brown Diaries_1949



Diary for 1949.

“The STANDARD DIARY”

Saturday, January 1, 1949.

32° to 55° to 42° 30.08, 30.14, 30.04

The New Year begins with a bright, sunshiny morning, clear as a bell, and the N.W. wind has died down to a gentle breeze. This afternoon was very mild with a light breeze—up to 4—and then it began to get rapidly cooler.

This morning I did some letter writing and wrote and mailed some checks. About 12 I drove up to see our pastor, Rev. Clare M. Cotton, who has been down with a cold, but is much better and sitting up. I enjoy talking to him very much. Then I went by the Court Bldg. and got the mail. Lizzie has stayed at home all day. I took a good walk on golf course & tonight we listened to the radio & talked and read.

No word yet of / fine / Mr. Hayward Cates who disappeared three nights ago. He must have walked into a sink hole 6 miles So. of here. Sad.

Sunday, January 2, 1949.

38° to 60° to 51° 30.04, 30.11, 30.08

A beautiful day. But I did not feel like going to church. Got up late.

This afternoon I went to see my good old friend, Mr. Cates—up in the 80s he is an interesting conversationalist. He is the great Uncle of young Heyward Cates whose mysterious disappearance last Wednesday evening has caused a long and fruitless search.

[ ? ] & Mrs. Cowles returned from N. Y. this afternoon and took dinner with us tonight. About 6:30 Henry Palmer and wife Elouise[?] dropped in also and stayed till yearly 8 oclock.

Monday, January 3, 1949

51° to 67° to 61° 30.09, 30.14

Mostly clear.

We, Lizzie & I, with Walter Cowles, drove out to meet Annie—whose plane was an hour late. We got to the airport / at 10:30 / ten minutes late, on account of a freight train standing so long across the road. Otherwise we would have got there at 10:20. Annie’s plane landed at 10:30, just as we reached the airport. I took her bag, which was very heavy, out to our car & we got home about 10:45. Walter stayed till nearly 12 o’clock. Annie stood the trip well.

Tuesday, January 4, 1949. Inauguration Day.

50° to 68° to 58° 30.15, 30.22, 30.18

Mostly cloudy with a light shower about 11:30. Quite warm.

Fuller Warren was inaugurated as governor about noon. I did not think the speaking would begin till 12 o’clock. So I went over to the Main lobby of the Capitol Bldg. about 11:35 and, instead of an informal reception there to the outgoing and incoming Governors, I found that out in the front Gov. Caldwell was already speaking. I went out to my seat on the platform and it began to rain & kept it up till Gov. Caldwell finished. Then the oath was administered to Fuller Warren by Ch. J. Thomas and the St. Seal delivered. Then Warren spoke for about 25 minutes. Both men made excellent speeches. The Crowd was enormous. I had trouble getting to my car and taking Annie home from the S.C. bldg.

Judge Strum attended the inauguration but I did not get to see him.

Wednesday, January 5, 1949. Rain

63° to 73° to 68° 30.16, 30.08, 30.12

Misty & foggy & warm, with some drizzling rain. Worse than yesterday.

Pres. Truman delivered his “state of the Union” message to Congress today. It was a reiteration of his campaign speeches and the Dem. platform adopted last July—including the so-called Civil Rights & F.E.P.C., so repugnant to Southerners and Northern conservatives.

Terrible tornadoes in Arkansas and Northern Miss. & Texas, costing some 55 lives & great loss of property.

Coldest weather on record in So. California—25° to 27 degrees—doing terrific damage to crops.

Thursday, January 6, 1949. Trip to Jacksonville.

56° to 57° to 50° 30.18, 30.14,

Clearing up and getting colder.

After attending to some matters up town and getting off some letters, I came home bringing Annie from the Sup. Ct. Bldg.

We had heard from Judge Louie Strum over the phone when he was here Tuesday that Mrs. Strum was in St. Vincent’s hospital; that her condition was very serious, and that he feared she was nearing the end in her fight with cancer. So Lizzie packed up during this morning, and we left by auto at 2:30 for Jacksonville and arrived at the Mayflower Hotel about 6:15. We got supper at Morrison’s Café and on returning to the hotel we saw Arthur Griner and I stayed down in the lobby smoking & chatting until 10 pm. & caught a cold from the breeze in the lobby.

Our room was on the 6th floor and was overlooking Bay St. and it was overheated also.

Friday, January 7, 1949.

Weather fine.

Lizzie got practically no sleep last night from the noise and the overheated room but after breakfast we phoned Judge Strum and he said he would call for us at 11 and take us to see Mrs. Strum, which he did. We, Lizzie, Judge Strum, Ophelia and I all made a brief call on dear Mrs. Strum, who put up a brave front. After a few minutes, knowing that Mrs. S wanted to talk to Lizzie alone, we left and went out on the porch overlooking the River & Lizzie had a good long talk with dear Mrs. Strum. The cancer has caused an enlargement of the liver which is giving serious pain and trouble. The doctors are considering another operation. We saw Mrs. John Martin at the hospital. She brings Mrs. Strum something every day.

Then Judge S., Ophelia, J., doing the driving took us out past Ortega to the Timiquana[?] Country Club facing the River, then we had a delightful lunch, and afterwards a drive several miles further So. to tremendous Jacksonville Naval Air Station where Grey Strum is administrative officer. Ophelia is a grand girl and a fine driver. They drove us back to our hotel, where we changed to a better room, and about 6 pm we drove with Judge S. and Ophelia to their home where we had a grand dinner and a good time till 8 p.m. when they drove us back to the hotel and they went to the hospital to see Mrs. Strum.

Saturday, January 8, 1949.

35° to 69° in Tallahassee / 54° at 11 p.m.

Weather still fine & clear.

We left for home this morning, at 10:30, after a good nights rest, and a breakfast with Al McQuillin and Arthur Driver from 9:15 to 10:15.

We drove to Lake City, and from there to White Springs where I took a brief look at the Gate House of the Stephen Foster Memorial and from there to Jasper, and from there to Madison over a good new road, but with one very bad 1/3 mile turnout. We got to Madison about 1:15, and had a fine lunch at the excellent restaurant there, and arrived at home at 4 p.m., after stopping at Richardsons’s grocery for some food-stuff.

The road from Lake City to White Springs is in bad condition, and from there to Jasper pretty bad.

When we got home we found our house very cold inside. Annie had spent the nights with the Cowles and it was very cold inside our house. We opened the doors, then after airing the house, we started the furnace and a fire. Then I went to walk on the golf course—it was clear & mild and delightful, and I felt much better when I got home. Took a nap after a good supper. So good to be back home safe.

Sunday, January 9, 1949. Lizzie’s Birthday

35° to73° to58° 30.32, 30.34

Brilliantly clear and quite cool early morning, with warm weather, for this time of year, by 11 A.M. to 4:30 p.m.

My birth-day present to Lizzie was a dinner at the Wakullaa Springs Hotel for Lizzie / and myself / Annie, Henry Palmer & wife Elmira, at 1:30. We had a very nice dinner and a very pleasant time. It was pleasantly warm and clear. After dinner we walked around the grounds, talking & meeting friends. We left for home about 4 p.m.

Tonight, Lizzie & Annie attended birthday parties in Lizzie’s honor at Mary Mauds before our supper, and after supper, at the Cowles. I was not feeling well—and had some court work to do. So I stayed at home but did not feel at [all] well & didn’t do much work.

Monday, January 10, 1949.

46° to 80° to 66° 30.34, 30.36. 30.34

Clear ands quite warm. A fine day.

The President’s budget message puts out Government expense for the fiscal year at nearly $42,000,000,000. & says we will have to increase taxes by about four billion or more. When this comes up for debate in Congress, the fur will fly.

Little accomplished today—Don’t feel like working. Still have a head cold.

Received a fine letter from Frances. Fran & her husband, Chris, and Caroline & Marion were all at home in Centerville, and Frances & Wilson had a grand time along with the girls. What a fine family.

The Chinese government is still losing ground to the Communists. Too late for us to help much now. We’ve waited too long.

Tuesday, January 11, 1949.

Weather the same as yesterday—Bright & clear and mild.

And yet I had developed a pretty bad cold which began in Jacksonville. So Lizzie put me to bed and dosed me with medicine. I felt pretty miserable.

Wednesday, January 12, 1949.

50° to 80° to 64° 30.21, 30.18

Still bright & clear, but the wind is shifting around to the S.W. & West, and the barometer is falling. But today has been fine. We have had a week of beautiful clear weather.

I stayed in bed until about 4:30 this afternoon, when I felt so much better that I got up and took a walk to the club house and back, following some of my golf friends, & when I got home I felt better. Dictated some letters to Annie, & tonight after supper I passed on 3 or 4 cases written by the other judges. Now at 11 p.m. I’m going to bed. Good to be back to normal.

Thursday, January 13, 1949.

The fine clear, mild weather continues.

Thought I was about well last night, but my cold was worse this morning and Lizzie insisted I stay in bed. She went by Dr. Rhodes’ office and got a penicillin prescription and something for my cough—and I stayed in bed, but put in some time reading cases that came in from other Justice—cases that were argued when I was on the bench in December. The penicillin pills are to be taken only four a day. I have a very bad head cold.

Friday, January 14, 1949.

The clear, mild & beautiful weather continues.

Annie brought out another batch of cases for me to pass on.

Felt pretty bad, head cold still continues. Stayed in bed, reading cases, until about 5 p.m. Then I dressed and took a walk to the Club house & back watching some good golfers. I enjoyed the walk, but my head cold started again & I went back to bed. Have had a terrible running head cold. Not much in my chest. Passed on about four cases today. One was pretty tough. Pretty big record and long briefs.

Saturday, January 15, 1949.

50° to 75°

This is the 10th clear day—and mild—a wonderfully long spell of beautiful weather for early January. Too bad I caught this cold. I am getting better today, but Liz insisted I stay in bed, & finished the last of the cases—about 9 or 10 that the Clerk sent me by Annie. So I have not wasted all my time.

Took another walk on golf course, & sat up tonight after supper.

Sunday, January 16, 1949.

54° to 73° to 64° 30.21, 30.24, 30.21

Some what cloudy this morning, but still mild. Southerly winds.

Mostly overcast and slightly cloudy all day.

It appears now that the Jews and the Arabs and the Egyptians may get together on some solution of the Palestine question without outside help. I hope so. The Jews have been better armed and equipped than their opponents.

In spite of the Penicillin, my head cold, while better, still continues.

The Communists continue their fight for control of all China, and with great chances of success. Pangpu[?] has been given up by the Chinese Nationalists and it looks like Peiping and Nanking, the capital, will fall soon. It’s a pity we are doing practically nothing to prevent Communist (Russia) conquest of all China.

Monday, January 17, 1949.

52° to 76° to 60° 30.21, 30.25, 30.18

This morning the weather is much the same as yesterday morning.

A cold wave is spreading East and South from the Dakotas and Minnesota, where they are having sub-zero temperatures. May reach us. But we’ve had 11 days of mild and beautiful weather.

However the afternoon was mostly clear. Pretty strong Southerly breezes. I have felt much better today, and took a good long walk on golf course.

Tonight I had a visit from Dr. Miller, one of the Professors of Law in our U. of Fla. at Gainesville—a very bright young man of about 42. An old friend of Lawrence Salley.

Tuesday, January 18, 1949.

54° to 72° to 65° 30.18, 30.26, 30.24

Clear morning, S.E. Winds, strong gusty winds from the S. E. & So., dying down in late afternoon.

Tried to do some work on a case I have to write an opinion in, but I found it very hard to concentrate my mind and didn’t accomplish much. And tonight I did not feel like [ ? ] anything.

I went up town this morning, and attended to a few matters and brought Annie home. This afternoon I took a walk to the country club watching four good golfers play—I enjoyed my walk.

Quit taking penicillin tablets last night.

Cold wave which hit the States of Dakotah & Minnesota is spreading Eastward & Southward.

My friend B. A. Ragsdale was elected City Commissioner today. Good.

Wednesday, January 19, 1949. Rain.

61° to 77° to 58° 30.20. 30.24, 30.30

Dark, overcast early morning, with no wind, and very mild. First dark & cloudy morning in about 2 weeks.

Rain this afternoon, not very hard, but pretty steady.

The cold wave in the Central Northwest has spread Eastward and Southeastward and it is predicted that it will hit N.W. Florida by tomorrow morning, and then the S. E. seaboard during the day. No definite prediction as to the National Capital, where large crowds have gone to attend the Inauguration of President Truman tomorrow[.]

Have not felt very well today and accomplished very little. Had no office or stenographer, which is a great handicap. I have four opinions yet to write.

Thursday, January 20, 1949.

54° to 71° to 58° 30.30, 30.36

Overcast early morning, but clear & fine the balance of the day.

A big day in Washington. The biggest crowd ever to attend a Presidential inauguration. President Truman made a good speech, which emphasized the relations of our Country and the balance of the world. / He went too far as to aid to all other countries that need it. / He condemned Communism in uncertain terms—and said we would put forth every effort to stop the efforts to impose Communism on other Countries. As to domestic affairs, he spoke in general terms.

Late this afternoon Mrs. Clair Perry and daughter Mallie—fine folks—came to see us & stayed till 8 o’clock and after supper the Cowles came & stayed till 11:15. I had a lot of court work to do, but didn’t get time to do anything but read one brief.

Friday, January 21, 1949

57° to 72° to 60° 30.30, 30.34, 30.34

Foggy & misty.

Didn[‘]t get much accomplished today. No place in Supreme Court Bldg. for me to work. No office & no stenographer. So I’m terribly handicapped.

Moscow papers are in a rage over the President’s speech, in which he condemned communism and communistic aggression in vigorous terms.

Mrs. Chapman’s brother, Mr. Jim Lanier of Jacksonville, died last night. The last of her brothers. I knew him. He was a fine man.

Hon. Dean Acheson became Secretary of State today. There was some opposition to his approval, but I think he is a good and able man. He’s an able lawyer.

Saturday, January 22, 1949.

58° to 78° to 65° 30.34, 30.38, 30.36

Foggy morning, but the sun came through about 12:30. Another mild and beautiful day.

Sunday, January 23, 1949.

58° to 80° to 65° 30.34, 30.39, 30.38

Except for Jan. 19, No rain since Jan. 5th.

A bit foggy in early morning, but clear as a bell by 9 A. M.

Bright sunshine. Very mild breezes. A grand day.

I went to church this morning. We had a fine sermon by Bro. Clare M. Cotton, our pastor. I like him better than any preacher we’ve ever had.

This afternoon the Golf Club put on Scotch foursomes. There must have been some 15 or 20 foursomes. A little after 4 p.m. I followed one of them to the club house. Mrs. Bessie Porter and Mrs. Andrews in it. They played well. Miss Pauline Kelly was in one of them.

On my way home I saw Dr. Dodd and Judge Terrell in chairs on the lawn in front of Dr. Dodd’s and I joined them.

We had a fine time talking for nearly an hour.

Tonight we had a pleasant evening here at home.

Monday, January 24, 1949.

57° to 79° to 64° 30.34 to 30.38

Continued clear weather. The same as yesterday. Beautiful.

The majority of the Senators in Wash’n are now trying to get through a rule by which a simple majority vote can stop or limit debate. In all our history debate on any bill has been free and unlimited in the Senate. This has proven a bulwark to the South against anti-Southern legislation, on several notable occasions. So practically all the Southern Senators will filibuster against this anti-filibuster move—whose proponents are in a majority and among this majority, I am sorry to say, is our Senator Pepper. The Southern Senators—17 or 18 of them—will filibuster against the anti-filibuster, or cloture, rule.

Tuesday, January 25, 1949.

54° to 78° to 64° 30.38, 30.40, 30.34

Another beautiful morning—also afternoon. About 20 days of fine, bright and spring like weather—from Jan 5th to 25th, except a little rain on Jan. 19th.

Put in a good deal of work in Supreme Court Bldg. on cases written by other Judges. In Conference for a short while.

Late this afternoon I walked the last 4 holes with Justices Chapman & Barns while they were playing golf. Judge Chapman knocked a ball into our front yard. We found it in the bush on the Corner.

Wednesday, January 26, 1949.

56° to 80° to 64° 30.34 to 30.24

Still fine and clear.

I tried to put in a little work today, but with no office and no library and no stenographer in the Supreme Court Bldg., I find it very difficult to do any thing.

This afternoon late I took a walk on golf course and saw some good playing on holes 5, 6, 7 & 8 of the inside nine. Jimmie Lee got a birdie 4 on the long #5, and on #6 he made another birdie. On #7 he got a 295 yd. drive, had a short pitch to the green, but missed his put[t] & took a par 4. He made #8 in par, got a fine drive on #9; but then I left & walked home. Jimmie Lee is a great golfer.

Lizzie has been suffering terribly from that arthritis here lately. Wish there was something I could do.

Thursday, January 27, 1949.

59° to 79° to 80° to 66° 30.18—30.10

Foggy early morning, clearing by 10:30. Strong So. & S. W. winds—or breezes. The gradually falling barometer since yesterday morning may mean rain. We really need a rain.

Tried to do some work in Supreme Court building today, but all the offices were occupied. I guess I’ll just have to take a chair and table in the library and write the 4 / or 5 / opinions which I’ve been trying to get at for sometime. I understand they will have an office for drafted Judges to work in when we move into the beautiful new Supreme Court Bldg.—in March or April.

Lizzie attended a reception at the Womans’ Club this aft. given in honor of Miss Alma Warren by Mrs. Lee and Mrs. Arch Livingston.

Friday, January 28, 1949. Rain.

55° to 65° to 59° 30.08, 30.02, 30.12

Some slow rain during the latter part of last night and early this morning.

First rain since Jan. 5th, 23 days, except for a light rain on Jan. 19th.

We had a surprise parade of the Ku Klux Klan through town last night—down Monroe St.—43 automobiles with white hooded figures on the front of each running board. The[y] went quietly along, with no noise. When they got about the city limits three were arrested for not having 1949 license plates. Most of the cars were from Georgia. They then proceded[sic] / South / to some where in Wakulla County for an initiation ceremony. There were about 5 men—some women—in each car. Our paper here denounced the whole thing—and Gov. Warren did too.

Hon. James E. Webb of N.C., was sworn in as Under Secretary of State today.

Saturday, January 29, 1949. Rain

50° to 52° to 44° 30.12, 30.20, 30.24

Colder, with some rain at intervals during the day.

The efforts to feed the snowbound cattle in Nebraska and other N.W. States by dropping food by, or from, airplanes has been stepped up. The President has allotted several hundred thousand dollars for this & other relief to the N. W. sections. Getting supplies to towns cut off by the snow and ice. During the worst of this weather up there we have had mild Spring weather here.

Dow phoned last night that he and Hilda will be in Tallahassee this coming Monday night. We will have them to dinner. It will be fine to have them. Dow has had a bad cold. They are going down to Newport Richey for awhile.

Sunday, January 30, 1949. Rain.

36° to 45° to 57° 30.20, 30.14, 30.08

Dark & cold morning, with slow drizzling rain, intermittently all day[.]

I ran up and mailed some letters and came by the Supreme Court Bldg. & got the mail.

During the day I tried to put in some study on an opinion I began just before Christmas—in a tough case, but had so many interruptions that I did not accomplish very much. Tonight we had the Cowles with us until 8 p.m. and after supper the radio was going constantly until 11:15, but I enjoyed some of the programs.

We heard over the radio that it was snowing up in Alabama and Georgia. This may delay Dow & Hilda’s visit to us on their way to Newport Richey.

Monday, January 31, 1949. Clear & cold.

57° to 50° to 43° 30.02, 30.14, 30.08

Overcast early morning. Clear and getting colder from 8:30 on.

We were looking for Dow & Hilda today but they phoned / about 4 pm / that / from Albany / they had been delayed by sleet on the streets and roads, and had decided to stop and spend the night at Albany. Tonight Dow phoned that they were at the New Albany Hotel, & hoped to reach Tallahassee and our house about 10:30 or 11 tomorrow.

Stalin is up to his old tricks. He granted an interview to a American newspaper man in Moscow and said he wanted peace and would be glad to have a talk with Pres. Truman at some place to be agreed on. The Pres. has already said some weeks ago that he would be glad to talk with Stalin in Washington.

Tuesday, February 1, 1949. Rain.

36° to 50° to 43° 30.18 to 30.12

Mostly cold and cloudy all day, with slow, drizzling rain most of the dime.

Dow & Hilda arrived about noon and spent the day with us. We had lunch at home, and dinner at the Silver Slipper at 9 to 10 p.m. We certainly enjoyed their visit. Dow has not been at all well for the past month or so, but he and Hilda were mighty good company. They drove to the Floridan Hotel to spend the night, preparatory to driving down to New Port Richey tomorrow.

In spite of the weather, I took Dow with me when I drove up to get Annie & then for a drive out through the Fla. State University grounds, & showed him our new State buildings.

Wednesday, February 2, 1949. Rain

40° to 47° 30.12, 30.22

Dark, cold and rainy morning but mostly clear from midday on. but the roads in our neighborhood were wet and slick till 4 or 5 p.m.

I guess Dow and Hilda reached New Port Richey about 4 or 5 oclock this afternoon. Hope they had a nice trip. Didn[‘]t feel at all well this morning. But got a nap after dinner and then about 5 p.m. I took my usual walk on the golf course. Saw my friend young Bruce Davis playing, and a fine player he is and a very fine young man. He is taking the law course at the U. of Fla. at Gainesville.

Thursday, February 3, 1949.

47° to 62° to 60° 30.20, 30.18

Overcast sky, but no rain

Uneventful day. Had new battery put in my car.

Called on Mr. & Mrs. LeFleur in re purchase of Walter S. (Buster) Garfield’s new home. They were interested and said they would inspect the house. Walter says the lot and the house & grounds cost him $24,000—much more than he anticipated—& he would have to sell.

Friday, February 4, 1949. Rain.

53° to 60° to 67° 30.18 to 30.06

Much like yesterday, but warmer, and some rain after nightfall.

Had the spark plugs in my car cleaned and adjusted, and now it runs better than for some time.

This evening I took a long walk on golf course, with Judges Chapman & Barnes[sic].

Saw Walter Garfield and he said he sold his new home today.

Saturday, February 5, 1949. Rain

62—68—64 30.06, 30.04

Dark & cloudy with intermittent rains, sometimes pretty hard, all day.

I tried to take a walk on golf course this afternoon, but it commenced to rain so hard I had to skurry back home. Was not gone long.

Commodity prices have gone down quite a bit in the past two weeks. The old law of supply and demand is getting in its work. Congress may not pass the price control measures which the President recommended, to cope with inflation.

Sunday, February 6, 1949. Rain

63° to64° to 63° 30.05, 30.07,30.04

Wind from N. E.

Weather conditions today same as yesterday. I ran up and got the mail at noon, and came right back.

There was a golf match on this aft. between the College boys and our regular players. They played in spite of the rain.

I tried to watch one of the matches, but it commenced to rain so hard I had to return in about 15 minutes.

The Cowles came over about 5 p.m. & stayed till 8—in spite of the rain. I think they got pretty wet on their way home.

Monday, February 7, 1949. Rain

63° 69° 60° 30.04, 30.10, 30.14

Mostly dark & cloudy. Considerable rain last night and during the day. No sunshine at all, now, or for several days.

The communist government of Hungary has tried and convicted Catholic Cardinal Mintzensky, & the sentence will be imposed about 3 oclock tonight by our time. It will probably be death or life imprisonment. There is no telling what they did to him during the considerable time he has been in prison. He had evidently been drugged when he made his statement to the Communist Court.

These are interesting days in our Congress. The majority of the Democrats are determined to repeal the right to unlimited debate in the Senate, but the Southerners will filibuster against it.

Tuesday, February 8, 1949. Mostly clear. No rain.

63° 69° 60° 30.04, 30.10, 30.14

Foggy early morning. A bit hazy, but almost clear the balance of the day. Considerable sunshine after 11 A.M.

Gov. Dewey made a good speech at a banquet in Washington tonight, better than any he made during the campaign. If the Republican party takes his present advice, they may get somewhere.

Did some work at home on an opinion today, and then studied a case Judge T. wrote, in which a petition for rehearing has been filed in the Sarasota plumbers ordinance case. I think rehearing should be granted.

This afternoon I followed Justices Chapman & Barnes as they played the last 4 holes of golf; then walked from the club house back home, about 6:30.

Wednesday, February 9, 1949.

65° 81° 74° 66° 30.08, 30.22, 30.10

Another dark, overcast early morning, but clearing by 10:30, and except for a few dark clouds about 1 o’clock, they were soon dispelled, and we had a clear and springlike afternoon. High Temp 81°

This afternoon Elmira Palmer phoned Lizzie to come over to see her, which Lizzie did, and to Lizzie’s amazement she told her that Henry had told her that he was in love with another woman and had been going with her for several months; that he did not love Elmira and had never loved her. Elmira was stunned and heart broken, but controlled herself. I have noticed that Henry has not been like himself here lately, but I never dreamed that he would do a thing like that.

This morning Lizzie and I drove down to the County line for the first time in a long time and brought home some liquid refreshments.

The West—Nevada, Wyoming, and the Dakotas and Nebraska are suffering from another severe snow and windstorm.

Thursday, February 10, 1949. Clear

64° 67° 54° 30.12, 30.20, 30.28

Foggy & dark early Morning; clear by 9:30 and brilliantly clear and cool the balance of the day, getting much cooler tonight.

The barometer indicates clear weather for tomorrow.

I was requested to appear with several other members of the Stephen Foster Mem’l Asso. at the meeting of the budget board in the Governor’s Suite at 11 A.M. I was there. The budget board was busy & I was told to come back at 2:30. Then later to come at 10 A.m. tomorrow.

I was a guest along with the Justices at a delightful luncheon given by the P.A.D. chapter of Stetson at the Floridan Hotel at 1 to 2:30. Lawrence Tribble was the Toast Master. There were about 40 P.A.D’s there. I am an honorary member of the chapter. We had a grand time. I worked in Supreme Court library till 5 p.m. & then home. Lizzie, Annie & I & Elmira then drove out to see the new model train made by G.M.

Friday, February 11, 1949.

50° to 63° to 49° 30.28, 30.32, 30.35

Clear and cool.

I went up to the budget commission hearing. Had to stay from 10 to 12 o’clock. But it was quite interesting. Mr. Earl Brown presented the request for expense and maintenance funds for the Stephen Foster Memorial Comm’n at the next biennium, and it was granted. I merely okayed what he had said. The proceedings were quite interesting. A considerable part of the morning was taken up with the big request of the State University at Gainesville. The Comm’n cut that down nearly four million. Gov’r Fuller Warren presided and handled the meeting of the Cabinet as a Budget Commission very nicely.

We had a very nice visit from Elmira late this afternoon and did all we could to comfort and cheer her up.

Saturday, February 12, 1949.

43° to 74° to 60° 30.35, 30.38, 30.34

A gorgeous day—clear, cool early morning—pleasantly warm the balance of the day. Brilliantly clear all day.

In spite of my efforts, I did not get hardly any work done today.

The snow and windstorms still hold the N.W. States in their grip, while Florida is having so far an unusually warm Winter.

So. Fla. reports bigger crowds than ever before, and all the hotels full. However, the tourist season was later in starting this past season. Nov. & Dec (48) were disappointing. Winter in the N.E. started late.

Sunday, February 13, 1949. Clear.

45° to 75° to 62° 30.34 to 30.40

An ideal day. Lizzie & I went to Church & had a good sermon by Bro. Cotton.

This afternoon, in spite of being in great pain, Lizzie insisted on our going calling. So we called to see the Harrisons,—not in. Then we called on Judge & Mrs. Dozier DeVane—not in; then on Justice & Mrs. Alto Adams. Judge Adams & his sister were there, and Mrs. Adams came in pretty soon. We had a very pleasant visit. I like the Adamses very much. Alto deserves a lot of credit. A poor country boy, he has risen to the Chief Justiceship of Fla. at the age of about 46. Imagine.

The Cowles came over soon after we got home & stayed till about 8 o’clock.

Monday, February 14, 1949.

53° to 75° to 51° 30.30—30.21

Clear and warm. Very much like yesterday.

Lizzie went to see Dr. Rhodes this morning, but had to wait till 12 oclock before he got to her. He gave her a new prescription, which I do hope will do her some good. I went up & had it filled this aft.

Beautiful weather—but the barometer is dropping some.

Almost as warm as early June.

Tuesday, February 15, 1949.

50° to76° to 66° 30.20, 30.17

Mostly cloudy and warm, with Southerly winds. Looked like it might rain, but the rain did not materialize.

Indications are that the administration leaders in the House & Senate are going to have trouble in putting through the President’s labor and “civil rights” & F.E.P.C. programs.

The President in his message demanded the repeal in toto of the Taft-Hartley act and the reenactment of the Wagner act with some additions thereto. Many Congressmen of both parties think that most of the Taft Hartley Act is good and that it should be re-enacted with some amendments.

Wednesday, February 16, 1949.

53° to 77° to 66° 30.18, 30.21

Rather murky and warm, with two light, short showers near midday.

Did some work on a case in the Supreme Court library this morning and afternoon. When I got home about 5:10, I went for quite a long walk on the golf course.

Lizzie a wee bit better today but still suffering terribly.

Thursday, February 17, 1949.

56° to 71° to 55° 30.30, 30.31

A bit cooler. Mostly clear.

I did some work in a hard opinion at home this morning, but found it hard to concentrate my mind. But I made a little progress. But this afternoon I did not feel equal to any work at all. I tried to get a nap, after lunch, but could not sleep. So I read some, and got up about 3:30 and drove out to see my old friend “Pete” Robineau of Miami. I read in yesterday afternoon’s paper that he had suffered a brain hemorrhage & I had no idea I could see him, but I drove out to the Hospital, and found him in pretty good shape. His daughter was with him. His mind was allright. He is suffering from high Blood pressure. He is returning to Miami tonight by plane. I enjoyed talking to him.

Tonight we had a long visit from poor broken hearted Elmira. I think Henry must be mentally off to treat her so.

Friday, February 18, 1949.

52° to 72° to 66° 30.26, 30.22

Partly cloudy—and a bit hazy, but the sun shone through most of the day.

Did some work this morning—not much this afternoon.

Took a long walk watching some of our best golfers. Atty-Gen’l Dick Ervin, Buster Garfield, Harry Smith, Phillips, & Bill ____[.]

First time I’ve seen Ervin & H. Smith playing golf in a long time, but the both played well.

Lizzie attended a big luncheon party given by Mrs. Campbell, wife of the Pres. of the F. S. U. at the Woman’s Club. Quite an affair. 72 women present. Lizzie returned about 4 p.m. Worn out, but had a good time.

Saturday, February 19, 1949. Rain

52° to 72° to 65° 30.20, 30.18

Partly cloudy.

Heavy rain from 5 to 8 p.m., and off and on late into the night.

The Cowles came over about 6:30 in their car and stayed till about 8 o’clock.

In spite of many interruptions I got a little work done on a tough opinion.

The Sec’y of State, Mr. Acheson, has had a / long / conference with the Senate Committee on Foreign affairs, trying to work out some way by which we can agree to a treaty / or pact / with Norway, Denmark, Holland, Belgium, France & England for mutual defense in case of aggression on any one of the signatory powers with out conflicting with the Constitutional provision that only Congress can declare war. I hope the can work it out.

Sunday, February 20, 1949.

53° to 73° to 66° 30.20, 30.30

A beautiful and delightful day—clear, dry and bracing.

I went to Church this morning and heard a fine sermon by Bro. Cotton.

This afternoon Lizzie & Annie & I, with Mary Maud Jefferds, drove to the Cherokee hotel to see the gifts from the French people, which came in the little French freight car, to the people of Florida. It was very interesting. Then we drove around quite a bit and wound up at Mary Maud’s for cocktails.

This evening we listened to the radio and talked and read.

Monday, February 21, 1949.

58° to 76° to 65° 30.28, 30.32, 30.30

Clear, beautiful morning; some what cloudy at times in afternoon.

Managed to do a little work, tho frequently interrupted.

Took a good walk on golf course late this afternoon. Followed a bunch of golfers, playing qualifying rounds for the tournament, and when I got to the Club House, Judges Barns & Chapman and I sat on the front porch and talked till nearly dark—& had a bit of beer also—at Judge Barns’ expense.

The best of the players I watched was a handsome young man and a good golfer named Pat Riley. He made a 71 for the 18 holes.

Tuesday, February 22, 1949.

62° 76° 65° 30.30, 30.21

A fine day, but more cloudy than yesterday.

I finished that troublesome opinion by noon today. Now it must be typewritten. This afternoon and tonight, I did some work on the opinion of Judge Barns in a case in which the Court is badly divided—but I do not recall hearing it argued—the Howey-in-the-Hills case—a tough one.

This afternoon, after getting Annie home, I took a long walk on golf course. When I got home Elmira was here, & stayed till about 7:30. She took Annie to the movies tonight. The poor girl doesn’t know what to do.

Wednesday, February 23, 1949.

58° to 78° to 62° 30.21, 30.18

Another fine day. Much like yesterday. Mostly bright & clear.

Put in some work in Supreme Court Library this morning, studying a case written up by Judge Barns.

This aft. I took a walk on golf course. Tonight the Cowles came in & stayed till 11:20.

This morning Mrs. Ruby Whitfield and Mrs. [space left but not filled in] Pierson came out about 11:30 & visited with Lizzie till I got home about 12.30[.] They each took two or three cocktails. I enjoyed talking with them. Lizzie took them home about 1:15.

Egypt and Palestine have finally agreed on a peace treaty. Our mediator, Dr. Ralph Bunch, part negro, is credited with bringing it about.

Thursday, February 24, 1949.

55° to 78° to 62° 30.18, 30.12

Weather about the same as yesterday.

Filed a 11-1/4 page opinion in the Priestley case from Ft. Lauderdale today—a rather difficult case. I am in some doubt about the correctness of my decision on one point, and made a memo. to the effect, in pencil, on the top of the first page.

After going up to get Annie I took my usual walk to the country Club & back.

While I was in the Supreme Court Bldg. I had quite a long talk with Paul Barns on the question of the effect of a simple denial of a petition for certiorari to an interlocutory order.

Friday, February 25, 1949.

56° to 75° to 63° 30.08, 30.17, 30.10

Mostly cloudy.

After 3 days of qualifying rounds the real tournament began today. Jimmy Lee had a hard time of it winning his first match against a young fellow about 19 yrs. old from Thomasville. They were all even at the end of the 18th, but Jimmie won the 19th. Jimmy, I was told, stayed up till after 2 this morning playing cards at the Club House after a party.

We got our radio back from Renn’s Shop late this after. It’s as good as it was when first bought—Repairs cost $32.80.

I intended to do some work tonight but the Cowles spent the evening with us.

Saturday, February 26, 1949.

55° to 72° to 64° 30.10, 30.00

Rather dark & cloudy and cool early morning, but mostly clear the balance of the day.

I did a little of everything without doing much of anything this morning, and after a nap this aft., I spent the balance of the day walking around the golf course watching the golf tournament. I saw Jimmy Lee win his match 4 up & 3 to play—and then I saw Syd Andrews put / up / a fine fight with remarkable “Dynamite” Goodloe of Valdosta. The latter won on the 17th hole. Then I spent awhile at the Club House. There was a big crowd there.

Tonight I called up Dow at his hotel in New Port Richey, the Hacienda, and had a chat with him. He & Hilda will pass through here on their way home & will spend the evening of Mch 3rd with us & I the night at the Hotel.

Sunday, February 27, 1949. Rain

55° to 70° to 59° 30.00, 30.02

Dark & misty early morning, with slow rain by 10 o’clock, and most of the time till around 1 o’clock. But it cleared up and we had a very nice afternoon.

The golf tournament went on the morning in spite of the rain, and ran on this afternoon until around 5 o’clock. I watched some of the matches this afternoon. When I went out about 3:15 I heard that “Dynamite” Goodloe had won the championship in his match today with Jimmie Lee by 8 up & 7 to play. Jimmie was not in good condition. Too much entertaining and very little sleep. I watched Mr. Inglis Love defeat George Grady 1 up, & Sonny Tinney defeated a gentleman from Jacksonville 1 up, much to my delight. Then I came back by Dr. Dodds & visited with him awhile—then home. The Cowles and Mary Maude Jeffords came over & stayed till nearly 8 o’clock. Tonight I read some in the Readers Digest, & also read a record, in a Sup. Ct. case.

Monday, February 28, 1949. Cooler.

53° to 61° to 45° 30.02, 30.08

Clear and cooler.

The President and Democratic leaders in the Senate have decided to fight for an amendment of the rules, that have existed in the Senate from the foundation of the government, which / rules / permit unlimited debate, and under which minorities, usually Southerners, could “filibuster,” or talk down any legislation to which they earnestly objected. This has saved the South from adverse legislation several times. Now, the adverse legislation is the President’s program of so called Civil rights and fair employment practices acts, designed to promote racial intermingling in the South. 17 southern Senators will probably filibuster, and I hope successfully.

Tuesday, March 1, 1949.

36° to 61° to 45° 30.10, 30.12, 30.14

Pretty cold, but clear. Pretty strong N.W. wind.

Average Temp. for Feb’y was 63.4°, 9° higher than normal.

“March comes in like a lion” by [may have meant to write “but”?] may “go out like a lamb.”

The Southern Senators are filibustering against the rule to end filibusters. Senator George of Ga. made the first speech yesterday afternoon, and argued that several features of the President’s program—such as the F.E. P. Act, and the socalled Civil rights act—are unconstitutional. Senator Tom Connally spoke this morning. I hope they win out.

The fight began when Sen. Lucas moved to take up a rules change under which 2/3 of those voting could end a filibuster at any time.

Wednesday, March 2, 1949. Rain.

34° to 59° to45° 30.14, 30.18

Light rain at intervals.

A rather dark, unpleasant day.

The So. Filibuster still on in Congress.

Didn[‘]t get to do any work today.

Tonight Lizzie and I went to a delightful party given by Judge & Mrs. Sebring at their home. Justices Thomas and Chapman, Fed. Judge Dozier DeVane, and Mr. Clarence Day, all with their wives & Governor Warren and sister Alma. The buffet dinner was very fine. Good things to drink were served before dinner. I enjoyed it very much.

Thursday, March 3, 1949.

37° to 59° to 50° 30.18, 30.28, 30.21

Clear and quite cold.

Was troubled by terrible itching last night, which broke my rest. So when I did get to sleep, I woke up late—nearly 10 o’clock.

Dow & Hilda arrived at the Floridan this afternoon & phoned from there about 5 p.m. Lizzie told them to come on out and have dinner with us—which they did. They enjoyed it and we certainly did. Lizzie prepared a fine dinner. They left for their hotel about 11 p.m.

Friday, March 4, 1949.

45° to 61° to 55° 30.22, 30.16

A fine day. Bright & cool.

Molotov has been ousted from Commissar of Foreign Affairs, and Vichinsky put in his place. Just why is a matter of guessing so far. The Politburo—& Stalin—had some motive of course.

Tonight, just as we were finishing supper, my old friend / Judge / Walter B. Jones of Montgomery, phoned us from the Cherokee, and I drove them and brought him home. He stayed till about 10:30—& we drove him back to his hotel. He is the same old Walter—a very fine and lovable man: now 60. We thoroughly enjoyed his visit.

Saturday, March 5, 1949.

48° to 73° to 56° 30.06, 30.03

Light fog this morning, but clearing up by 9:45 A. M. Mostly clear during the day.

I have not felt well today, and have not accomplished much. Wrote checks & mailed them to pay all bills for the month of February—some nine or ten & addressing & stamp the envelopes. As I write slowly these days, this took some little time. Then I wrote a letter to George D. Harris, Scarsdale, about his father’s death. He was a fine old man—81—and built up a fine business—manufacturing bicycles, etc.

This afternoon I rested, and read some, & took a long walk on golf course.

We spent a quiet evening at home, reading, talking and listening to the radio.

Sunday, March 6, 1949. Rain.

54° to 77° to 63° 30.03, 30.04, 30.00

Partly cloudy, with rain about dark till nearly bedtime. S. W. Winds. We needed the rain.

Uneventful day. Took my usual walk on golf course from about 5 p.m. to 6:30. When I got home Mary Maud Jeffords was here.

The radio was going here at home most of the evening, and until 11:15. So I didn’t get a chance to do any reading or writing.

Monday, March 7, 1949.

43° to 62° to 52° 30.14, 30.08, 30.12

Clear and quite cold morning with strong N.W. wind.

Pres. Truman flew down to Key West yesterday. Tomorrow he goes to Rollins College to receive a L.L.D. degree. Judge Adams has been invited and will go, and has asked me to sit on the bench in his place tomorrow.

Tuesday, March 8, 1949.

35° to 62° to 54° 30.18, 30.04

Cold early morning, but warming up some by lunch—and quite pleasant in late afternoon. I think there was some frost early this morning.

I sat with the whole court this morning, from 9:30 to 1 p.m., and then in conference with the Court from 2:30 to 4 p.m. Judge Joseph White of Ft. Lauderdale sat in Judge Paul Barn’s place today.

At 4 p.m. I went with Judges Thomas & White to the new Supreme Court Bldg. which is nearing completion, and we went all through it. It is a beautiful bldg., but I thought the library was not large enough to hold all the many books.

Wednesday, March 9, 1949.

43° to 71° to 62° 30.00, 30.02, 29.92

Clear & fairly cool morning, but getting quite warm by midday. Southerly winds. Low barometer tonight. But clear all day.

Put in a little work on an opinion this morning.

This afternoon at 5 p.m. Lizzie gave a nice party to Mrs. Talbot Whitfield, Mrs. Alemene Pearson, Mrs. Maxwell, now of Jax., and Mrs. Fred Elliott. Mr. Fred Elliott and my self were “guests of honor.” Annie helped Lizzie serve the refreshments. We all had a grand time. They left about 6:45 or 7 p.m.

Lizzie is a great hostess.

Thursday, March 10, 1949.

58° to 73° to 49° 29.93 to 30.00

Strong W. & N. W. winds this morning—making it feel warmer than it really was. The wind changed to due West this afternoon. We have had cool, clear weather for several days now, in spite of a low barometer.

Lizzie went to a luncheon at Mrs. Fred Elliott’s today, and came home badly worn out.

The filibuster is still going on, but it is reported the an effort will be made tomorrow to get a ruling from presiding Vice-Pres. Barkley that will enable a 2/3 vote to break it. The object of the filibuster is to obstruct the effort to take up the F. E. P. C. & other socalled Civil Rights bills—aimed mainly at the South. Even if Barkley so rules, they may not be able to get a 2/3 vote to sustain him.

Friday, March 11, 1949.

39° to 65° to 54° 30.03, 30.10

Clear and cool.

I sat as a member of the Supreme Court this morning from 9:30 to 1. Rather enjoyed it. Felt better this afternoon, & took a long walk on golf course, but tonight I have felt bad—a strange numbness & lethargy.

Hurrah! The Southerners won the fight / against them / to silence the filibuster—Vice Pres. Barkley’s ruling (contrary to that of Sen. Vandenberg’s a year ago) that Senate debate on a motion could be ended by a 2/3 vote, was appealed to the Senate Members and set aside by the Senate by a vote of 46 to 41. The 2/3 rule as adopted only applied to voting on bills. The vote tonight at 10 oclock was a big victory for the Southerners, & a rebuke to the President.

Saturday, March 12, 1949.

45° to 70° to 56° 30.14, 30.10

Moon about full.

Cool morning. Pleasant afternoon.

The victory of the Southern Senators would not have been possible had they not won over some 22 / or 24 / Northern Senators to side with them in the fight against cloture. I suspect that / most of / these were Democrats but I don’t have the facts yet. The vote was reported last night to be 46 to 41 in favor of the Southern position.

Sunday, March 13, 1949.

40° to 70° to 68° 30.12, 30.08

A fine day. Clear till late afternoon.

Lizzie & I went to church this morning. Heard a good sermon by Bro. Cotton. But Lizzie was in bad shape at the end of the service—sitting so long on the hard & rather upright benches was too much for her.

I have done some reading today & tonight.

Took good long walk on golf course. Then called on Dr. Dodd for about 30 or 40 minutes.

Monday, March 14, 1949. Rain

58° to 71° to 56° 30.04, 30.01

Cloudy and overcast morning with rain by early afternoon. Pretty heavy rain from 3 pm to 6 p.m.

The filibuster by the Southerners goes on, but the Truman Democratic leaders are trying to reach an agreement with the Southerners. It is said that the Southerners are holding out for a rule that would require a vote of 2/3 of the Senate membership / 64 / to invoke cloture—while the administration leaders want a rule based on 2/3 of the Senators present and voting—which might mean 25 Senators, or 2/3 of that number, could shut off debate. The debate is still going on at a night session tonight. Probably the administration plans to keep the Senate in continuous session and wear out the So. Senators if they can.

Tuesday, March 15, 1949.

52° to 63° to 50° 30.02, 30.18, 30.22

Clear. Cool & windy. A real March day. Northerly winds.

Hurrah! The Southerners have won their fight for freedom of debate in the Senate. At least that is what a broadcaster said over the 11 p.m. radio broadcast tonight. He said the Southerners, joined by enough Northern and Western Republicans, agreed on the adoption of a rule that debate could not be cut off except by a vote of 2/3 of the membership—64 Senators. That is stronger than the 1917 Rule of 2/3 of the Senators present. So—if this report is true, the present filibuster has resulted in a splendid triumph.

We had Elmira Palmer over to dinner with us tonight, & the Cowles came in about 9 p. m.

Wednesday, March 16, 1949.

39° to 65° to 49° 30.28 to 30.22

Clear and cool, especially so this morning.

Took Lizzie up to see Dr. Rhodes this morning about the intense pain near the lower end of her spine. Dr. R. was out of town, so she had her hair fixed, and then went and had some x-rays made which we hope will assist Dr. Rhodes. She has felt some better this afternoon and tonight. I wonder if the X-rays had this beneficial effect.

I have tried to do some work this afternoon & tonight on a hard case. Took a good long walk over to the Club house, where I chatted with several friends.

I judge from what I have heard over the radio that the coalition of Southern Senators and Conservative Republicans have really won out on the effort to stop debate in the Senate unless 64 out of the 96 Senators vote for it.

The administration floor leader, Scott Lucas, is pretty Sore over his defeat. And I am sure Pres. Truman is.

Thursday, March 17, 1949.

41° to 66° to 56° 30.12 to 30.22

Clear, and a bit warmer. A very pleasant day.

I managed to get in a little work this morning on a hard case but various things that had to be done this afternoon prevented any work, and tonight I did not feel equal to it.

Annie has a cold and Lizzie still suffering with that pain in her back.

The Senate is still struggling over that proposed amendment to the present Rule 22, adopted in 1917, and which provides for stopping debate on a bill by a 2/3 vote of the Senators present. It looks like the Southern contention for 2/3 vote of the entire Senate will be adopted, & some other provisions also.

Friday, March 18, 1949. Rain

54° to 67° to 54° 30.12

Considerable Rain during the day—and pretty cool.

The Senate adopted last night the amendment to Rule 22, by which debate can only be limited or stopped by a 2/3 vote. Thus the Southern Democratic Senators won their fight, over stiff opposition of Mr. Truman’s followers.

Thirty Dem Senators voted for the amendment to the rule and some 23 Republicans. Quite a significant victory. Our Senator Pepper voted against the amendment. This is a victory for the South.

Various other matters arose today to prevent me from doing any work on that tough opinion I am writing.

Saturday, March 19, 1949.

39° to 62° to 45° 30.28, 30.30, 30.22

Cold and clear morning, but fairly warm in the afternoon and evening. Clear all day.

Ruth Terrell / a fine & pretty girl, / was married this afternoon to Malcolm E. McLeod of Greenville, Fla. It was a beautiful wedding at the Presbyterian Church, Rev. Still officiating. Ruth was beautiful in her wedding dress and Malcolm, usually called Mack, is a very fine and handsome young man. Glenn Terrell, Jr. sang two songs very well indeed. The Church was beautifully decorated.

After the wedding everybody gathered in a wing of the Church and refreshments were served.

After this was over, the young couple went to the Terrell home, and pretty soon left for an undisclosed destination—& a wedding trip.

Sunday, March 20, 1949.

40° to 72° to 60° 30.22 to 30.30 to 30.22

A beautiful day, but cold in early morning.

I went to Church—good sermon.

This aft. at 5 p.m. we called on the Terrells. Doris Terrell Johnson, who was Ruth’s bridesmaid yesterday, had come down, with her fine two month old son—a fine baby—to be at Ruth’s and Sing. We have always thought the world of Doris. Quite a number of friends came in while Annie & Lizzie & I were there.

Then I took a good long walk on golf course.

Monday, March 21, 1949.

57° to 73° to 60° 30.10, 30.08, 28.98

Mostly clear—and getting a bit warmer. Southerly winds.

Got in some work this morning and a little this afternoon.

We are having our house cleaned on the outside by a very likable young man named Simmons. Those parts which he has cleaned with his machine look like we had had a new coat of paint. Although only 22, he has a wife and two young children and a third on the way. He has been delayed in his work by shortage of money and his wife’s illness.

Pres. Truman has changed his attitude toward Congress. From threats to stump the country, he is now mild and friendly. He was wisely advised to change his tactics.

Tuesday, March 22, 1949. Rain

58° to 68° to 66° 29.90—29.84

Dark, cloudy & warm / early / morning, with Southerly winds. Light drizzly rain from 10 A. M / on /. Nearly all day.

Wednesday, March 23, 1949.

60° to 82° to 67° 29.84 to 29.90

Hazy early morning.

Clear from 9:30 on. A fine day. But the warmest day we’ve had so far this year.

Lacey Simmons finished the job of cleaning thoroughly the outside of our house and all the window & door screens and then around our So. Porch, by about 4 p.m. He uses some kind of chemical mixture projected by an electric pump through a hose against the surface to be cleaned. Our house looks like it had a fresh coat of paint. He also cleaned a part of the roof in front. He seems to be a fine young fellow.

I got in some work this morning on that tough opinion I’ve been working on when I could for the past ten days.

Thursday, March 24, 1949.

62° to 83° to 68° 29.92 to 29.98

Clear and warm. A touch of Summer.

The Talla. Womens Golf Tournament begins tomorrow. There were 53 entries by midday. More are expected. Players from out of town were playing yesterday. I followed one foursome from in front of our house to the Club house. Among them were Miss Ann Twilley of Griffin, Ga. & Mrs. Swearingen of Gainesville, Fla., whom I met. Ann Twilley made a 84, her first round on this course.

This afternoon Annie and I drove down to the County line—left at 5:12.

Had a lash or two taken out by Dr. Brown & he also took my blood pressure. Said it was 170. I am sure he was mistaken. He was 2 yrs. ago, when I checked & found it was 140.

Friday, March 25, 1949.

65° to 76° to 66° 30.00 to 30.07 to 29.98

Damp and overcast morning, but very pleasant. Mostly clear the balance of the day.

Got to do a little work on the tough opinion, but my working capacity has gone down a whole lot.

Congress has been battling over the bill for continuance of rent controls. The present bill expires Mch 31st. It was time. Congress perhaps had the constitutional right to control rents, but now, in peace time, I don’t think it has any such power. The Senate-House conference committee voted tonight to continue controls but to let the States, Cities & Towns get rid of it, if the States’ Governors approve. The fight is still on. Politics enters in. There are more tenants than landlords.

Saturday, March 26, 1949.

67° to 86° to 67° 30.00, 30.04, 29.90

Somewhat cloudy morning, with strong Southerly winds. Fairly warm. In fact the warmest day so far this year, 86° at 1:30, but the strong breeze kept it quite comfortable all day.

I watched the Ladies Golf Tournament awhile this aft. and at 5 p.m. Liz & I drove out to see Mrs. Richardson, but no one was at home.

The pro-Russian “Social and Cultural Committee” has been meeting in the Waldorf Hotel in N.Y. Why our government should have permitted it I don’t know. The Committee is / mostly / composed of Communists from Russia and its satellites, and / a few / pro-Russian, or pro Communist, College professors in this Country. And tonight they met at Madison Sq. Garden, audience 18,000 and praised Communism and damned our Am. system of government.

Sunday, March 27, 1949.

66° to 82° to 69° 29.90, 30.98[?], 29.88

Mostly cloudy all day, but no rain. Temperature pleasant. Southerly winds.

Tonight at bed time the barometer is pretty low 28.79. Rain probable during the night.

I went to church this morning. This afternoon I went over to the Country Club about 3:30. The championship match was over by then. Mary Lena Faulk won / over Mrs. George Miller of Miami / 7 up and 6 to play. But I got there in time to hear a fine lecture (they call it a golf clinic) on golf by Patty Berg, former national champion, in which she demonstrated all the golf shots. She is very witty and had a magnetic personality. Then I watched her play 5 holes of golf / (they played 9 holes in all) / with the young lady champion of Arkansas. Both fine.

Monday, March 28, 1949. Rain

66° to 63° to 65° to 63° 29.88, 29.87, 29.93

Cloudy and overcast morning, with rain from about 11:50 A. M. / off and / on to 5 p.m.

A cold, gloomy day.

I got in some work this morning, but on account of various interruptions, I did not get much done. And tonight the Cowles came over & stayed till 11 p.m.

Lizzie had to go to town this afternoon, so she brought Annie back about 5:15.

Judge Terrell’s books & office equipment were moved into the New Supreme Court Bldg. this morning and Annie went over there in the rain and mud. But the building was heated and she did not catch cold. The girls got Carson Sinclair to bring them some luncheons. So we did not have to go for her for lunch.

About all the Justices have moved to the New Bldg. and yet they must hear arguments for awhile in the old court room or the Motion room in the New Bldg.

Tuesday, March 29, 1949. Rain

58° to 69° to 73° to 65° 29.98, 29.30, 29.98

Cloudy and cool with light, slow rain about 9:30 A. M. to 11:30. Mostly clear by afternoon.

Got in some work this morning but none this afternoon. Drove up & got Annie at 5 p.m. I did not go upstairs in the new Supr. Ct. Bldg., but they have competed most of the moving of the Judges[,] officers & part of the Clerks office.

They are still doing some finishing up work on the building itself, and the court room. It’s going to be fine and a credit to the State when they get it all finished, and the grounds, etc.

Tonight we had Doris Terrell Johnson and Aline James to dinner. They stayed till 10:30. We had a fine time.

Wednesday, March 30, 1949.

65° to 88° to 69° 29.98, 29.89

Clear and warm. Warmest day so far this year.

Managed to do some work on that hard opinion. Hope to finish it tomorrow.

Drove up & got Annie about 5 o’clock & on my return I took my usual afternoon walk on golf course. When I got back two accident & health insurance men were talking to Lizzie and they stayed for some time.

Tonight I have not felt like working.

Thursday, March 31, 1949. Rain

66° to 72° to 65° 29.79—29.80

Churchill.

Dark morning, followed by a cloudy and rainy day. Not hard or continuous, but recurring showers, and strong, shifting winds. It is so muddy around the Supreme Ct. Bldg. that Annie phoned not to come for her: that she would have a lunch sent to the office. I finished that hard opinion this morning.

We heard a truly great speech tonight—by a great and good man—the most outstanding public man in the world—Winston Churchill.

He spoke before 15,000 people in Boston. It was magnificent, in thought, and in oratory—even better than his speech in Fulton, Mo., some three years ago, when he coined the phrase, “behind the iron Curtain.” His review of the history and conditions during the past 50 years, and the problems which face the world today, was vivid and true. His discussion of the problem of Russia and communism was enlightening and realistic.

Friday, April 1, 1949.

63° to 80° to 65° 29.80 to 29.72

Mostly clear.

A much modified rent control bill was passed yesterday, which gives a considerable measure of control to municipalities and States and assures a reasonable net income to the land owner. The President signed it. The old law expired yesterday.

I gave my written copy of that opinion in Harvey et al v Drake, County Judge, et al, to Bessie Martin to typewrite. This afternoon late she sent to me 3 typewritten copies, 1 original and 3 carbon copies. I will send them to the Clerk’s office tomorrow. It was nearly 12 pages long.

Saturday, April 2, 1949. Light rain.

54° to 70° to 60° 29.72, 29.68

Low barometer. Low now for past 2 weeks.

Some rain early this morning, about 5 A.M. Cloudy and overcast all day. Cool morning.

I spent some time in New Supr. Ct. Bldg this morning. It is terribly hard to get in and out. The rains have slowed up the paving of the St. in front of the building, and I had to park my car on street in rear of bldg. and walk over muddy ground getting to the bldg. & back again. Pretty hard on Annie. Elevator not running yesterday or today. Trees have been cut down and work begun on preparing the ground for grass planting. There is not even a plank walk way, either in front or back.

Sunday, April 3, 1949. Rain

53° to 71° to 61° 29.66 to 29.80

Dark and cool early morning with pretty hard rain from about 8 A. M. to 9 or 9:30, & misty till noon. Clear by afternoon.

Barometer gradually rising today. The condition of the roads was bad and as I wasn’t feeling well, I did not try to go to church or to get the mail.

We went over to Mary Maud’s to see Charles and his wife “Skippy” and their two months old baby, about 11 Am. Lizzie preceded me by about 30 minutes. As I was going down our front steps, my heel caught and I sprained my ankle and fell prone on the walkway. But I got up & went over to Mary Maud’s & was delighted to see what a beautiful baby Charles & Skippy have. Jeff was crazy about it. When I got home I rubbed my ankle with Sloan’s liniment and it got all O.K. and I took a long walk on golf course this aft.

The Cowles came over about 6:30 & took supper with us and stayed till 10:40.

Monday, April 4, 1949. Rain.

Clear, bright and delightful day till in the late afternoon when it began to get cloudy, and from 8:30 p.m. until I write this at midnight, we / have / had a heavy & steady rain. Shifting Southerly wind.

The great Atlantic Pact was signed in Washington today by the representatives of 12 North Atlantic nations. It is a mutual defense pact against aggression. Russia, the only nation from whom aggression is feared, refused to have anything to do with it, and charged that it was a “war pact” hatched by the United States against the Soviet Union.

If the Senate ratifies it, as I hope it will, this will be an historic day.

Tuesday, April 5, 1949. Rain.

56° to 80° to 56° 29.67, 29.73, 29.72

N.W. Winds.

It rained hard last night till about 4 A.M. Then this morning, the sun rose bright and clear, but some clouds began to appear by 9:30, but most of the day was clear, and this afternoon from 4 on it began to turn quite cool.

The Legislature met today. Gov. Warren addressed them today on the question of taxes. State expenditures have been so great the past year—new buildings, large expenditures for education, &c., that additional revenue is imperative[.] The Governor recommended a conglomeration of various / small / taxes, but he dodged the solution—a sales tax. He came out against that in his campaign. His present plan is impracticable.

Wednesday, April 6, 1949.

54° to 82° to 56° 29.72 to 29.86, 29.94

Clear and delightful, but with brisk Northwesterly breezes. The roads are pretty dry and usable again, except Meridian Ave., back of our place, which is unusable on account of the preparations for paving.

With some help from Annie, I got through paying the bills for the past month, today. Requires quite a number of checks.

Haven’t felt well today.

Thursday, April 7, 1949.

51° to 83° to 62° 29.94, 29.98, 29.88

A fine clear day. Brisk breezes from the S.W. But when night came on the barometer went down from 29.98 to 29.88 by midnight—a drop of 10 points in a few hours.

Began working on another opinion this morning—a very unusual and interesting case.

Friday, April 8, 1949.

57° to 80° to 62° 29.92, 29.82

Clear, beautiful morning; barometer went up during the night, but is still lower than normal.

A bit hazy this afternoon for a part of the time, but bright and clear from 4:30 on.

Did some work today and took walk to club house with Judges Barns and Chapman and young Dr. Henry, watching them play.

Tonight the Cowles came over and stayed till 10:45.

Saturday, April 9, 1949.

55° to 77° to 65° 29.82, 29.90, 29.92

Clear fine day.

I did some writing on an opinion, and took a long walk on golf course, mingling with the players. Jim Franklin of Ft. Myers, and old lawyer friend, member of the State Senate, was among them.

Late this afternoon Elmira Palmer came over & she took Annie down to St. Marks for dinner. Got back about 11 p.m.

After Liz & I had supper, Lawrence Salley & wife Edna came in and spent the evening with us. They have rented their house for the session to two legislators and their wives.

Sunday, April 10, 1949.

65° to 78° to 69° 29.92, 30.00, 29.90

Mostly clear. Strong S.E. breezes.

Didn’t feel well this morning. Got up late and did not go to Church.

Lizzie suffering greatly all day.

This afternoon I took a walk on golf course and mingled with some of my golfing friends. Returned to our home about 5 p.m. and then, though Lizzie did not feel equal to it, we drove over to W. College Ave. and called to see the Kellums, who were not at home. Then we took a drive South of town a few miles, & back home.

Mabel called up from Miami and said that Joseph would not eat and was in terrible shape. / just skin and bones & very weak. / & the doctor there thought we should take him to Chattahoochee. Lizzie vetoed that, also Annie, and suggested he be taken to a hospital. A terrible situation.

Monday, April 11, 1949.

60° to 75° to 64° 29.87–29.80

Hard rain at 7 A.M., which continued more or less all day.

The side street was in such a mess, and so slippery, we were afraid to take either of our cars out.

Annie had to use taxis, but the Terrells brought her home this afternoon at 5 p.m.

The Cowles were over to night.

Is spite of not feeling well, I did a little work on an opinion and wrote several letters.

Tuesday, April 12, 1949. Hard Rain

60° to 72° to 64° 29.72, 29.64, 29.70

Dark, rainy, morning, with pretty hard rain by 9 A.M., which continued until about 1 p.m. Then it gradually cleared until it was quite clear by 5 p.m., and the strong breezes from S.E., then So., and then from S.W. dried off the wet ground to such an extent that the narrow street on N. side of our house, which has been impossible for about 2 days, looked like I could get my car out. It has been in the garage for 2 days & so has Lizzie’s. I got my car and managed / with some difficulty / to go down hill, west, to the highway, and then N. to the paved road running E. to Country Club Drive, and up that road and around to the street in front of our house. Lizzie’s car is still in garage.

We took Annie out to the air port in my car in time to take the 5:27 plane to go to Miami and see what should be done for Joseph, who is in bad and very weak and helpless.

Lt. Comd’r James Dowdell called us up tonight from Wash’n and says if he can get leave he will go to see his father.

The moon is in eclipse tonight. Almost total here. Total in N. Y. City.

Wednesday, April 13, 1949.

54° to 80° to 61° 29.70,29.79, 29.78

Clear and cool morning. Warm by afternoon. S.W. winds.

Spent some time in Supreme Court Bldg. this morning and this afternoon looking up authorities in case I am working on.

Cyclone reported to have struck Manchester, Zebulon and Griffin, Ga., this morning, and an earthquake shook Olympia, Washington. The loss of life in Olympia was very small—but a good many people were injured. Great damage done to buildings, especially the large ones like the capitol. Have not heard the results of the reported cyclone.

Lizzie had Mr. Temple, a good reliable contractor, to inspect our house this aft., and he recommended one good coat of paint; cost $225.00.

Thursday, April 14, 1949.

56° to 78° to 65° 29.74, 29.87, 29.85

A bright, clear day.

We have been busy arranging through Dan D’Alemberte to have Joseph admitted to the Infirmary at Chattahoochee. James has been in Miami for a couple of days. Commitment papers to be prepared & signed by Judge W. F. Blanton in Miami.

Dan notified us tonight that he had secured accommodations for Joseph in the Infirmary but to get the commitment papers to him as quickly as possible. Lizzie phone James & he got busy to get the Doctor’s statement to the County Judge.

Friday, April 15, 1949.

57° to 89° to 65° 29.85, 29.91, 29.84

Foggy early morning, but mostly clear the balance of the day.

James Dowdell had some trouble in getting County Judge Blanton down in Miami to sign the commitment papers. He wanted some assurance that they would be honored. He recently issued a commitment, and the State Hospital refused to take him, after he had been taken up there, and so he has to be returned to Miami.

So I called up Judge Blanton and told him that Dan D’Alemberte had already secured a home for Joe, and so he agreed to sign the Commitment and send it to Dan, for delivery to Dr Therrell[?], by this afternoon’s air mail. We notified Dan tonight. James will take Joseph by train.

Saturday, April 16, 1949.

54° to 68° to 52° Barometer 29.94, 29.98, 29.92

Very cool morning, but bright and clear, with strong N.W. wind and rising barometer. Clear all day. The wind died down some in the late afternoon, but it began getting colder from 5 o’clock on, and was 52° at bedtime.

I did a little work today. Took my usual walk in late afternoon.

About 6:30 p.m. Lizzie phoned little Joe, and he said James and a nurse would leave Miami Sunday night and hoped to reach Chattahoochee around 4:30 Monday afternoon.

Sunday, April 17, 1949. Easter.

44° to 69° to 53° 29.98, 29.99, 29.90

Clear and cold morning.

Beautiful Easter.

Sorry we were not able to go to Church.

Monday, April 18, 1949. Joseph entered F. State Hospital today

53° to 75° to 61. 29.93, 29.98,29.91

Mostly clear and fine.

James, with a nurse, left Miami with Joseph by train & had a drawing room for Joe—and carried Joseph to the Fla. State Hospital at Chattahoochee. They arrived at Chattahoochee about 4:40, and I drove over there in my car, and went to Dan D’Alemberte’s house ant talked with Elinor until James & the nurse, a Mrs. Baddy, arrived there, and then I drove them to our house, where we all had a good dinner prepared by Lizzie. They said Joseph stood the trip well. I was disappointed that he, Joe, could not be admitted to the Infirmary at once, but their practice is to take them first for awhile to a receiving building.

Tonight James & Lizzie drove Mrs. Baddy, a nice young woman, to the plane at about 9:30 for Miami.

Tuesday, April 19, 1949.

54° to 75° to61° 29.91, 30.01, 29.98

Barometer back to normal.

Clear and fine.

I went to my dentist Dr. Conrad, this morning, & had a filling put in.

Then I went to Supreme Court, and got from Bessie Martin the typewritten copy of my opinion in the In re. Estate of Angie C. Slawson[?] case, which gave me so much work, & filed it in the Clerk’s office together with a case or two from the other judges which I concurred in.

This afternoon Lizzie & I drove over to Chattahoochee to see Joe. First we went by Eleanor D’Alemberte’s, and she took us to see Dr. Rogers—a fine man—and he took us to the building to which Joe had been transferred for diagnosis. A nice bldg, & we found Joe in a nice room all to himself. We stayed with him about 45 minutes. Then drove home.

James left tonight for Washington by plane at 10 oclock. We drove him to the air port.

Wednesday, April 20, 1949.

58° to 78° to 66° 30.02, 30.04, 30.02

Clear, pleasurably cool morning, with gently S.E. breeze. Gradually clouding up in late afternoon and evening.

Saw George Smathers, Sid Herlong / Both Members of Congress, / and Warren Sanchez / legislator / on golf course this aft. & had pleasant chat with them.

A strange thing happened today. A small English vessel was leaving a point on the Yangse[sic] River, going toward the sea when it was fired on by Communist soldiers on the North bank. A larger English vessel went from the Ocean up the River, and it too was fired on. The smaller vessel was disabled and some 20 of its crew killed or wounded. I wonder what the outcome will be.

Thursday, April 21, 1949.

59° to 80° to 70° 30.02, 30.04, 30.02

Mostly cloudy. Rain predicted for last night and this morning, but no rain.

Quite warm this afternoon and evening.

I have finished passing on a bunch of cases written by the other justices this afternoon, and hope to get started tomorrow on one of the two remaining cases assigned to me to write.

Walk on golf course this afternoon. Ran smack into Geo. Smathers and Sid Herlong, and a young lawyer from Miami named Blackwell, a fine young fellow, and one other player whose name I did not get. All good players. Young Blackwell is the son of a Miami lawyer whom I used to know,—T. J. Blackwell.

Friday, April 22, 1949. Rain.

68° to 79° to 67° 30.00, 30.02, 29.92

Overcast—cloudy—with light slow rain for some 2 or 3 hrs in afternoon. We needed it. First rain in 10 days.

The Chinese Communist army is crossing the Yangse River. It is said they have a million men, while the Chinese Nationalist forces number a half million at the most.

Saturday, April 23, 1949.

66° to 86° to 71° 29.93, 30.00, 29.96

Mostly clear and quite warm.

Our warmest day so far this year. Cloudy early morning and some clouds till early afternoon.

This afternoon Lizzie and Annie drove over to Chattahoochee to see Joseph. Found him sitting in a easy chair and looking better. They have been making him eat some solid food, much to his disgust, as he has not done so for a long time. They are also giving him hypodermic injections—probably a tonic of some sort. He was still in the same nice room.

I had a visit about 4 to 4:45 p.m. from Mr. & Mrs. Harrison. I am sure they were disappointed that Lizzie was not here.

Sunday, April 24, 1949.

67° to 90° to 72° 29.94, 29.98, 29.93

“Daylight Saving” time is on over most of the Country.

Bright and clear, and quite warm in afternoon.

I went to church this morning and heard a fine sermon by Dr. Russell, former Dean of the College of Religion at Duke University.

This afternoon I went out for a walk on the golf course and ran into a bunch of good players, Sen. Wallace E. Sturgis of Ocala, Sam Bucklew of Tampa, “Bun” Gautier of Miami / Bruce Davis, / and Mr. / Sam / McCormick of Miami who represents the Hialeah Race Track. I went to the Club house with them and drank a coca-cola while they drank beer. Then I also saw Bill Lantaff & wife of Miami, & Warren Sanchez of Live Oak. Then I walked back across the golf course and called on Dr. Dodd & we had a good time.

When I got home about 6:40 Mary Maud & Annie & Lizzie were having cocktails & I joined them. Mary Maud stayed till 7:30. Tonight we listened to the radio.

Monday, April 25, 1949.

60° to 72° to 62° 30.00 to 30.10

Cool, clear and fine.

Highest Barometer reading today then for quite some-time.

The Legislature has not done anything yet. The Governor is going to have a hard time getting the legislature to adopt his 15 special tax program. It may wind up in a deadlock, and an extra session.

The Chinese communists took Nanking yesterday without any resistance and they are now making for Shanghai. It will fall too. Then Hong Kong. I wonder if the British will let them take it without any resistance. It’s a Chinese city but means much to the British. Took usual walk. This time with Judge Paul Barns & Judge Chapman.

Tuesday, April 26, 1949.

58° to 79° to 64° 30.08, 30.00, 29.95

Slightly cloudy & warmer.

Secy of Defense Louis A. Johnson, without consulting Sec’y of the Navy, John L. Sullivan, gave orders to stop the construction of the Navy’s super carrier, which was recently begun and Mr. Sullivan promptly resigned, issuing a strong letter he wrote Johnson. The prevailing opinion seems to be that we needed the big carrier.

The legislature is still shadow-boxing, but the question of additional revenue must be solved. The Governor’s program will not solve the question. Already he had to withdraw his bill for taxing insurance premiums.

Thursday, April 28, 1949.

61° to 84° to 67° 29.95, 29.90

Hazy & cloudy, but no rain.

Have not felt well today and have accomplished very little. Wrote a few letters and did a little studying.

Late this aft. I walked around with Judges Chapman and Barns as they played golf.

Friday, April 29, 1949.

64° to 83° to 67° 29.90, 29.94, 29.90

Much the same weather as yesterday. We had a few drops of rain, but there was a pretty good shower a mile or so to the N.W. of us. Cloudy all day.

The legislature has gone against most of the 15 specific taxes recommended by the Gov’r in his message. The Gov’r, in his campaign, pledged himself against a sales tax. It is believed that a general sales tax of 2% would enable the State government to make ends meet. But the Gov’r, in view of his campaign promises, would probably veto it.

Pres. Truman is having a hard time getting Congress to enact his compulsory health insurance bill—socialized medicine—free doctor’s services for everybody. The Members of Congress from the South are nearly all against it. Pres. T. says no more patronage for them!

Saturday, April 30, 1949. Light, short shower.

67° to 84° to 76° 29.90, 29.92

Light showers about 8:15 A.M. Didn[‘]t last but a few minutes. But Lizzie thought we were in for rain, and that she had better get her car out while she could. So tried it, and when she got into the side road and turned to the right, the car went into the ditch. Fortunately negro Ben came along, and by use of shovel and moss he got it out. By that time the rain stopped.

Lizzie & Annie went over to Chattahoochee, leaving home about 2:05. They got back about 5:45 p.m. Reported that Joe did not seem as well as he was when Liz & I were there Tuesday.

I have not been well today, and did not accomplish much. Yesterday aft. I received a letter from Attorney Atwood Dunwody, Miami, sending me the accounts and papers to sign for a final settlement of Ma’s estate. This aft. I went over them, and though they show that Joe G. has over charged and has produced few receipts, I signed them and returned them with some suggestions.

Took my usual walk on golf course. Links full of players.

Sunday, May 1, 1949.

68° to 84° to 77° 29.92, 29.98, 30.00

Mostly clear. Southerly breezes.

This afternoon Richard (Dick) W. Whitfield was married to Mrs. Olive Bryan, a very pretty and attractive young widow, at 5 p.m. at the Baptist Church. A very simple and unostentatious wedding, but very nice. Dick has married, or out-married, himself to a fine young woman. On acct of our friendship for Mrs. / Ruby / Whitfield and her late husband, we went and carried Elmira Palmer with us.

When we got back I found a fine new golf ball in the ditch next to our front yard. I went to the club house & tried to find out who lost it, but could not. Then I let Mrs. Bessie Parker & Pauline Kelly toss a coin for it, & Pauline got it. On my way home & visited Reeves Bowen and family.

Monday, May 2, 1949.

65° to 84° to 67° 29.97,29.99

Mostly clear.

Had to go up town this morning to attend to several small matters, so I did not get to any work on the opinion I am trying to write until this afternoon, and tonight.

The legislature has turned down most of the Governor’s tax recommendations, and now they are trying to get together on some plan that will raise the necessary funds.

Sent Adelaide a $10.00 bill for my young name sake’s birthday. “Ted” will be 7 yrs old May 7th.

Tuesday, May 3, 1949.

64° to 94° to 76° 29.90, 30.08, 30.04

Warm but crisp and clear. Barometer higher than for some time.

I put in a little work this morning and intended to go with Lizzie right after dinner to Chattahoochee. But about 11:30 I felt very weak and faint, and had to lie down. I got up and had a quick lunch and then had to lie down until 5 p.m. I don’t know what was the matter. By 5 p.m. I got up, and felt better, and was walking in the yard when Lizzie returned about 5:15. Annie went with her. They found Joe some better. He had gained in weight, from 81 to 87 lbs.

Liz has had a hard day.

I took a short walk about 6 to 6:30, and feel better tonight, but have not tried to do any work.

Wednesday, May 4, 1949.

68° to 84° to 72° 30.04, 30.14, 30.06

Clear, dry & crisp. Fine day.

Lizzie phoned Dr. Rhodes to come to see me this morning. He came about 9:30. Found my blood pressure was pretty high, 176. Gave me some tablets to take before each meal. I stayed in bed until about 5 p.m. when I felt allright, got up & would have taken a walk on golf course. But Lizzie objected. So I walked around in the house. Took my usual rest tonight after supper, and then was up till 11:15, listening to the radio, talking and reading and writing some letters.

Yesterday / by the vote of Republican and So. Democrats / the House passed the Wood bill / by a majority of 14 / as a substitute for the Lesinski bill. This was a big defeat for the Administration and the labor Unions. Today they got busy, & the Wood bill was sent back to the Committee. Tomorrow a compromise bill may pass.

Thursday, May 5, 1949.

67° to 84° to 71° 30.08, 30.04, 29.97

Another fine, clear day.

Pleasant all day. Perfect for golf. I have felt much better today and took a walk late this afternoon.

Friday, May 6, 1949.

70° to 85° to 72° 29.97, 29.88

Clear morning, bright and pleasant most of day, but suddenly clouding up about 5 p.m., but the threatened rain never came.

I am glad that the May Day Celebration was not marred by rain. Mr. & Mrs. Velma Keen’s daughter, Mary, was the Queen.

I felt much better this afternoon and took a walk on the golf course. I feel that I am back to normal.

The Russians have agreed to lift the blockade on May 12th and we have agreed to a meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers about ten days later. I hope our minister does not give an inch.

Saturday, May 7, 1949.

68° to 92° to 74° 29.88, 29.74

Ted’s birthday—Armstead Brown Dowdell. / (7 yrs old.) /

Clear and a bit warmer.

I went up town for awhile this morning (contrary to doctor’s orders) and attended to various matters, and then went by the Supreme Court Bldg. and put in a bunch of work. But I spent the afternoon quietly, staid[sic] in bed till 4:30. Lizzie & Annie had gone to Chattahoochee at 2:30—got back about 5:30. Its been a hard day on poor Lizzie. They found Joe some better. Had his teeth worked on. They needed it. Tonight we had a long visit from the Cowles. I took walk on golf course / this aft.

Dr. Rhodes came to see me about 8:15 tonight. Was pleased to find my blood pressure had gone down from 176 back down to 145 tonight.

Sunday, May 8, 1949.

69° to 91° to 75° 29.75, 29.88, 29.80, 29.84

Partly cloudy and warm.

Didn[‘]t feel so well this morning but better this afternoon. Lizzie and I drove out to see the demonstration of a new type of small home designed and built by Horrie Culpepper in the subdivision opposite the “Goodwood” estate. Quite a crowd inspected the house, but I would hate to have to live in one of them.

I see the Communist armies in China are driving down the Shantung Peninsula toward our U.S. Naval Base at Tsingtao. We have a few small vessels there. I do not believe the Communist Army will attack this base of ours. The[y] better not.

Monday, May 9. 1949.

69° to 93° to 69° 28.84, 29.90, 29.80

Partly cloudy.

Not feeling very well today.

Drove up town for awhile this morning and took a walk to the Club house & back late this afternoon watching Dr. Still, Dr. Lewis, Dr. Van Brunt and one other, Mr. Slade, play golf.

Before this I saw Sonny Tinney drive the green on No. 15, 330 or more yards, and went down in two puts[sic]; a birdie three. He came very near sinking his first put. He birdied the 14th, 15th & 16th. I don’t know what he made on the 17th & 18th.

Tuesday, May 10, 1949. Rain

67° to 92° to 68° 29.82, 29.80, 29.84

Mostly clear except for a part of the afternoon. About 3:45 we had a hard rain with considerable wind for about an hour. Then it appeared to be clearing up, and I got in my car and drove up to get Annie. I had hardly started when we had a hard shower. My windshield wiper was working very slowly, and I could hardly see how to pass cars. But it was holding up by the time I got to the Supreme Court Bldg. & got Annie. On way back I went by Maner’s & had my windshield wipers fixed. By the time we got home, the rain was over & the sky clear.

The President told some newspaper men that we have “too many Byrds in Congress.” He was hitting at Senator Byrd of Va. / one of the best men in the Senate, / who said “If the President want to purge me from the Senate, I’ll be around when the purging begins.” The President’s remark was condemned by some of the Senate leaders.

Wednesday, May 11, 1949.

61° to 82° to 67° 29.80, 29.87

Clear and cool.

This morning Lizzie and I drove over to Chattahoochee to see Joe. He was some better. We found he had been reading the morning paper. We spent nearly an hour with him. We got back to Tallahassee at 12:45, and called by and took Annie to dinner.

This afternoon I rested till 3:30 and went up and got Annie about 4:30

After returning I had a walk on golf course, part of the time with Judges Chapman & Barnes[sic].

Tonight the d—n Russians lifted the blockade after a fashion. They are still putting some unreasonable restrictions on movement of trains, such as they must have Russian crews.

Thursday, May 12, 1949.

62° to 84° to 67° 29.80, 29.92

Clear and cool, except a bit warm from 12 to 4:30 pm.

The Russians lifted the blockade and trains are moving in and out of Berlin again, but our officials in Germany are going to keep the air lift going for another 20 or 30 days in order to build up a reserve supply of food for the people of Berlin just in case the unpredictable Russians should change their tactics.

I went up to the capitol at 4:15 to sign some papers for Mrs. Saunders and met a lot of legislators and visitors that I knew. Then I went for Annie & then home. Poor Elmira came and stayed for 2 hrs. talking about her troubles. Poor child. Henry’s walking out on her has broken her heart and health.

I drove over to the Country Club this morning and vacated my locker. I’ve had a locker since 1925—24 years. I am still a member of the Club.

Friday / Saturday, May 13 4, 1949

63° to 85° to 68° 29.92, 30.02, 29.97

Last night—Friday night, Judge Strum called us at 10:40 to tell us the sad news of Mrs. Strum’s death at 11 A.M. She was a grand and lovely woman.

Went up town with Lizzie. Had my blood pressure taken by Mrs. Barnes at Dr. Rhodes office. It was about 161. A bit too high. Lizzie had a lots[sic] to do We finally got back home about noon and I drove up for Annie at 12:30. We had dinner at 12:45 and Lizzie, with Annie, drove over to see Joseph. They got back at 5:15. I had just returned from a walk on the golf course. Lizzie was very tired and had to lie down until time to get supper.

Friday May 13th ’49. Weather the same. I forgot to write in my diary last night. Friday was the usual routine, except that I had to sit in conference with the Supreme Court in afternoon.

Saturday, May 14, 1949.

See preceding page.

Sunday, May 15, 1949.

65° to 82° to 65° 30.00, 30.03, 30.00

Weather grand. About the same.

I went to Church this morning, but I did’nt[sic] feel quite equal to it. A bit dizzy. Have not felt at all well today. Took a short walk on golf course this afternoon late and felt tired afterward.

Lizzie had a hard day Saturday. Very busy morning and yet drove over to Chattahoochee right after lunch. Took Annie. Joe a bit better.

Monday, May 16, 1949.

61° to 84° to 75° 30.00, 29.97

Another fine day. Some clouds this aft., but clear by 5 p.m. Shifting winds.

Pres. Truman’s legislative program has been pretty well shot to pieces. We are experiencing a decline in volume of business and in prices. And yet he calls for more socialization and higher taxes.

I did not accomplish much today. Still suffering from high blood pressure.

Hans Erlier[?] / Communist leader, / under indictment in this country, and out on bail, secretly boarded a Polish vessel several days ago. But at the request of our government, the British police seized him & he is in jail in Lindau.

Tuesday, May 17, 1949.

62° to 87° to 72° 30.00, 30.06, 30.02

Pretty weather continues.

Young Franklin D. Roosevelt won a smashing victory in his race for Congress in New York, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Hon. Sol Bloom. He turned out to be a real good campaigner. Resembles his father in more ways than one.

Gen. Lucius D. Clay, military governor of Germany for the past 4 years, now that Western Germany has elected a democratic form of government, resigned, and asked to be relieved. He has done a grand job. He & his wife arrived in Washington by air at 9:15 this morning. He was met by Sec’y of Defense Johnson, given a 17 gun salute, given a garden party this aft. by the Pres., & decorated, & made a fine 30 min. talk over the radio tonight. He will retain his rank as a full General. Now he goes home to Ga.

Wednesday, May 18, 1949.

63° to 88° to 77° 30.00, 30.04, 30.02

Fine weather continues, but warmer today & tonight than usual. Good breeze.

This morning Lizzie and I drove over to Chattahoochee to see Joseph, heaving here about 10 A.m & arriving there about 11. Found Joe about the same physically but suffering from hallucinations / of persecution, &c. / Lizzie finally quieted him down. He thinks they have a sound recording system by which they can hear everything that occurs in his room. Also thinks his attendant, who impresses us as being a fine you man, has it in for him and is trying to get rid of him; also Mrs. Clark, who has charge of the building, a fine woman. We got to Sup Court bldg. at 1.10. Annie was gone. Judge Terrell had taken her home.

This afternoon after resting, I watched Judges Chapman & Barnes play Jim Franklin and Paul Brock. The Judges won, 1 up. Judge Barns made a 37. I stayed at Club house talking to friends, among them Mr. & Mrs. Bill Lantoff of Miami. Got home about 7 p.m. & found Mary Maud and the Cowles here.

Got my old pen back. Mr. John Fain fixed it.

Thursday, May 19, 1949.

67° to 88° to 75° 30.00, 30.03, 29.96

Continued fine weather. Late afternoon ideal for golf. Pretty dry, dusty—and warm up to 6 to 6:30 p.m. Some breeze.

Late yesterday we noticed that the / new / curbing at corner of Meridian and our little side street indicated that the City was going to take quite a bit of our property on the North Side. Lizzie phoned Mr. Oliver Hopkins to come to see us this morning, which he did. He reassured us somewhat, but it remains to be seen what they are really going to do. He said he was not going to cut down any of the line of large trees near the street, but would have to take off several feet of the property we have been using as a part of our yard for 18 years, but which is outside our property line as shown by the plat. I saw Mr. Yancey, City Mgr., at the Country Club this afternoon, and explained our position to him. He talked like he would deal fairly with us.

Gen. Lucius Clay & wife were the guest of the City of New York today, & last night. He was banqueted and paraded, and had to make several speeches, all brief, but able and forcible. He has a good clear strong voice, and what he says shows he is an able and courageous man. I guess now he can go home to Marietta, Ga. That’s his wish.

Friday, May 20, 1949.

67° to 86° to 72° 29.96, 30.02, 29.86, 29.89

Still clear, but with some clouds and a falling barometer. Pretty warm.

Not feeling at all well today. Attended to some small matters up town this morning. This afternoon we all went to a little party given by the Cowles to Mrs. LeFleur’s mother, a fine old lady of about 68 or 70.

Dean Acheson left today to attend the Conference of Foreign ministers with reference to Germany. I have faith in our Secretary of State’s ability to cope with the Russians.

Saturday, May 21, 1949.

65° to 92° to 72° 29.90, 29.91, 29.90

Clear and hot morning and afternoon, but very pleasant from 6:30 on.

Liz & Annie drove over to Chattahoochee this afternoon. Found Joseph some better than he was when Lizzie & I went to see him Wednesday morning.

Little Joe down in Miami has gotten in quiet a mess. Has been drinking some, and getting in debt. Had to have $1,300 to straighten up his affairs and hold his job. Too bad. I don[‘]t understand it. He’s really a good, able boy, and has such / a / nice family.

Sunday, May 22, 1949.

67°to 90° to 72° 29.90, 29.96

Mostly fair & pleasant. Some cloudiness and winds early this afternoon, and I hoped that showers were coming. We need them. It is very dry and dusty.

James Forrestal, able / and sincear[sic] / former Sec’y of the Navy & later Secretary of Defense / all 3 services / jumped from the 16th story of Bethesda Naval Hospital last night & killed himself. He has been a very hard worker / for seven years in the government / & was in Bethesda hospital for treatment for nervous break down. For some years before he was appointed Secy of the Navy by Pres. Roosevelt / in 1940 / he had been President of Dillon, Reed & Co., Inv. Bankers of N.Y. I do not think his services to our country were as fully appreciated as they should have been.

Lizzie & I went to church this morning & called on Mrs. Walter Richardson and Suanne this afternoon late.

Am still not feeling well.

Monday, May 23, 1949.

68° to 90° to 74° 29.96, 30.04, 29.96

Still fair & warm—and no rain. We really need rain.

This afternoon Lizzie & I had a talk with Mr. Oliver Hopkins and two other men connected with the City’s street improvement Dept., and reached an agreement as to how & where the short street on the N. side of our house should be rebuilt.

Took walk on golf course with Judges Chapman & Barnes, while they played. Then had pleasant chats with various people on golf club porch, including some of my legislative friends, “Ben” Gautier of Miami among them. He is Senator from Dade County.

Tuesday, May 24, 1949.

68° to 95° to 70° 29.96, 29.94, 29.84

Still clear & fine.

Lizzie & I went over to Chattahoochee today to see Joseph. He looked a little better, but is still very much depressed and sad looking. I wonder if he can ever get well.

The legislature appears to be about ready to adopt a tax bill—one of the houses has adopted it—which is a strange mixture of taxes, but in the main it is really a sales tax under other names. Gov. Warren came out strongly against a sales tax in his campaign. So the legislature will have to adopt a disguised sales tax to avoid a veto.

The Chinese Communists are getting close to Shanghai. I think they’ll take it easily, and soon.

Wednesday, May 25, 1949.

Weather pretty much the same.

The City employe[sic] who runs the scraper came out this morning while Lizzie and I were away and widened the side street on the North Side of our property / for some 70 ft / about a foot more than we had agreed on the day before with the two men who were superintending the street work, and damaged one of the smaller trees that they had agreed to protect. However, it might have been worse. Then they rolled the street so as to make it temporarily usable.

The meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the U.S., England, Franc & Russia, the latter being Vichinski, got under way today. I doubt if they can ever agree.

The President has appointed Hon. John J. McCloy to succeed Gen. Lucius Clay in Germany. An excellent appointment. A military man in not needed now.

Thursday, May 26, 1949.

68° to 88° to 68° 29.90, 29.92, 29.88

Cool, clear and fine.

I have had so many small matters to take up my time I have not been able to do hardly any work on that difficult opinion, for the past three or four weeks.

This afternoon late I went over to the club houses & Mrs. Hay told me that Ed. Barham, who now lives in Valdosta, was out on the links. He was one of Elizabeth’s old flames. A fine young man. She said he had asked about me. I told her to tell him when he came in to call to see us if he could. He did—about 7:45. We were delighted to see him—after these 12 or 15 years. He is practicing law in Valdosta. Plays a good game of golf.

Friday, May 27, 1949.

67° to 89° to73° 29.88, 29.94, 29.92

Shanghai has fallen to the Communists.

Clear, pretty morning, but much warmer in late afternoon and evening than usual, and more humidity.

Lizzie and I drove down to the Taylor County line this morning—38 miles—and brought back some whiskey and gin. I enjoyed the ride, but the fine farming country and grazing lands showed the effects of the long continued shortage of rain.

This afternoon I had to go to the capitol on some business for the Stephen Foster Memorial Ass’n and looked in on the Senate and House. Met a number of friends. Then I got Annie & came home & took a walk on the golf course. Tonight the Cowles came over.

The street railroad strike in Berlin (Communist inspired I think) is causing great trouble. It’s a good thing we kept our air lift going.

Gen. Lucius Clay given a big welcome back to his home in Marietta, Ga.

Saturday, May 28, 1949. Shower.

69° to 88° to 69° 29.92, 29.90, 29.91

Mostly clear morning.

I went to town (after doing a little work) about 11:30, mailed a letter by Lizzie to Little Joe, and then came back by Judge Terrell’s office, where I did a bit of study, then took Annie / home / to dinner. After dinner Lizzie and Annie drove over to Chattahoochee. I rested and read in bed for awhile. About 3 or 3:30 I heard thunder in the N.W., and after a strong wind for 30 minutes, and lots of thunder, it began to rain—a light, slow rain for 30 or 40 minutes, but enough to do some / but not much / good. We need more.

Annie & Lizzie returned about 5:20. The rain caught them at Quincy. Reported Joseph about the same.

Little progress—if any—has been made by the representatives of the U.S., Britain, France & Russia. Meanwhile our air lift is feeding the Berliners while the transport strike continues. Communist inspired no doubt.

Sunday, May 29, 1949.

67° to 90° to 75° 29.91, 29.93

Mostly clear. No rain. We have had three showers since Apl. 12th, on which latter date we had a real good rain. Now the drouth is getting serious, and crops are suffering.

I went to Church this morning but Lizzie was not able to go.

This afternoon from 4 to 5:30 p.m., we had a very pleasant visit from Gunter Stephenson and Paul Ritter of Winter Haven. If an additional Circuit Judge for that Circuit is appointed Gunter wants Ritter to get it. I believe he would make a good one.

Monday, May 30, 1949.

68 to 88 to 73 29.93 to 29.89

Mostly fair. No sign of much needed rain.

Legislature faced with a hard problem—demands for increased appropriations and demands for no increase in Taxation.

The increase in appropriations in mostly for educational purposes, including needed new buildings.

Real estate & personal property are already paying pretty heavy taxes, to the [ ? ], & Gov. Warren made strong pledges in his campaign against a sales tax. So the legislature is up against a hard problem, as our Constitution prohibits income taxes.

Sales taxes under some other name seems to be the only way out.

Tuesday, May 31, 1949. Light shower. Total Rainfall for May 81/100 inches.

67° to 90° to 67° 29.89, 29.90, 29.78, 29.81

Weather man says we had a fraction less than a 1/2 inch of rain during this month—the driest May on record.

Clear morning—but clouding up in late afternoon. We had a moderate shower here at home about 5 p.m. There was considerable thunder. But it did not last long, so Lizzie and I, about 6 p.m. drove out to the home of Ch. Justice Alto Adams and wife, to attend a party the[y] were giving. It had rained pretty hard out there, but had held up when we arrived. There was quite a crowd there. Among them Dr. Therrill and wife and many members of the legislature and townspeople as well. We had a good dinner and a good time.

Gerhart Eisler, bail jumping Communist, who escaped from the U.S. on a Polish vessel and was arrested in England, on request of our State Dept., was freed on [ ? ] [ ? ] by a British Judge, flew to Prague today.

Wednesday, June 1, 1949.

68° to 90° to 73° 29.87, 29.85

Cloudy early morning. Cool and Clear most of the day.

Senator Hickenlooper stated his charges against David Lilienthal before the Atomic Energy Committee of the Senate today, of which Senator Brien McMahon of Conn. is Chairman. Lilienthal, who was present, did not appear to be at all disturbed. The charges are mismanagement of the atomic energy program and failure to take proper safeguards against the disclosure of atomic energy secrets.

I have not felt at all well today and have not been able to do any work. I looked in on the legislature briefly. They did not seem to be making much headway, and yet they have only two days left.

The “big four” meeting in Paris is not getting anywhere. The Russians will not agree to anything.

Thursday, June 2, 1949.

64° to 81° to 69° 29.85, 29.91, 29.88

We need rain—badly.

Cool and clear.

Dry & Dusty.

The legislature has only one or two more days to go and yet has not passed a tax / or revenue / bill or a full appropriation bill. It looks like an extra session is inevitable. The legislature lacks leadership. Governor Warren’s program has been disregarded, and as to raising revenues it was a make-shift. What we ought to have is a 3% sales tax. That would solve the problem. But Gov. Warren’s campaign pledge not to allow a sales tax has complicated the situation. The needs of our schools and colleges have become very great & a sales tax is the simplest way out.

Alger Hiss is at last on trial. Chambers testimony today very damaging.

Friday, June 3, 1949.

65° to 85° to 70° 29.90, 29.92, 29.88

Clear and cool. Not a cloud in the sky. N. to N.W. winds for several days now.

There was a session of the legislature tonight, but I do not know what was done. The 1949 Session of the legislature must of course come to an end tonight, as a matter of law. I understand they have adopted the necessary appropriation bills, but not the tax bills, on which they could not agree. They figure that enough money is on hand or in sight to run the State government until next September, & they expect the Governor to call a special session by or before that time.

Tonight Mr. Robt. Newman of Tampa called up & invited me to dinner. I was out & when I came in about 7 p.m. from walk on golf course it was too late.

Had a pleasant thank you chat with Mrs. Newman, who was a Miss Susie Clark of Opelika & knows Susie & Rosie Ried & lots of young folks.

Saturday, June 4, 1949.

66° to 87° to 91° to 71° 29.89, 29.90, 29.87

Again, clear. But not oppressive. Cool northerly breezes.

The golf course looked rather empty with no legislators, so many of whom played in the late afternoons.

The State has enough funds to run on for 3 months. After passing a $240,000,000 appropriation bill, they adjourned, not being able to agree on a taxation bill. The Governor will probably call them back into a special session about 60 days hence.

Sunday, June 5, 1949.

68° to 97° to 77° 29.80, 29.85, 29.80

Clear, but warmer.

I went to church this morning, & heard a good sermon by young Dr. Hartz, one of the F.S.A. professors.

This afternoon I rested and read awhile, and then took a walk on golf course. Ran into Mrs. Bessie Porter, Pauline Kelly, Mrs. Mary Ann Buhrman, & Mrs. John (Frances Johnson she was) Teague, and walked with them as they played. When we got to the 18th fairway I played it with them. I got a very good drive with Mrs. Porter’s driver, and put my second shot on edge of green with Pauline[‘]s #5 wood, but I took 3 puts[sic] and went one over par. Two of the women made pars.

This is the warmest night we[‘]ve had.

Monday, June 6, 1949. My 74th birthday.

67° to 92° to 72° 29.80,29.77

(Anniversary of “D” day, June 6, 1944.)

This afternoon we had rains to the East and Southwest of us, but no rain here.

Got some nice birthday present, and this afternoon Justice Elwyn Thomas had me over to cocktails with him.

Tonight the Cowles came over.

The Conference of Foreign Ministers have evidently reached no agreement after two weeks. Bevin of England, Schumann of France, and our Sec. of State Dean Acheson are able to agree,—but not Vichinski of Russia.

Got some work done today on that opinion & hoped to finish it, but my visit to Judge Thomas and the Cowles tonight broke up my work, very pleasantly.

Tuesday, June 7, 1949.

70° to 88° to 72° 29.98, 29.83, 29.86

Mostly overcast and cloudy, with light showers to the East and N.W. of us, but none here.

The Supreme Court met to hear oral arguments for the first time in the new Court room. I had been invited to be present at 9:30, and intended to, but did not get there until 9:45. Judge Hobson did not show up, and if I had been there on time I would have been requested to sit in his place / so I was told / --but as it turned out Judge Barns was on hand so the Justices who heard the arguments was those composing Div. A, Ch J. Adams, & Justices Terrell, Thomas, & Barns. I like the new court room, tho I do not think it much better than the old one. It has one advantage---it is air conditioned—and the acoustics are perfect. The Justices wore robes for the first time.

Wednesday, June 8, 1949. Rain.

70° to 93° to 70° 29.80, 29.90

(First real rain since May 10th)

A good rain at last, following a mostly clear morning.

I drove up to get Annie about 12:30. As soon as I left a strong wind blew the dust ahead of me on Madison Road so thick I could hardly see, and I could see that the rain was on the way, from the South. I out ran it, but as soon as I got inside the Supreme Ct. Bldg. we had a hard shower & lots of wind & thunder, but it held up about 1 p.m. and we made it back home allright. But before long we had another shower. Then it cleared up & I took a walk on golf course after I brought Annie home about 5 p.m. But by 6 o[‘]clock it began raining & in 15 minutes it held up. Annie & Lizzie went down to the Cowles. Then we had high winds, thunder, and then the heavens opened & we had a heavy rain & lots of thunder until nearly 8 o[‘]clock, when Annie & Lizzie returned. Some Rain! At last!

Thursday, June 9, 1949.

70° to 90° to 72° 29.90, 29.97, 30.02

Clear morning. Cloudy afternoon with shower about 6 p.m. Lots of thunder.

Have not felt well today and did very little work.

Lizzie & Annie & Elmira went with the Cowles down to St. Marks for dinner. Left about 7 & came back about 9:30. I did not feel well enough to go. Lizzie fixed me a supper before she left.

The trial of Alger Hiss started in a federal court several days ago. The government’s main witness is Whittaker Chambers, who freely admits he had been a Communist from about 1936 to 1947. The trial of a Hiss, a former Under Secretary of State is evoking wide interest.

Friday, June 10, 1949.

70° to 90° to 72° 30.06, 30.10, 30.01

Cloudy, most of the time, with light shower about 12:15. Rather warm and humid this afternoon.

Received a beautiful tie from Jimmy & Teddy as a birthday present.

Saturday, June 11, 1949. Rain

71° to 92° to 72° 30.01, 30.04, 29.96

Fairly clear morning.

Lizzie & Annie drove over to see Joe at Chattahoochee about 2:15 p.m. A few minutes after they left, it began to rain, and we had a hard rain for about an hour, and a light drizzle until 5 p.m. They returned about 5:20.

Tonight Annie gave a dinner to us and the Cowles and Elmira Palmer / and Mary Maud and Jeff / out about three miles North of town, at the Chicken house. We had a good fried chicken dinner. Came back home about 8:30 and visited on our South Porch till about 10:15. A very pleasant evening.

Sunday, June 12, 1949.

72° to 90° to 75° 29.92, 29.96

Pretty warm. Just a few drops of rain fell during the afternoon. Mostly clear.

Liz & I went to Church this morning. Had a good sermon by our former minister, Dr. Jack Anderson, & a fine solo by Mrs. Pemberton.

This afternoon about 1:30 we had lunch at the College as guests of Walter Cowles, who leaves for the North tomorrow.

This afternoon late I took a walk with Geo. De Carion[?] & two other young men who were playing golf. I like young Mr. DeCarion very much. He is a graduate serving as assistant to the Justices.

Monday, June 13, 1949.

73° to 88° to 76° 29.92, 29.90

Partly cloudy and humid, but no rain.

Not feeling so well, but I got in a little study in the Supreme Court library and Judge Terrell’s office. Hope to complete the troublesome opinion in the case of Inmen v. Roswey during the next few days.

Julia, our cook, cut her leg pretty badly from falling glass yesterday. Lizzie went out to see her this morning and told her to go to the doctor. Her son took her, this afternoon, and her sister phoned Lizzie that the doctor found that the wound was ”just lubricated with bits of glass.”

I took Lizzie’s car down to Maner’s this aft. & found that the over heating was caused by a break in the fan belt. Then I went to walk on golf course.

Tuesday, June 14, 1949.

74° to 92° to 78° 29.90, 29.93, 29.89

Mostly clear, but humid and oppressive.

This morning I met with the Stephen Foster Memorial Commission. We had a number of matters to pass on. There were present a bare quorum—Mr. Earl W. Brown of DeLand, Mrs. W. A. Saunders and myself. Mr. Foster L. Barnes, the resident engineer was present and helpful. He had prepared all the reports, etc. I told them I would have to resign at the end of the present biennium—June 30th. We have built a gate house and a museum bldg. / nearing completion / Secured a painting by Howard Chandler Christy, fenced the grounds, etc., at a cost of about $250,000.—during my incumbency as a member. Serving the legislative appropriations and the release of the money by the Budget Commission was quite a job. We failed to get any appropriation this session as I knew we would.

Wednesday, June 15, 1949.

76° to 92° to80° 29.89, 29.80

Warm & humid, but mostly clear.

Had my blood pressure taken by Mrs. Barnes, Dr. Rhodes’ nurse, about 12:30 today & it was a little over 200.00

I have been struggling with an opinion, under difficulties—no office, no stenographer. Annie copied off what I have written, but the hard part is yet to come.

Thursday, June 16, 1949.

75° to 93° to 80° 29.88, 29.80

Warm, but fair breeze.

Tonight quite warm & oppressive. Had to use our ceiling fan for the first time.

Not feeling very well. No work accomplished. Some correspondence gotten off. A long letter to Mr. Dunwoody about settling Ma’s estate.

Lizzie has made an appointment for me to go to see Dr. E. Wahl tomorrow morning, because when I went to Dr. Rhodes’ office, my blood pressure was a bit over 200. I think it was mainly due to the exertion I had in parking my car between two other cars, laterally, on a hill. E. College Ave. between Monroe & Calhoun.

Friday, June 17, 1949. Trip to Thomasville—Dr. Wahl.

74° to 93° to 81° 29.90, 29.88, 29.91

Dear Elizabeth’s birthday.

A bright, breezy and quite delightful morning. We left at 8:30, took Annie by the Supr. Ct. Bldg., & arrived at Dr. Ernest Wahl’s office at 9:30. I had to take various tests and did not get to see Dr. Wahl until 11 oclock. Then he gave me several other tests, & a fluoroscope view, found my blood pressure 152 & weight 144. He said my general condition was good & I had nothing to worry about, but to take things easy. I met his pretty 18 yr. old daughter, Ann, & liked her very much. I also met Dr. Watt while I was there. He doesn’t look a day older. Lizzie was very much relieved, & so was I, by Dr. Wahl’s favorable verdict after a thorough Exam. Unusually warm & close tonight. The ceiling fan helps.

Saturday, June 18, 1949.

75° to 93° to 76° 29.90, 30.00, 29.92

Quite warm and somewhat humid.

Felt some better today but never got a chance to go to the Supreme Court for some study—which I need to do badly.

My best time for mental work is in the mornings, and there is always something else that needs to be done. In the afternoons and evenings I am mentally lazy—though I can read newspapers and magazines. I am not what I used to be.

Took my usual walk on golf course and then took Negro Ben up town.

Tonight Lizzie & Annie & Mary Maud went to see a picture starring Ginger Rogers & Fred Astaire. I did not want to go.

Sunday, June 19, 1949.

73° to 90° to 75° 29.92, 29.96, 29.94

Mostly clear / this morning / but an overcast of light clouds this afternoon and a nice breeze which made it very pleasant up to bed time.

This Morning I went with Lizzie and Annie over to see Joseph. We got there at 11 A.M. and left at noon. He is much better than when I last saw him about two weeks ago. I think he is steadily[sic] improving mentally and physically.

We had a good dinner at the Seven Seas—air conditioned.

This aft. I rested & read for awhile and then took a walk over to the golf club house & had a pleasant chat with some of my young friends. Dempsey May & wife, Ed Buhannon & wife & several others. Tonight we listened to some pretty good radio programs.

Monday, June 20, 1949.

75° to 90° to 75° 29.99, 29.90, 29.96

Rather dark and overcast early morning, clearing up for awhile, then a dark cloud moved in from the S.W. and a perfect down pour of rain came just as soon as I started home from the Supreme Ct. Bldg with Annie at 1 p.m. I could hardly see how to drive, but I made it home allright, and putting on my rain coat I went into the house thinking that Lizzie had called me. About 10 minutes later Annie came in. By that time it was holding up.

A small blood vessel broke in my left eye this afternoon and makes my whole eye look bloodshot. However I can see as well as ever, & guess it will be OK. Tomorrow, we heard over the radio at 11 p.m. that the Foreign Ministers had reached some sort of agreement.

Tuesday, June 21, 1949. (The longest day in the year.)

74° to 88° to 74° 29.94, 29.90

A wee bit of rain—not much.

Cloudy & overcast and humid practically all day.

My / left / eye has been blood shot all day. I have used a lotion given my by Dr. Woods some years ago in Baltimore, also some drops I got on a prescription from Dr. Jennings in Atlanta. I have not used my eyes very much today, & with frequent applications my eye feels much better tonight.

The meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the U.S. Sec’y Acheson; England, Ernest Bevin; France, Robert Schumann, and Russia, Vichinski, did not accomplish much. Russia was the stumbling block. Some / limited / agreement was reached on trade between East & West Germany & on Transport service in Berlin, and on home rule in Austria. But Russia’s concessions did not amount to much. Russia refused to accord to all Germany the self government we have given West Germany.

Wednesday, June 22, 1949.

73° to 84° to 74° 29.92, 29.90, 29.84

Cloudy & humid morning, but in afternoon a hard rain just to the South of us cooled off the atmosphere for balance of day.

“Little Joe“ Dowdell, of Miami, arrived at about 4:15. He came up from Miami to attend some educational conference of field men in the Industrial Commission for which he is working in Miami.

I took him for a long walk on golf course about 6 to 7 p.m. and after supper we all talked for a long time. He went to bed on one of the twin beds in my room about 11 p.m. He has to attend a meeting tomorrow at 8 A.M. We are enjoying having him very much.

Thursday, June 23, 1949.

72° to 84° to 76° 29.84, 29.86

Mostly clear—some clouds and a few drops of rain now and then, but no rain.

Fairly comfortable.

Never got a chance to do any work today. Went to Dr. Andrews’ office this morning the have him look at my blood shot left eye, which has looked bad since Monday. He said a tiny blood vessel had broken just under the surface of the white part of my eye-ball, but that it would get all right in a few days may be a week. Gave me some drops to put in my eye 3 times a day.

This afternoon little Joe Dowdell & I took a good long walk on golf course about 5:30 to 6:30.

Friday, June 24, 1949. Rain.

72° to 83° to 73° 29.82, 29.80, 29.84, 29.92

Overcast morning.

Slow rain all day, from 10 A.M. to 6:30 p.m.

Souphilis[?], who has been the Premier of Greece for the past two years, died today at the age of 88-1/2 years. He was quite a scholar, and has been supported by our country in his efforts to fend off the communist Greek guerillas for the past two years. He had succeeded to such an extent that the guerillas seemed to be give up the fight. Russia seemed to be withdrawing her support—which had been accorded through Bulgaria & Hungary.

The King of Greece has asked Constantin Saldarie to form a new government, who says he will ask former Premier Vanigeloo to help him.

Saturday, June 25, 1949. Showers.

72° to 90° to 73° 30.08, 29.95, 30.02

Some sunshine this morning but a few clouds floating around. Quite sunshiny and hot by midday.

We had dinner a little early and about 1:30 Lizzie / & Annie / drove Joe Dowdell Jr. over to Chattahoochee / to see Joe Sr. / Right after they left we had a hard shower of rain, and one shower after another until late afternoon.

About 4:15 it held up a bit and I went to the funeral services of Mr. Harry M. Burch at Culley’s funeral chapel. Bro. Alfriend conducted the service. I liked Mr. Burch. He has been in failing health for some time. I met and talked with him frequently at Fain’s drug store.

Tonight Annie had us all to dinner with her out at the good chicken place. Joe, Jr. enjoyed it.

Sunday, June 26, 1949. Shower.

71° to 91° to 72° 30.02, 30.10, 30.02

Clear, fine morning. “Little” Joe Dowdell left about 5 A.M., but I was sound asleep and knew nothing about it. He took advantage of an opportunity to go by auto to Miami with a friend / about 5:15 a.m. / He didn’t get much sleep. The mosquitoes kept us awake till 1:15, till Lizzie came to our rescue with her spray gun. Then we got to sleep about 1 p.m. having fixed an alarm clock to wake him at 4:50. We all enjoyed “little Joe’s” visit with us very much.

We had a pretty hard shower late this afternoon, but the mid part of the day was quite clear.

Today the Am. Air Lift to Berlin is still going on. It began one year ago today.

Also the elevated Railway workers strike, which / for some weeks / has been such a handicap to the people of Berlin, is about / to be / settled.

Monday, June 27, 1949.

72° to 90° to 77° 30.03, 30.04, 30.00

Cloudy & overcast, but no rain. Gov. Warren, who married yesterday Miss Barbara Manning, in Los Angeles, is taking an auto trip with his wife in So. California today.

I did a little work this morning, but didn’t feel equal to it this afternoon or tonight.

We have had a pretty quiet day at home. Tonight we read the papers and listened to the radio.

In the Senate today they were fighting over the Labor bill. Mainly over Sen. Spessard Holland’s amendment to give the President to get injunctions up to 60 days, when strikes threaten the national welfare. The Administration leaders want to give the President the power to seize the plants where strikes occur. I think Senator Holland’s idea is the best. Probably a vote will be taken tomorrow.

Tuesday, June 28, 1949. Rain

73° – 89 – 74° 30.02, 29.96

Cloudy & cool early morning. Light, slow rain in middle of day, and dark, cloudy afternoon.

A jury was selected yesterday in Gainesville for the trial of Gov. Millard Caldwell’s suit against Colliers Magazine for libel. And the trial got under way today. Gov. Caldwell won a $237,000 judgment on the first trial, but the Court of Appeals reversed it. On this trial Collier’s have different and better lawyers than before. Today Gov. Caldwell testified in his own behalf and then he & Bob Anderson (rep. Colliers) had quite a time of it in cross-examination. Their sallies at each other cause such laughter that the Judge (DeVane) had to threaten to clear the Courtroom.

Gov. Warren & bride went by plane to Dallas, Texas, this morning and then to Mobile where an auto was awaiting them to take them to somebody’s home near Fort Walton.

Tonight we enjoyed some good radio programs–“Town Meeting, etc.

Sen. Robt. F. Wagner, 73, resigned from the Senate today. He has not been able to attend the sessions for two years. Who will Gov. Dewey appoint?

Wednesday, June 29, 1949. Rain

73° to 90° to 76° 29.96, 29.90

Some sunshine this morning followed by rain off and on for sometime in middle part of the day.

Last night I finished that opinion in the / difficult / case of Inman v. Rowsey that has given me so much work and trouble. Annie copied it today, and brought the typewritten copy home. It is eleven pages, and I think it is up to my usual quality of work, [ ? ], that is. But it is terrible the time it has taken me to work it out—2 or 3 months. However, I had numerous interruptions and a general poor condition = high blood pressure and general debility. If I had had an office of my own to work in and a stenographer, I could have written it in two days, or three.

Took my usual walk this afternoon.

Thursday, June 30, 1949. Rain (Total Rainfall for June 6.82 inches)

73° to 90° to 75° 29.90, 29.88

Clear early morning.

Mostly cloudy all day with some light rains.

My opinion in the case of Inman v. Rowsey was filed in the clerk’s office this morning.

Today I received from the clerk’s office a petition for rehearing in the case of “In re Estate of Angie C. Slawson,” a case in which I wrote the opinion some three months or more ago. Judge Terrell dissented with an opinion but all the other Justices concurred in my opinion. I marked the petition for rehearing to be denied.

Friday, July 1, 1949. Shower.

73° to 91° to 74° 29.90, 29.96, 29.94

Mostly clear, except in middle of day, when we had a pretty good shower. Very little up town.

I went to the Supr. Ct. Bldg this morning and listened to some of the arguments in the Court room, one of which was by good and able friend Luther Mershon, and, as always, he made a good argument. The case involved the title to the strip of land between the street and the Ocean front, for a distance of several hundred feet, the South end being near to Roney Plaza hotel; with which I am familiar.

This afternoon about 4 p.m. I found Luther M. in Judge Barn’s[sic] office & took him with one of his young partners to Cherokee hotel, in time to catch the limousine to the air port.

Took my usual walk on golf course late this aft.

Saturday, July 2, 1949. Rain.

73° to 88° to72° 29.94

Cloudy morning.

Lizzie & Annie started to go over to Chattahoochee right after lunch—about 1:30—but the rain, which had already begun, became so hard that, after taking our cook up town, they had to return. It rained hard for an hour and a half & then gradually quit. Late this afternoon a few golfers appeared and I followed one bunch of four as they played the 6th to 9th holes. Drank a bottle of beer at the club house & got back home about 7 p.m.

Paul Barns told me today that he was thinking very seriously of resigning in next few months. I’m sorry.

Sunday, July 3, 1949. Light Shower.

Bright & clear early morning. Clouding up later with a light shower about 12 to 12:30.

Lizzie & Annie left for Chattahoochee about 9:30 and returned at 1:20 p.m. The[y] report Joseph as looking about the same, but complaining about everything. Too bad. We know he is well treated, but he does not cooperate with Mrs. Clarke and the attendants, and compliains[sic] of everything.

We had hard rains to the South of us and to the North, and a few drops here this aft., but these nearby rains cooled the atmosphere—but it got warmer later on.

With all its economic ills, & socialism, England is now being hurt by a drouth[.]

The / Shipping and transport workers / strike in Hawaii is now in its 63rd day. Communist inspired, no doubt. It is causing much suffering.

Monday, July 4, 1949.

73° to 90° to 77° 29.98, 29.90

This is the “glorious 4th” but we have taken it quietly here at home.

Not a good time to be on the roads. Tonight we heard of the long lists of accidents and casualties, many of them fatal, which unfortunately attend holidays.

Pretty, clear morning, overcast and cloudy afternoon. Rains to the North & South made it pleasant this afternoon but tonight it was unusually warm.

But it was 98° in New York today & 96° in Boston. The drouth in N.Y. & New England continues—now about 6 or 7 wks of it.

Tuesday, July 5, 1949. Showers.

75° to 89° to 77° 29.88, 29.84, 29.90

Clear early morning, but soon clouding up. I parked my car at the only place I could find, on Adams Street near the Baptist church about 11 A.M. Then I went to the Bank & Fain’s Drug Store in a hard shower, and in spite of my raincoat, which is pretty old (about 30 yrs. old) I got pretty wet; and although I waited at the bank for half an hour, I was caught by another shower on my way back to my car. Then I went by the Supreme Court Bldg. and brought Annie home.

This aft. was pretty cloudy and we had another rain about 6 p.m. But these rains did not cool off the atmosphere as usual. It was rather warm afterward.

The total accidental deaths during the July 3-4th holiday is reported to be 818. Only one or two in Fla.

Wednesday, July 6, 1949. Showers.

75° to 90° to 77° 29.90, 29.87, 29.90

Sun rise, 5:41 A.M., Sunset 7:43.

Clear morning—Quite warm during the day and tonight. Showers in afternoon.

Late yesterday afternoon, Justice Paul D. Barns sent his resignation to the Governor to take effect Sept 1st. He had told me a few days ago, he was thinking seriously of resigning. He was approved by Gov. Caldwell to succeed me when I resigned on Dec. 1st 1946. I regret his resignation. He has been on the Circuit & Supreme Court bench for over twenty years, and he figures that with his allowance & salary as a law professor in Miami University, he will make more than now.

This afternoon late we heard over radio that the Gov’r had appointed B. K. Roberts to succeed Barns!

I thought Gov. Warren would appoint Robt. J. Pleuss of Orlando who would have been more acceptable to the Bar.

Thursday, July 7, 1949. Showers.

75° to 90° to 76° 29.90, 29.87, 29.92

Lizzie and I drove down to the liquor store, just over the line in Taylor County, a distance of 38 miles. It was beginning to cloud up. We left at about 10:10 oclock and got back about 11:50. On our way back we drove through two local showers, and soon after we returned home we had a pretty hard shower here. I drove up and got Annie, leaving home about 12:30, & signed up the papers, for the final settlement of Ma’s estate before Dep. Clerk Miss Ella O’Neill Wilkins, then went to Judge Terrell’s office & gave Annie a letter to Mr. Atwood Dunwoody, my Miami attorney, & enclosed him the papers. Soon after we got home at 1 pm it rained again. But by 4 p.m. it cleared up & got pretty hot. I took my usual walk on golf course, but got overheated.

Not having heard from Dow in some time, I called him over the phone and had a long talk with him & Hilda. They returned from Fernandina several days ago & are both pretty well. I felt very much relieved.

Friday, July 8, 1949. Light shower.

74° to 88° to 78° 29.92, 30.00

Clear early morning, but mostly cloudy until late afternoon.

Stayed at home most of the day except when I drove up for Annie about noon and again about 5 p.m.

Judge Paul Barns and Judge Chapman were playing golf and I joined them when they were playing the 15th hole in front of our house and walked along with them to the Club house, when Judge Barns set us up to beers. Mr. & Mrs. Slade and Bessie Martin joined us on the porch and we had a very pleasant time. I got back home at 7:25, too late for the late afternoon broadcasts, Fulton Lewis, Jr. and Elmer Davis.

We heard tonight that the Hiss case resulted in a hung jury and a mistrial.

Saturday, July 9, 1949. Clear.

75° to 95° to 79° 29.88, 30.02, 30.00

A warm / humid / day. I attended to some matters up town this morning from 11 to 12 and got thoroughly heated up. Had to park my car way down near Mr. Lewis Lively’s home. Went to Supreme Court Bldg. & got a letter off to the Editor of Life Magazine resenting some statements made in this week’s issue reflecting on the South in re: the negro question.

This afternoon bout 2:20 Lizzie and Annie drove over to Chattahoochee. The[y] reported Joe somewhat more cheerful. Coming back they drove thro several showers.

No rain here today, but overcast most of the afternoon and very warm and humid.

I walked around the golf course some late this aft. watching Judges Barns & Chapman & others play.

It was so warm tonight we had to keep the ceiling fan going till 10 p.m.

Sunday, July 10, 1949. Clear.

75° to 90° to 78° 30.00, 29.91

Second day without rain.

Clear and warm.

Lizzie & I went to Church and heard a very good sermon by a professor at the College, Dr. Johnson I think his name was. Fairly good congregation, but not as large as the pre-summer ones.

I rested and read quite a lot this afternoon and then took a long walk on golf course. Met quite a number of players I knew.

This aft at 3:30 I heard a very good local program on the subject of the advisability of adopting a form of world government / or federation / on the general plan of our federal Constitution. Mrs. Marian Hay and Victor Cawthon were among the four talkers. I have been in favor of some such plan for a year or two.

Monday, July 11, 1949. Clear.

76° to 95° to 78° 29.91, 30.00, 29.89

This morning I was called to sit on the Supr. Court to hear an argument in petition for rehearing and also for remand to the lower court for take additional testimony in the Case of Bee Brand Cattle Co. v. Elsa v. Koonce. My good friend, M. Luther Mirshon and Lewis Hall of Miami had been employed to assist Mr. J. H. Treadwell, Jr. of Arcadia. I was convinced / from reading the petition / before the argument started that rehearing should be granted, & that was done. Ex-Gov. Doyle Carlton, rep’d the Bee Brand Cattle Co. argued in opposition.

This has been a hot day, but not as damp & depressing as some recent days.

Just before the argument was finished I was notified that Lizzie had fainted at Wilson’s store. I drove up at once, but Annie got there first & had taken her home in a taxi. I went home & found her completely at herself & much better. She lay down all afternoon & is about normal tonight.

Tuesday, July 12, 1949. Rain.

75° to 95° to 78° 29.91, 30.00, 29.89

I drove up town about 10 A.M. and among other things had my hair cut. It commenced to rain soon after I went to the barber shop, and I had to stay there some time before I could return to my car. We had another shower later. But it was brilliantly clear by 1 p.m.

Mary Maud & Jeff took dinner with us & we all enjoyed it.

After dinner I listened to the All-Star baseball game at Ebbett’s Field. The American League / team / won over the Nat’l League team 11 to 7. There were 2 or 3 home runs.

Then I went for Annie, & then for a walk on the golf course.

Pres Truman’s Message to Congress shows that he has trimmed his sails & his report on the State of the Union was about as expected. Nothing new or sensational.

Wednesday, July 13, 1949. Light Shower

74° to 91° to 78° 29.90,29.98, 29.90

Mostly clear. We had a light shower here this afternoon.

Lizzie & I drove over to Chattahoochee to see Joe this morning. He looked a bit better. When we were leaving I went by Dr. Therell’s[?] office. He was not in. I went in the business office and gave them my ck. for $100.00 to apply to Joseph’s maintenance. We drove through a hard shower on our way over and another on our way back.

President Truman’s budget message was broadcast tonight. It was better than I expected, but a bit too socialistic. If we keep on with this cradle to the grave security, to be afforded by government at tax payers’ expense, it will be a departure from the form of government which has made this country.

Thursday, July 14, 1949. Showers.

74° to 93° to 73° 29.90, 29.92, 29.88

Two sudden hard showers about 8 p.m. tonight.

Mostly clear morning, and late afternoon quite pleasant & clear. I took a walk on golf course watching Judge Chapman & Lewis Thompson. I played the last hole with them. Got a fairly good drive but fell down on my approaches and puts and wound up with a 6. Judge Ch. made a par 4, & Lewis took a 5.

This afternoon I went to Supreme Court Bldg. / about 4:30 & / saw my friend Luther Merchon, but he was about to leave the bldg. Told me he was going to Lakeland; that his family was there. I did not get a chance to speak but a few words. Later Judge Chapman told me that his, Luther’s, brother, who lived in Lakeland, had died some 5 or 6 days ago. I did not know it, but Judge Chapman says he saw an article about it in the Times Union.

Friday, July 15, 1949. Rain

73° to 87° to 73° 29.90, 29.87, 29.89

Quite a lot of rain at times but the late afternoon was fairly clear and pleasant.

The Pope has come out with a strong statement to the effect that no Catholic can be a communist. This was provoked by the efforts / of the Communists / in Checkoslovakia & Poland & Bulgaria & Romania to destroy the Catholic Church.

Saturday, July 16, 1949. Rain.

73° to 90° to 74° 29.89, 30.02, 29.86, 29.91

Fairly clear early morning, but clouding up by noon, followed by considerable rain in afternoon. But almost clear in late afternoon, and a number of golfers showed up. I followed a bunch of good golfers from in front of our house to the Club House. Among them were Sid Andrews and George Smith, who used to live here. I think he has moved from Panama City to Pensacola or Montgomery. Sid Andrews made the 18th hole in 2, a par 4 hole, which made his total for the 18 holes 71, 1 under par. Then I watched some of the lady players play the last 2 holes, and then called on Dr. Dodd just as it began to rain. Lizzie came for me about 20 minutes later.

Sunday, July 17, 1949. Rain.

73° to 86° to 73° 29.91, 29.97, 29.92

Mostly cloudy with hard rain in late afternoon.

I started out about 4:50 to follow some good golfers, but as they were driving off on No. 17 I saw a big black cloud approaching from the S.W., & as soon as they drove off I lit out for home and got there just in time. About 5:30 there was a temporary lull and Mary Maud came over & we had a nice visit from her for about an hour or more.

From about 10:30 to 12, I read the record in an important case, Lykes Bros, et al v. Everglades Drainage District, & concluded that Judge Chillingworth had decided the case correctly: so I dissented from the majority who favored a reversal. Judge Sebring wrote the majority opinion.

Monday, July 18, 1949. Rain

72° to 86° to 73° 29.92, 29.86

Mostly cloudy with considerable slow rain.

I went up to the Supreme Court Bldg about 11:15 and filed in the Clerk’s office two cases written by other Judges in which I sat when they were argued. Also passed on a petition for rehearing in a case I had written—Inman v. Rowsey—which had been concurred in, no dissent. I marked the petition for rehearing to be “denied,” and passed it on to the other judges.

This afternoon I took a walk on the golf course & followed Judge Chapman & Reeves Bowen’s son around & played the last hole with them.

Tuesday, July 19, 1949. Rain at night.

72° to 82° to 76° 29.86, 29.92, 29.90

Partly cloudy, but no rain, except a shower at 11:50 p.m.

Not so warm, but this afternoon was very humid.

Justice of the Supreme Court Frank Murphy died in a Detroit Hospital this morning. He had been in the hospital for a week. The doctors say the cause of his death was a coronary occlusion which shut off the flow of blood to the heart. He was 59, and a bachelor. He was a fine Christian gentleman, but not in my opinion a great judge.

I took my usual walk on the golf course & met Mr. Louis Schott, our new Beverage Dept. Cmm’r. He is a good golfer and a fine looking gentleman. He was playing with Frank Pepper.

Wednesday, July 20, 1949. Rain.

71° to 86° to 74° 29.86, 29.94

Partly clear morning.

Some rain & wind during afternoon.

The vote on the Atlantic pact will take place tomorrow afternoon. News indicates the Senate will approve it. Practically all Southern Senators are for it. Senator Taft came out against it a few days ago.

I took my usual walk on the golf course late this afternoon. Walked around the last three holes with Judge Paul Barns and two other men. I will miss Paul when he leaves the Court, Sept 1st. The active work of the Court is scheduled to end Aug. 12th & I guess Paul & family will leave then.

Thursday, July 21, 1949. Light Shower.

72° to 82° to 77° 29.94, 29.96, 30.00

Mostly clear. Atlantic pact adopted this afternoon.

Light shower about noon, but it didn’t last but a few minutes.

Mrs. Alamena Pearson, Mrs. Ruby Whitfield & Mrs. Fred Elliott were with us from 11 Am to 12:30 for cocktails and talk. My!! How those ladies can talk, Lizzie right along with them, but being the hostess she let them do most of the talking. Alamena know everything that goes on in this town. I got in a word edgewise now and then, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Tonight Dr. & Mrs. LeFleur invited us and about 15 or 20 other people, mostly college people, to their house to meet her father & mother / Mr. & Mrs. Gillespie / very nice old couple = at 8:30 tonight. We stayed till 10:30. Met a Dr. Henderson there who was a most interesting conversationalist.

Dr. Fred Conrad took out my upper bridge today & is to put it back Saturday.

Friday, July 22, 1949. Rain

73° to 87° to 75° 29.96, 30.04, 30.00

Cloudy early morning, with hard showers in middle of day.

Clearing by early afternoon.

Now that the Atlantic Pact has been approved by the Senate, Congress is up against the difficult question as to whether we shall grant the President’s request for Military aid to the European nations who approve the pact, and, if so, how much. We have already cut down the amount the Pres. & Mr. Paul Hoffman asked to carry out the Marshall plan of economic aid to Europe, about 10%. In view of our own financial condition, this military aid presents a tough question.

Saturday, July 23, 1949. Rain.

Clear from 8:30 A.M. to 12:30 p.m.

Hard rain from 2 to 4 p.m. It cooled off the atmosphere. From 4 to 6:30 it was nearly clear, and very pleasantly cool. So quite a number of golfers played, among them Judges Chapman & Barns, and Judge Barns’ 13 year old daughter—a very attractive young girl and quite pretty. She has improved and developed wonderfully since the Barns family came up here to live.

I called on Mrs. LeFleur’s father this afternoon from 6 to 6:30,—Mr. Gillespie. He is a very fine and attractive old gentleman—about my age I guess.

Sunday, July 24, 1949. Light rain

70° to 89° to 76° 30.04, 30.13, 30.04

Clear, bright morning, with some clouds by 12:30 and a light rain for awhile about 2:30.

Lizzie, Annie & I drove over to Chattahoochee and got there about 10:30 and stayed till nearly noon. Joe looked some better and say his weight is now up to 98-1/2. When he entered the Hospital on April 18th he weighed only 61 lbs. That was 3 mos. & 6 days ago. So he has gradually gained in weight and is mentally and physically much better.

We had ten days in June in which we had rain or showers.

In July we have had 23 days out of 24, in which we had rain, many of them hard rains.

Monday, July 25, 1949. Rain

71° to 88° to 75° 30.04, 30.10

Clear morning.

Cloudy afternoon with considerable rain from 5 to 6 p.m.

The President recommends that Congress appropriate a billion and a half dollars to help the Atlantic Pact Nations to re-arm themselves. Even if this were wise, we cannot afford it. Federal Taxes are already too high. We must not overstrain our resources. Already our National debt is about 252 billion. And our British friends are about broke. Socialism has brought England to the verge of bankruptcy. Indeed, they would have had a complete crash by now if we had not loaned them several billions since the war ended.

Tuesday, July 26, 1949. Rain

72° to 90° to 74° 30.10, 30.02,29.99

Clear most of the day. Rain from 6 to 7 p.m.

Congress is debating the question of aid to Europe, both economic and military—to those countries which sign the Atlantic pact, and to some who do not, such as Turkey & Greece. The President has asked for a billion and a half for military aid and in addition to the Marshall plan economic aid which amounts to several billions. On account of our own economic recession, Congress will likely make drastic cuts.

The Communists are gradually taking over all China. Canton will be the next large City to fall, it seems. We have done practically nothing to help the Nationalists.

Wednesday, July 27, 1949.

73° to 91° to 76° 29.98, 30.04, 29.99

No rain today.

Nothing out of the ordinary happened.

Our cook is on vacation, commencing Monday of this week, which puts a lot of extra work on Lizzie—which is terrible.

Terrible typhoon hits Okinawa.

Bernard Baruch, just returned from a month in Europe. He told reporters that if Europeans would do more to help themselves, they would need less help from us. That Britain was spending too much time on nationalization and too little to the development of their own country and its production.

He is not worried about our financial condition: that we will tighten our belts & go ahead.

Thursday, July 28, 1949.

74° to 93° to 78° 30.00, 30.06, 29.98

Our warmest day yet.

Clear & hot: but it was 97° in Jacksonville, 98° in N.Y. and 100° in Washington; 104° in Columbia S.C., and 100° in Boston.

Congress is struggling on, with lots of hard questions, in spite of the heat.

I have really suffered from the heat today and tonight. No breeze. Our ceiling fan has been going most of the afternoon and evening, & that has helped a lot.

Friday, July 29, 1949. Hot.

74° to 97° to 83° 29.98, 30.04, 29.90

Clear and hot. Cool early morning, but from 10 A.M. on, it warmed up. It was 97° at 2 p.m. and 95 at 5 p.m. And it was so warm that we kept the ceiling fan going till bed time.

I have been working some at intervals on some bits of our family history. Hilda Blount / Dow’s / “little Hilda” asked me to do this some weeks ago.

We had quite a bunch of visitors late this afternoon: Mary Maud Jeffords, Elmira Palmer, Edna Salley. The latter is growing rapidly & will soon be a young lady. She is a bright, sweet-natured child. It’s a pity that her parents were divorced, but Lawrence’s second wife is devoted to her. She spends a part of each year with each parent.

Saturday, July 30, 1949. Rain, Wind, lightning & thunder

75° to 96° to 71° 29.90, 29.93, 29.85, 29.84

We had a rain and lots of thunder & lightning from about 4 A.m to 6 Am this morning.

It cleared up about 9 Am & pretty soon it was hot and sultry. But about 3:30 it began to cloud up and by 4:30 we had a lightning and thunderstorm mixed with rain until about 6:30 p.m. when it gradually passed on. The lightning was spectacular, Bright & jagged bolts. It was / grand but / really frightening, but so far we have not discovered any damage. It did not clear up much afterward. Some of the bolts may have hit in our neighborhood, but we do not know. I don[‘]t think I have ever seen such a big rain & wind & thunder & lightning storm since we came to Tallahassee in 1925.

We had 2.54 inches of rain today & making 12.24 inches so far for July

Sunday, July 31, 1949. Rain.

76° to 96° to 70° 29.85, 29.80, 29.82

Fairly clear early morning. Lizzie and Annie drove over to see Joseph. Found him looking some better. His weight has gotten up to 101.

They got back at 12:45 and then we drove to the Seven Seas for dinner. When we started home we saw a black cloud to the N.W. & heard thunder. Within five minutes after we got home, about 2:10, it began to rain & thunder again. Barometer 29.82. Soon we had considerable thunder & lightning, and rain. It was not as severe a storm as yesterday’s, but it lasted longer—until about 6 o’clock, & cooled off the atmosphere.

Mary Maud came over about 6 and stayed till nearly dark.

Monday, August 1, 1949. Rain.

70° to 93° to 75° 29.82, 29.84, 29.82

Clear & fairly pleasant morning.

Rain from 12:40 to nearly 2 p.m. Rather still and warm, but mostly clear this afternoon. Considerable humidity.

I went to the bank & drug store this morning, then by the Supreme Court Bldg. & brought Annie to lunch, and then took her back.

I have not accomplished much today. Read the papers & listened to the radio. No energy. But this afternoon late I forced myself to walk over to the Country Club House, where I chatted with some friends & drank a Coca Cola. Then walked back. In spite of the heat and humidity, the walk did me good.

Tuesday, August 2, 1949. Rain

70° to 80° to 72° 29.82, 29.87

Intermittent showers all day with very little sunshine—almost none.

This afternoon I was suddenly stricken with a sharp pain in my right heel, which kept up till bed time. I cannot imagine what caused it.

Lizzie tried all the home remedies she could think of but the pain continued. Felt like a bad “stone bruiser[?]” such as I had occasionally as a boy.

Wednesday, August 3, 1949. Rain

70° to 85° to 73° 29.90, 29.92, 29.98

Mostly cloudy. Some showers. Not much sunshine.

Lizzie had Dr. Rhodes to come out about 9:30 this morning to examine my foot. He said that there was nothing to do, but to use it as little a[s] possible, and report to him if it did not get better. Well—I had quite a time with it all day. Lizzie had me to put it in a pan of hot water several times during the day & at night. At bed time it was worse than ever. I put Absorbine, Jr., and Sloan’s liniment at intervals, on it, at intervals during the day & night. When I went to bed it really hurt pretty bad. But there was no outward evidence of any thing wrong.

Thursday, August 4, 1949. Showers.

71° to 86° to 73° 30.04, 30.06, 30.04

Fairly clear early morning, but partly cloudy by 10:30

To my surprise, when I woke up this morning my foot was nearly well and I could walk on it with practically no pain. But today I have careful and have not been out of the house. So Lizzie has had to drive up for Annie at dinner & this aft. at 5 p.m.

But we had quite a shower in the afternoon which lasted till a little after 5 p.m.

It looks now like the bill for the E. C. A.—the Marshall plan aid to Europe will go through with some trimming. The bill for military aid is still under debate.

Friday, August 5, 1949. Shower.

71° to 90° to 73° 30.02, 30.10, 30.06

Clear morning. Light shower in afternoon.

Lizzie, among the many other things she had to do, took my shoe to Dr. Davis, and he padded it to help the arch in my right foot which has given me fits for several days. It enables to walk about as well as usual.

Annie finished up her work this afternoon and packed up tonight preparing for leaving tomorrow morning to visit Jimmie and Elizabeth and their children in Connecticut.

Saturday, August 6, 1949. Shower.

71° to 93° to 75° 30.04, 30.11

Clear morning. Somewhat cloudy in afternoon—with light shower in afternoon.

Annie got off this morning for Connecticut—by the hardest. She had been told that the bus for Jacksonville left at 9:30. At 8:25 she phone to be sure, and they told her that the only bus for Jacksonville left at 8:30. Lizzie got her there just as the bus was leaving, but their frantic cries to the bus driver caused him to stop & take her on, without a ticket.

Very warm and depressing day.

But late this afternoon, thanks to the support to the arches of my right foot which Dr. Davis had put in my shoe, I took a 25 min. walk on the golf course.

Sunday, August 7, 1949. Clear & warm.

73° to 96° to 78° 30.07, 30.02, 29.98

This morning was clear. Lizzie and I drove over to Chattahoochee to see Joseph. He was looking as well or better than when I was there two weeks ago, but complained a great deal. We left home about 9:30, got there at 10:30 and left about 11:40. When we got home Lizzie fixed a very nice meal. Then we tried to rest but it was so warm we had to turn on the ceiling fan. About 5 p.m. we drove out on North Meridian Road and had a very pleasant visit with Judge & Mrs. Barns and daughter Mary, who returned from Wakulla Springs while we were there. We got home about 7 p.m.

Tonight it has been quite uncomfortably warm.

Terrible earthquake in Ecuador. Over 4,000 people killed. The 3 mos. Old strike in Hawaii has caused great suffering.

Monday, August 8, 1949.

73° to 97° to75° 30.00, 30.06, 29.96

Julia, our cook, is back from her vacation. I am so glad. Lizzie about worn out.

A hot clear day, up to about 4 p.m. when rather heavy clouds obscured the sun until 7 p.m. So most of the afternoon was pleasantly cool—but no rain.

It is rather warm and misty tonight.

I had to sit / this afternoon / with Justices Chapman, Thomas, Hobson & Barns to hear a motion or petition / for supercedeas / presented by former Atty. Gen. Tom Watson and a very handsome young lawyer, both of Tampa. The hearing was in the Motion room & lasted about an hour. We had to deny it.

After I got home it was pleasantly cool; so I walked along with some golfers over to the Club House & back.

Tuesday, August 9, 1949.

72° to 94° to 76° 29.96, 30.00, 29.92, 29.94

No rain now for 3 days. Clear. This afternoon was very pleasant. Very little humidity.

Temp of 97° reported in N.Y. and other N. E. Cities.

The report for Quito, Ecuador, is that about 4,000 people were killed and 40,000 left homeless in the big earthquake in Central Ecuador.

Have not had any energy today. Have accomplished very little. I drove up to the Supreme Court Bldg. about 4 p.m., & got the mail, & chatted awhile with my friend Paul Barns, who succeeded me on the Court & who has rendered good service[.] I regret that Paul is resigning.

Wednesday, August 10, 1949. Light showers.

72° to 90° to 74° 29.94, 30.00, 29.94

Mostly clear.

Light showers at 6 A.m. & at 4 p.m.

Enjoyed walk on golf course at 6 to 7 p.m.

Former Pres. Hoover, a good & great man, made a great speech in Palo Alto, Cal., tonight, on the celebration of his 75th birthday.

Thursday, August 11, 1949. Light showers.

72° to 88° to 74° 29.94, 29.96, 29.93

Light, slow rain about daylight. Continued till about 8 A. M.

Cloudy most of the day with bright sunshine in between.

Light showers all around us this afternoon.

Over 11,000 people reported killed in the Ecuador earthquake. Supplies are being sent to Ecuador from this country.

President Truman today appointed Gen. Omar N. Bradley as permanent chairman of the joint chiefs of Staff under the new military reorganization of the Army, Navy & Air forces. A fine selection.

Margaret Mitchell, author of “Gone with the wind” was run over by a reckless taxi driver tonight and very seriously injured—In Atlanta of course.

Friday, August 12, 1949. Light shower.

72° to 89° to 74° 29.92, 29.86

Light shower very early this morning.

Somewhat cloudy, but quite pleasant, most of the day.

Had Rainey Cawthon put on two new tires and go over my car and put it in good shape. After giving me credit for the old tires, my bill was 35.00. He had my car washed and polished for which he made no charge. He is very pleasant to deal with, and entirely fair. He’s a fine fellow.

Winston Churchill, at 74, retains remarkably his vigor of mind and body. In the Consultative assembly of the Council of Europe at Strasburg, he succeeded in getting Paul Henri Spaak of Belgium elected President and defeated the British Labor government’s effort to get Wm Whitby elected as one of the four Vice-Presidents.

The famous author Margaret Mitchell of Atlanta, was run over by a speeding taxi driver on Peachtree St., Atlanta, last night. Seriously injured.

Saturday, August 13, 1949. Light shower.

72° to 88° to 75° 29.86, 29.88, 29.78

Light shower very early this morning / and late tonight / . Showers near by this afternoon, but not at our place.

This morning I called to see Victor Cawthon, whose office was at his home at 210 W. Gaines St. He is one of our bright young lawyers / but was not at home. / His wife was very charming and gracious, but he married her in France and she has not learned to speak English hardly at all. But she is quite good looking and apparently bright.

Margaret Mitchell, author of “Gone with the Wind,” who was run over by a taxi driver in Atlanta when she and her husband were crossing Peachtree St. to go to the theatre, last night or the night before, has not yet regained consciousness and is in a critical condition. Such a terrible pity!

The West Germans are holding their first election today.

Sunday, August 14, 1949. Showers.

Light, slow rain when I went to bed last night and when I woke up this morning at 7:45, but it was over by 8:30.

We left about 10 Am and got to Chattahoochee at 11 A.m. and visited with Joe, in the reception hall, till about 12. I drove coming back. We went in my car and I drove back / through several showers. / My old car was in pretty good shape, and we got home about 1 p.m. We found Joe in a more normal condition then at any time yet.

I had my car, which has been driven nearly 77,000 miles, put in good shape by Raney Cawthon yesterday. Two new tires, a good cleaning, etc. The old car performed splendidly.

We got a message from little Joe D. from Clewiston about 9:45, saying he was delayed there by a broken piston rod and did not know when & family would arrive.

Late this afternoon I called to see Dr. & Mrs. Dodd & Dorothy.

Monday, August 15, 1949. Showers.

73° to 88° 29.76, 29.84, 29.79

Partly cloudy this morning. Shower at / 1 p.m. /

The vote Saturday in the new German Republic, started by the Allies, while divided among 18 different parties, indicates that most of the members of the elected Parliament will be Conservatives. The Communist party got only 6-1/2%.

Chairman Howard McGrath last Saturday sent out invitations to the Members of the Dem. National Committee, but he did not send any to the members from Mississippi, Louisiana & South Carolina. He read out of the party those States that voted for Gov[.] Strom Thurmond for President: Miss, La., S.C., & Ala. I voted for Thurmond, so I guess I’m read out too. I’m a States Rights Democrat, and opposed to the “Welfare State” ideas of Pres. Truman’s administration, & it’s invasion of States’ Right.

“Little Joe” Dowdell & wife Adelade and their three fine boys / and daughter Del, / arrived at 11:30 tonight. They left Miami Saturday, but were delayed by car trouble. They never did get the car fully fixed up & had to travel on 5 engines instead of 6. They came by Siloam Springs, which the children enjoyed very much.

Tuesday, August 16, 1949. Clear

75° to 87° to 79° 29.75, 29.87, 29.80

Clear and warm, but with a good breeze till sundown.

We all got up late this morning. Little Joe, 9 yrs old, had a time of it last night with asthma, which has handicapped him a lot, but he has been much better today and tonight. In spite of the long hard trip up here little Ted (my name sake) 7 yrs. Old, and little Don, 3-1/2 yrs. old, arrived in good shape last night, but were tired and sleepy. This morning they were O.K. They are both well and hardy youngsters. All three boys are most fine and lovable. Joe & I played one hole of golf this afternoon, the fairway of which is in front of our house, much to the boys’ delight.

Joe took his car down to Maner’s Garage this morning & I hope they can get it fixed up O.K.

Margaret Mitchell died in Atlanta today. She never regained consciousness. Her book, “Gone with the wind” out sold all books except the Bible; 8,000,000 copies.

Wednesday, August 17, 1949.

74° to 92° to 78° 29.90, 29.88, 29.92

Bright & clear early morning.

Somewhat cloudy this afternoon with a few drops of rain, but clearing in late afternoon.

Immediately after lunch Lizzie drove Joe & Adelaide and their three boys over to Chattahoochee to see Joseph. While they were there they took Joe for an auto ride, over to the west across the long bridge over the Appalachicola River. Joseph / and family / enjoyed the ride.

This afternoon, after they returned we met the 6 oclock bus, but Dell was not on it. We all took dinner at the White Kitchen & on our return we met the 8 o’clock bus, and Del got off. She has just had a nice trip to Washington. She is very pretty and a very fine girl. At the bus station we me[t] Mr. & Mrs. Risley who knew Dell in Miami, and went to meet her also. Then they visited with all of us from about 9 to 10 p.m.

Thursday, August 18, 1949.

75° to 93° to 78° 29.85, 29.91, 29.87

Some what cloudy morning[.]

Pretty warm & humid.

This aft., we all went down to Wakulla Springs, leaving home about 3:45. Lizzie and I did not go into the water, but Joe & Adelaide and Del, and the three boys, had a fine cold bath. As soon as they were dressed we all went to the Hotel. We had intended to take them all on a “jungle trail” boat ride down the River, but one of the boats failed to get back and the other went after it. Then, too, after the rain, there was a dense fog over the River. So about 6 p.m. we went to the picnic grounds near the hotel, and under shelter, we had a fine picnic dinner, and got back home about 7 p.m. It was quite clear here. We grownups sat up talking till about 11:15 p.m.

Miss Margaret Mitchell buried in Oakland Cemetery, Atlanta, today.

Friday, August 19, 1949.

76° to 99° to 78° 29.86, 29.80, 29.91

Our hottest day—99° at 1:30. Clouded up in afternoon. Joe and I had just begun to play a few holes of golf but the rain caught us at the end of the 15th and we had to come home.

I went to Supr. Ct. Bldg. this morning and got the mail. Had short visits with Judge Paul Barnes & young Lewis Hall, Jr.

Joe took his family down to Wakulla Springs this morning. They got back at 1:39 p.m., in time for dinner.

“Del” had a beau today—the 17 or 18 yr old son of Mr. & Mrs Risley—a rather bumptious young fellow. “Del” rode around with him quite a lot, but was not very much impressed. Del is a unusually pretty, and a fine, intelligent girl, but very modest and lets us old folks do most of the talking.

Saturday, August 20, 1949.

76° to 95° to 71° 29.80, 29.78, 29.81

Cloudy and overcast early morning, clearing up somewhat by 9:30. Joe and family left in Joe’s old car at about 9:45 for Chattahoochee, where they will visit Joe, Sr., and then they plan to drive over to Marianna to see the Caverns.

Joe, Jr. and family returned this afternoon, and reported that Joseph, Sr., was about the same. Also that they had gone to “the Cavern,” Florida’s Mammoth Cave, and found it quite a sight.

It was quite warm this afternoon, but we enjoyed a good chicken dinner at the White Kitchen, 3 miles North of town. Soon after we got home, about 8 p.m. we had a sudden and violent rain storm with thunder and lightning. During this storm it looked like there was a fire down in the bottom land about 1/4 of a mile to the N.W. of our house, and we thought we heard fire engines, but we could not clearly see any fire.

Sunday, August 21, 1949.

70° to 93° to 72° 29.81, 29.84, 29.76, 29.84

Fairly clear morning: Joe and Adelaide and Del and I went to Church at 11 A.M. and while we were in Church it began to rain. Then held up a little as the services ended at 12 M., and we got into our car just as a hard rain came down. So we went straight home. It was more or less cloudy all afternoon. We rode out to Lake Jackson and then to Bradford Lake. But about 5 p.m. Joe and Adelaide and the children, and Del and I took a good long walk on the golf course. Joe brought one club, a No. 7, “mashie,” and one or two balls along, and we played the 14th and 15th holes. Joe & Adelaide vs. Del and I. Joe & Adelaide beat us one stroke.

Julia, our cook, was on hand today.

Tonight we had a fine dinner and sat around & talked till 11 p.m. Lizzie has not been at all well yesterday & today but she got some rest in bed this afternoon. We have enjoyed having Joe & family but it was hard on Lizzie.

Monday, August 22, 1949.

72° to 86° to 75° 29.85, 29.92, 29.88

We had early breakfast this morning. Julia, our cook, who was on hand Sunday—which was usually her day off, did not work today. So Lizzie, with Adelaide’s help, cooked breakfast early, and Joe & Adelaide & Del, and the three boys all packed into Joe’s old car, and got off at 8:15 A.M. They plan to visit the Marine Gardens So. of St. Augustine this afternoon. Joe planned to go by the Perry highway until they crossed the Suwannee River, and then turn East & go by Gainesville to St. Augustine & then to the Marine Gardens. Where they will spend the night they had not decided. We have enjoyed their visit, but poor Liz is almost a wreck today.

Pres. Truman spoke in Miami today at the Conv. of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, on our foreign policy.

I have not felt at all well today, myself.

I met young attorney Ben Watkins at the Supreme Ct. Bldg. this morning. He will be employed as an assistant.

Tuesday, August 23, 1949.

72° to 87° to 72° 29.85, 29.93, 29.91

Cloudy & cool early morning. Mostly clear in midday, but with light intermittent showers until 6:30 p.m.

Lizzie has been feeling miserably all day and this afternoon and tonight she has not only has sore throat (which began yesterday) but also intense ear ache. She phone Dr. Rhodes about 6:30 p.m. and he had a prescription filled by Burdine’s and sent over to the house, but after she took it the terrible ear-ache started and she has been in agony all the time since—till now, 11:20 p.m. Overstrain for the past ten days brought it on, and the cool dampness perhaps.

“Town Meeting of the Air[“] was from Tel Aviv, in Palestine tonight. The question was, Should Palestine continue unrestricted immigration. It appears that the Israili[sic] gov’t is for it, tho they have 90,000 immigrants living in tent villages now [ ? ].

Wednesday, August 24, 1949.

70° to 84° to 78° 29.90, 29.98

Lizzie is suffering the effects of the terrific strain she was under last week.

Lizzie suffered terribly last night with sore throat and ear ache. No sleep. This morning after breakfast we went to Dr. Andrews’ office. (Dr Rhodes had sent her a prescription about 7 p.m. last night which had a bad effect.) About 10 o’clock Dr. Andrews examined her and found that she had a rising on the ear drum of her right ear, which he lanced, and also gave her penicillin and a prescription. Which helped but she has been in intense pain most of the day. Took a lot of aspirin. Some better tonight.

The Democratic National Committee met in Wash’n yesterday & expelled the members from the States that voted for the Southern States Rights De. Part ticket, Thurmond & Wright, last year, among them my friend Marion Rushton, able attorney of Montgomery.

I think we should form a States’ Rights Democratic Party here in the South & hold the balance / of power / between the Republican & Dem Parties.

Thursday, August 25, 1949.

70° to 96° to 77° 29.96, 29.98, 30.04, 29.98

Clear and fine. Pretty hot in midday but quite pleasant in late afternoon and evening.

Lizzie had a bad night last night. Suffered so with pain in her ear and back. We went to Dr. Andrew’s office at 8:30, and he did something to the boil in her ear and gave her some more penicillin, but it did no good. She did sleep some during the morning, but this afternoon and tonight she has been in agony. I fear she won’t sleep much tonight.

I hope the expulsion of the members of the Dem Nat’l Committee from S.C., Alabama, Miss., and La. Yesterday will be resented by the Southern Democrats & result in our setting up a So. States Rights Dem. Party.

Friday, August 26, 1949. Hurricane in S.W. Florida, from Stuart to West Palm Beach.

72° to 90° to 78° 30.00 to 29.90

Pleasant morning. Warm afternoon. Barometer dropping some.

I took Lizzie up to Dr. Andrews office. She had a terrible night last night, but I can see some improvement in her condition today.

The hurricane / which started near Porto Rico, / struck and did lots of damage from Stuart to West Palm Beach where most damage was done and one person killed. Some damage was done at Palm Beach and the towns South to Stuart. Miami & Miami Beach escaped. Winds from 135 m.p.hr., & higher, reported.

Remarkable Golf Scores

This afternoon, my friend Bill Ewing, about 45 yrs. old, made the long 595 yard 12th hole in two shots—a “double eagle.” Never heard of anyone else having done that. He sunk his 2nd shot. And Bill Krechert, about 21 yrs. old made a hole in one on the 165 yards 8th hole.

Saturday, August 27, 1949. Hurricane continues N. Easterly into the Gulf, then back to land and N.E. along Suwannee River Valley

78° to 90° to 78° 29.90, 29.70, 29.52, 29.54, 29.50

Low barometer, overcast skies, and strong gusty winds blowing toward the S.E.

The hurricane moved Westward & N.W. from the Coast across the citrus belt. Just what towns were hit, the morning radio has not said. Great damage to orange and grapefruit trees, I am sure. In spite of strong breezes this morning, it is warm and the air seems lifeless. Then cloudy and overcast with gusty winds toward the South.

Lizzie got a little sleep last night. Got up and prepared breakfast, but although she ate only a little fruit and fruit juice, she lost it all immediately. I took her to Doctor Andrews’ office at 8:15. He came in about 8:25. He said her ear was better, and he thought she was on the way to recovery. I hope so.

Later I took our cook to town and she did the shopping for eatables according to a list Lizzie made out. This afternoon, we had rain and gusty winds, first toward the So. & S.E. and later toward the S.W. and tonight toward the West. These winds were gusty and blew toward the storm, I am sure. The information by radio indicates that the hurricane went West across the State into the gulf, then N.E. to the Suwanee River Valley and on up into Georgia.

Sunday, August 28, 1949. A warm afternoon & evening.

70° to 92° to 84° to 80 29.70, 29.89, 29.90

Clear and cool morning. Strong S.W. and W. breezes blowing toward the N.E. where the hurricane, reduced to 70 m.p.hr. went. Over the radio I heard that it hit Valdosta, Ga., and went on N. or N.E. at a rate of 60 to 70 m.p.hr. winds.

Lizzie is really a very sick girl. Dr. Andrews came to see her this morning, and suggested that we get a regular physician. I called up Mrs. Clarke at the Ernest Ames Infirmary in Chattahoochee, about noon, and told her to tell Joseph we would not be able to visit him today; that Lizzie was not well enough to make the trip. As Dr. Rhodes was out of town, I asked Dr. Andrews what he thought of Dr. Garmany. He thought Dr. G. was a very fine physician, and I asked him to get in touch with him and send him to see Lizzie, which he agreed to do. He phoned me that Dr. Garmany was at the baseball game, but he would get word to him. Dr. G. came about 7 p.m. and gave Lizzie a thoroughly comprehensive examination. Then he phoned two prescriptions to Burdines, which came out promptly. Sick as she was, Liz got up & fixed a light supper, took the medicine, and went to bed. She is a bit better already.

Monday, August 29, 1949.

75° to 93° to78° 29.92, 29.96, 29.94

Dr. Garmany came out about 9 a.m. and again about 7 p.m.

No rain, but pretty warm & humid. After breakfast, I took a list from Lizzie and ran Julia up to the Piggly Wigley[sic] store on No. Monroe, and gave her the money for our little shopping.

Lizzie was beginning to make some progress, but Elmira Palmer came over about 5:30, and stayed till 8:30, and cooked supper for me. Mary Maud came over about the same time & stayed till about 7, when she left to go to a card party. Lizzie over exerted herself in trying to entertain our visitors. Result, she had a bad night tonight.

The hurricane had slowed down when it reached the Carolinas, but at 40 to 50 m.p.hr. it brought heavy rains until it went out to sea about Charleston. Valdosta, Ga., was the hardest hit. Winds there about 70 to 80 m.p.hr.

Tuesday, August 30, 1949.

73° to 92° to 75° 29.93, 29.91

Clear and warm morning.

Lizzie had a bad night. Too much company yesterday. Dr. Garmany came out at 9:30 this morning, and was surprised and disappointed that the tests, temp., &c, were not as good as yesterday. He came again at 7:30 tonight and found her condition better. Mary Maud Jeffords came over about 6:15 / tonight / and brought her some liquid food. She was not able to retain any food this morning, but she is able to retain a little soft food tonight, such as jello.

Cloudy, & thunder, this afternoon for quite awhile, but no rain.

Wednesday, August 31, 1949. Rain.

75° to 90° to 76° 29.90, 29.84, 29.90

Clear & bright morning. Clouding up by noon. Pretty good rain in early afternoon. Partially clearing up by 5 p.m.

Dr. Garmany came this morning to see Lizzie, about 9:30, and said he thought she was on the road to recovery, & needed no further injections of penicillin or some other injection he has been giving her. Said he did not think he would call this afternoon.

Lizzie has had the best day yet, but tonight she felt the need of a good enema & asked me to call Mrs. Beaglely—I did & she came out, & the enema did a world of good. Lizzie has been more normal and feels better in every way. Glory be!

Thursday, September 1, 1949. Light rain.

70° to 92° to 74° 29.90, 29.93

Clear morning. Light rain during the latter part of the night. Lots of thunder in afternoon.

Lizzie somewhat better, but had some fever, and felt mighty bad. However, Dr. Garmany did not think she needed any more penicillin. But, while she is some better and can eat a little, she has spent a very uncomfortable day.

Ten years ago today Hitler marched into Poland, and the World War began. It was an utterly unprovoked invasion. I was out to the golf club to play golf in Waynesville, N.C., about 9:30 A.m., & heard a radio description of the beginning of the invasion, which took the Poles by surprise. Russia had agreed to it with the understanding that she should be allowed to march in and take the Eastern third of Poland.

Friday, September 2, 1949. Light Shower.

70° to 90° to 72° 29.92, 29.97

Cloudy & cool morning. Mostly cloudy all day, with plenty of humidity, and showers nearby, and light shower here. Considerable thunder.

Lizzie seems some better, but when she gets a nap, she wakes up with perspiration. She eats very little. This afternoon, she asked me to phone Mrs. Beagley, and she came about 4 p.m. and gave her another enema, but without any apparent results this time. She has eaten so little there was apparently nothing in her bowels.

Julia has been coming back in the late afternoon this week, and waiting on Lizzie and cooking our supper. Lizzie eats in bed of course, and eats very little. She is making slow head way toward recover.

I am not feeling at all well myself.

This morning Lizzie made out quite a long list of groceries and I took Julia to Lovetts and Piggly Wigley and the meat store, & Julia did the buying.

The Senate Committee has had Gen. Vaughan on the grill 2 or 3 days this week.

Saturday, September 3, 1949. Showers

70° to 89° to 75° 29.92, 29.98

Several showers in early afternoon.

Lizzie some better today.

I don’t feel very well. No energy.

A French man swam the English Channel in a little over 23 hours today.

I’ll be glad when I get my good pen back. Mr. Fain sent it to the mfrs. two weeks ago, for repairs.

Mrs. Beazley called to see Lizzie this afternoon.

Sunday, September 4, 1949.

71° to 90° to 76° 29.97, 29.92, 29.96

Cloudy early morning. Some little rain last night. Quite warm by noon.

Julia came and cleaned up the house and cooked dinner for us at 2 p.m. I drove her home. She lives about 1-3/4 miles from our house.

This afternoon / about 5:15 / Judge & Mrs. Paul Barns called to see us. I was out walking on the golf course, but got back some 10 minutes before they left. Lizzie was entertaining them, but was worn out when they left. They stayed about 3/4 of an hour. Lizzie had to lie down on the lounge in the front room.

Monday, September 5, 1949.

74° to 88° to 77° 29.97, 29.93

No rain. Mostly bright and clear but pretty warm.

Annie made a good train connection in Jacksonville, and arrived about 1 p.m., took a taxi at the depot, and arrived home in time for dinner. She was a bit tired, but well and looked better than when she left.

Lizzie is still very weak and had to spend most of the day lying down. I am still below par, but I usually am the last half of August & first half of September.

This is Papa’s and my sister Fannie’s birthday.

Lots of accidents reported over the Nation today—over 400. This is terrible, but in line with previous Labor Day records.

Tuesday, September 6, 1949. Rain

73° to 90° to 75° 29.89, 29.92

Clear & bright morning. Rain about 4 p.m., pretty hard, but lasted on 20 to 30 minutes.

Lizzie not doing so well. Some fever & weakness this afternoon. I tried to get her to consent to let me Call Dr. Garmany, but she said no. After lying down for sometime her fever disappeared, but she is far from well.

The European Consultative Assembly has evolved a European federation, called the Council of Europe, consisting of 10 European countries and Turkey & Greece. This is a good move. They design to lessen the tariff barriers and cooperate for the progress of Europe to make it more self supporting. An excellent idea.

Mr. Reuben Williams, the Marshall of the Supreme Court whom I liked very much was found dead in his office late this afternoon. Heart failure.

Wednesday, September 7, 1949. Rain

74° to 88° to 76° 29.87, 29.92

Annie and I drove over to see Joe—Lizzie sent him a nice pair of light leather slippers. We took Joe for a short drive. But he seems no better to me. Wt. 101 lbs.

We drove through showers going over just before we got to Chattahoochee. We left at 11:45 and drove through showers all the way home—and the showers kept up till 2:30.

This afternoon Annie put in at the office. At 3 p.m. I drove up to see Reuben Williams’ family at his / former[?] / home.

Then I drove to town and went to Fain’s for some medicine and then back to Sup. Ct. Bldg. Had a pleasant visit with newly appointed Justice B.K. Roberts.

Lizzie has had a bad day. Elmira called at 5 and stayed till 7, and Lizzie was worn down.

Legislature met today—special session.

Thursday, September 8, 1949.

74° to 88° to 78° 29.90, 29.92, 29.85

A hot day, with very little breeze; None in late afternoon and evening.

Lizzie still feels might bad and cannot hear at all in her right ear.

I took Annie out and she did the shopping about 5 p.m.

We learned in the paper this morning that Henry Bardwell’s wife Addie had died in Rochester, N.Y. several days ago—and will be buried in Leesburg, Fla., / her old home town / tomorrow. She had been visiting her daughter, Mrs. Enrique Noble, in Rochester. She had two sisters in Leesburg, Mrs. A.B. Medlin & Mrs. R. B. Rigdon. I wonder if Henry would attend her funeral. He lives in Havana, Cuba, and is blind. (I learned later that Harry was with her in Rochester when Addie passed away).

I was one of the honorary pall bearers at Reuben William’s funeral this morning. I rode out to the cemetery with my friend Judge Buford.

Friday, September 9, 1949.

74° to 93° to 73° 29.85, 29.78, 29.92

Some sunshine this morning, but hazy and warm and humid all afternoon and until 10 p.m. when the air began to get cooler and the barometer went up from 10 to 11.30. I have felt pretty tough all afternoon, but am feeling better since 10 p.m. So much cooler.

Lizzie went to see Dr. Andrews this morning. I drove her up there. He “blew out” her ear, but said he would have to do it several times before her hearing was restored in that ear. She continues to feel miserably.

Judge & Mrs[.] Terrell returned home last night.

Met Judge Roberts Secretary—Mrs. Rebecca Marks—a very fine young lady.

Dempsey Mayo and Dick Whitfield are seeking to succeed Reuben Williams.

Saturday, September 10, 1949.

69° to 81° to 69° 29.90, 29.92, 29.96

I had a pretty active morning; getting the laundry and buying some things up town, going to the bank to make a deposit for Lizzie and draw some cash for myself.

I talked to Judges Terrell and Chapman in regard to the filling of the vacancy in the office vacated by Ruben William’s death. Judge Chapman was inclined to select Dempsey Mayo—who I think would be a good selection, but Judge Terrell was noncommittal except he did not think Dick Whitfield had any chance of being selected. Both said they would not commit themselves before taking the matter up in conference. I had recommended Dempsey Mayo to some of the Justices, back two months ago, in case Reuben W. should resign.

Had a letter from Harry Bardwell today written from Rochester, N.Y. on Sept 5th.

Harry and Addie had visited Leesburg and Talbotton and they went on to Rochester to visit Kathleen. Addie died of a heart attack while they were in Rochester. The letter Sept. 5th, but mailed Sept. 7th.

Sunday, September 11, 1949.

69° to 80° to 69° 30.02, 30.00, 30.04

Clear, cool and delightful morning. I went to church.

Fine afternoon with fairly cool breeze. Lots of people playing golf. I followed some of them to the Club house and back.

Lizzie still sick—feels miserably.

I’m not up to par myself, but this coolness had made me feel better.

Monday, September 12, 1949.

67° to 84° to 70° 30.09, 30.04, 29.94

Another beautiful day, but it is warm tonight and the barometer has dropped quite a bit since 2 p.m.

Felt pretty well this morning but pretty bad this afternoon and tonight.

Took Lizzie to see Dr. Andrews this morning. He blew out her ear but tonight both ears are aching.

Stalin’s press and radio are heaping abuse on Tito, but no signs of war yet. I wondered at first if the break between Russia and Yugoslavia was a put up job, to get American dollars, but I am beginning to think that Tito has made up his mind to be the sole power in his country. Today Congress voted to lend him $20,000,000 for industrial development.

Tuesday, September 13, 1949.

69° to 87° to 71° 29.95, 29.96, 29.86

Another beautiful day.

Legislature still staggering. They seem to lack courage and good judgment and leadership. There are good and able men in both houses, but they do not seem to be able to command a majority in either house. The last session put forth an appropriation bill of some 240,000,000 but failed to enact the tax laws to raise it. The present taxes will raise 190 million. The Governor made no suggestions in his message, and is keeping mum.

This morning I had to attend to a lot of things up town, and at 2 p.m. I drove Annie over to see Joseph.

Lizzie is still sick and suffering.

Wednesday, September 14, 1949.

62° to 84° to 72° 29.90, 29.96, 29.86

A fine day.

I have had a busy day.

This afternoon I drove Annie over to see Joseph. Lizzie sent him a birthday cake with candles. He showed some appreciation, but was complaining about imaginary mistreatment—being forced to eat when he didn[‘]t want to. Very critical. Said he was dying. And yet he looks better and his weight has gone up from 71 to 101-1/2 in past few months. We took him for a ride. We saw the “Jim Woodruff Dam” in course of construction across the Apalachicola just below the point where the Chattahoochee and Flint Rivers flow together. Then we returned to Chattahoochee—just 3/4 of a mile from the dam, and drove on Road 90 across the long bridge across the broad Appalachicola[sic] River. We got back home about 5:30 and found Lizzie feeling might bad.

Thursday, September 15, 1949.

64° to 90° to 77° 29.87, 30.00, 29.94

Mostly clear, warm and humid. Rather hard on me.

This morning I took Lizzie up to see Dr. Andrews for treatment of her ears. He said it would not be necessary for her to come any more; that the ear trouble would soon be allright; but that she needed a tonic, and he would have it sent out.

Hot this afternoon and tonight. I have felt it more than any day this Summer. No rain: no breeze.

Lizzie is some better tonight—in spite of the weather.

Friday, September 16, 1949.

70° to 95° to 78° 29.95, 30.00, 29.96

Mostly clear and warm. Cloudy at times this afternoon with light shower.

A modified sales-tax bill passed the Senate today. The exemptions may defeat its purpose. Whether the House will adopt it is doubtful.

Lizzie some better today. Even went up town with me and did some grocery shopping. In spite of the heat and humidity, she is getting better, much to my delight. But I am worn out with the heat. I am running true to form. I can stand the summers pretty well, until the latter part of Aug. and the most of September, when I don’t feel “fit to kill.” And Dow writes that he is having a lot of dental work done and then must have a prostate operation.

Saturday, September 17, 1949. Britain devalues the pound.

75° to 93° to 79° 29.96, 30.02, 30.00

Depressing weather.

A warm and humid day—but pleasant early morning. I drove Annie to her work about 8:50.

Lizzie gave Julia, our cook, quite a list of groceries to get, and I took her to Piggly-wiggly and Lovetts about 10:30 and about 11:30 I drove her back home. Then I got some things at the Dry Cleaners and also got our clean clothes at the New Way. Then drove up and got Annie & carried her by the shoe fixery and then to the hair dressers. I got home about 1:10.

Worried about Dow. Have not heard from him in a week. He wrote me that he would have a bridge made and other dental work done, and then later a prostate operation. Though I have written him twice this week I have heard nothing from him.

Sunday, September 18, 1949.

74° to 88° to 75 30.00, 30.05, 29.99

A fine day, bright, clear and no humidity.

But Lizzie has had a bad day—especially this afternoon and early evening.

I managed take a walk on golf course, which made me feel better.

Yesterday the British decided to devalue the pound sterling from $4.06 to $2.80. This decision was announced tonight. This is one way of lowering the / real / wages of British working men / and / enable England to sell more / goods / to other countries—including the U.S., / and undersell us in many countries. / But for the time being, it will cause considerable confusion in the markets of the world. But England was in bad shape and in their desperation they resorted to a desperate measure.

Monday, September 19, 1949. Rain.

73° to 90° to 73° 29.94, 30.00, 29.96

Sir Stafford Crippes announced by radio at 9:15 last night the devaluation of the pound to $2.80¢

Fairly pleasant morning. Good long / light / rain from about 5:40 to 7:30. Best we’ve had in sometime. We needed it.

I had an active day. Was asked to be at Sup. Court at 10 A.m., for the reargument of what we call the “Bee Branch Cattle Co.” case. Judge Chapman’s opinion was concurred in by a majority of the Court, including myself, several months ago. But a rehearing and reargument was granted, and the losing side employed additional counsel, including my good friend Luther Mershon. The case will now go the rounds of the Court.

I drove Luther Mershon and Tom Anderson to their hotels where the airport limousine picked them up about 5 p.m.

Tonight Dow called me up and we talked over what we should do about the Miami estate property. He was pretty well.

Tuesday, September 20, 1949. Rain

72° to 88° to 70° to 72° 29.96, 30.01, 29.93, 29.95

Mostly clear morning, somewhat cloudy afternoon. Hard rain from 6:45 to 7.45 p.m. Came from the North. Cooled things off.

Lizzie much better today.

I have not felt well and have done very little. This afternoon at 4, I went to the chiropractor and had my feet put in good shape; corns cut down, &c.

The House, here, put in the day emasculating the Senate sales tax bill. They have exempted so many things from the Sales tax bill adopted by the Senate that it will not raise the necessary funds to run the State government. Maybe, in a conference between Committees of the House & Senate, a sensible bill will emerge, but I doubt it.

Wednesday, September 21, 1949. Rain

72° to 88° to 74° 29.95, 29.93, 29.97

Fairly clear morning.

Rain, with very little wind, this afternoon. Slow, but lasted most of the afternoon.

The House is still busy with the tax bill. It looks now like the bill will be a 3 cent sales tax bill with a large number of exemptions.

Haven’t felt very well today.

And Lizzie is not as well today as yesterday.

I wrote Joe Gorman today about the property Dow and I own a predominant interest in along with him, to see if he still desired to purchase our interest, and if so at what price. A non-committal letter.

Thursday, September 22, 1949. Rain

69° to 87° to 72° 29.95, 29.93, 29.90

Hazy early morning, clearing up somewhat by 11 Am. Cloudy afternoon with some rain in late afternoon.

Ma’s estate was finally settled last week. Dow and I got several hundred dollars each and each a 1/3 interest in the Hockstad mortgage, on which there is a balance due of about $2,000; and under Ma’s will Dow, Joe Gorman and I each get a 1/3 interest in Ma’s home place, worth $13,000 or more, and we, Dow & I, get a 8/9 interest in the small vacant lots and the four small cottages, and Joe gets a 1/9 interest in these.

It looks like the legislature will pass tomorrow a sales tax bill with so many exemptions that it may not raise the necessary funds.

Friday, September 23, 1949.

70° to 89° to 74° 29.90, 29.95, 29.88

Pres. Truman announces that instruments [ ? ] lst July that the Russians had an atomic explosion.

Partly cloudy morning, and more or less so all day—but no rain.

Had an active morning. Lizzie gave our cook Julia a long list of things to get, and I took her in my car to Piggly-Wigly & Lovett’s grocery stores on N. Monroe St about 10.10 and after an hour or so, I took her to the fish market, and got back home at 12:15. Then in a few minutes I drove up and got Annie and brought her home. We had dinner at 1:15 and I drove Annie back to the office at 2 p.m.

It seems that the legislature has about finished its work—a 3% Sales tax with many exemptions which they made to avoid a veto. Gov. Warren had said he would demand that ”the necessities of life” be exempted.

Pres. Truman announced that our scientists had detected by instruments the explosion of an atomic bomb [ ? ] in Russia.

Saturday, September 24, 1949.

69° to 85° to 69° 29.88, 30.00, 29.89

Clear, bright sunshiny day.

Lizzie felt some better and I took her to Willie’s market and Richardson’s store for a little shopping.

I went for Annie at 12.30 and brought her to dinner and then took her back.

Late this aft., about 5 p.m., I followed some of my golfing friends to the club house, had a bottle of beer with one of them; walked back home, stopping by for a chat with Dr. & Mrs. Dodd & Dorothy. When I got home, no one was there. So I went over to Mary Maud’s & there they were. After a brief visit I took Lizzie home.

Jim Franklin told me on the golf course that the Legislature had adjourned late this afternoon.

Sunday, September 25, 1949. Atomic explosion in Russia reported.

68° to 85° to 71° 29.92, 29.96, 29.95

Cool & cloudy early morning. A bit overcast & cloudy all day. No real sunshine.

This morning Annie & I drove over to Chattahoochee this morning / at 10.10 / and got back home at 1.10 p.m.

There is a lot of talk in the newspapers about Pres. Truman’s announcement that there had been an atomic explosion in Russia last July. Delicate instruments that are said[?] the British have indicated it. It was probably in the Ural mountains. I have suspected that the Russians had perfected some sort of atomic bomb by this time. Their spys[sic] in Canada four or 5 years ago, and their spies in this country, got hold of the secret. But it took them a long time to make the bomb.

Monday, September 26, 1949.

68° to 85° to 72° 29.94, 29.92

Cool & cloudy, and damp early morning. More or less cloudy all day. No sunshine.

This morning Mrs. J. R. Jinks phoned Lizzie that her husband had been fishing early this morning and had caught a lot of fish (down below St. Marks) near the lighthouse, and had cleaned them all, and she wanted us to have some of them. So I drove over to their house on Cherokee Drive and got them, and they were fine, as we found out at dinner.

The United Nations Assembly is in session at Lake Success. The delegate from Yugoslavia made a speech bitterly attacking Russia. War may yet break out between Stalin’s Russia and Tito’s Yugoslavia, a country made up of Serbia, Croatia and Slovakia, all of whom Tito has well in hand. The situation is dangerous.

Tuesday, September 27, 1949.

67° to 83° to 72° 29.90, 29.92, 29.84

Cool, cloudy and damp early morning and cloudy and overcast the balance of the day.

A very nice letter from James D. to Lizzie and me came yesterday and I wrote him a three page reply.

This afternoon, after bringing Annie home, I went for a walk on the golf course and saw some of our best players in action. They are playing in the Club Tournament.

The Cowles left Arlington, Va., early yesterday morning and got here at 3 o’clock this afternoon. They came to see us tonight and stayed till [sic] 11:15. Its nice to have them back. Walter brought us all presents—me a tie.

Wednesday, September 28, 1949.

68° to 82° to 71° 29.84, 29.90, 29.78

Weather much the same as in the past 3 days—Cool early morning, mild and cloudy balance of day.

Barometer pretty low tonight.

Lizzie not as well today as for the past two days. She had a fainting spell this morning and spent the balance of the day and evening lying down. But she did get breakfast and supper. Annie and I got dinner at the Seven Seas. Mrs. Francis Parks sat at the same table with us. She was good company. She used to be a stenographer for the R. R. Commission when I was on the Court.

Heavy rain in St. Augustine—5 inches.

The threatened strike against Ford Motor Co. has been averted. The Ford Co. finally agreed to the terms recommended by the Presidents Fact Finding Board, including 10¢ an hr. for Pensions to be paid by Co.

Thursday, September 29, 1949.

66° to 78° to 66° 29.80, 29.88

Brilliantly clear and cool. A fine early fall day.

Our cook is still sick. Lizzie felt better and cooked breakfast and dinner. This morning I went down to Richardson’s to buy a list of groceries Lizzie gave me. Had to wait some time. Ladies ahead of me. Then I took a suit to the cleaners. Then went and brought Annie to dinner.

After picking up Annie at Sup. Ct. Bldg. at 5 p.m., we drove out to see How Julia was getting on. I took a bag of peanuts to her little grandson. Julia is some better & says she will be back here tomorrow. She is a good negro woman & we all like her and she likes us.

Winston Churchill vigorously attacked the Gov’t & the devaluation of the pound and called for an election. Anheurin[sic] Bevan then attacked Churchill very bitterly.

Friday, September 30. 1949. Rain

67° to 74° to 63° 29.88, 29.80, 29.78

Cloudy and cool.

Rain during night.

Took Lizzie to the Piggly-Wigley and Lovett’s on N. Monroe St., and she did a lot of grocery shopping. Then after we got home I went for Annie.

Rested some this afternoon, and late this afternoon I followed Mr. Crawford (Humble Oil Co.) and 3 other players to the Club house and drank bottle of beer there about 6:15 p.m., and talked to various people, and walked home, arriving about 6:50 p.m.

Saturday, October 1st, 1949. Rain

59° to 80° to 70° 29.90, 30.04

Quite cold and clear this morning, but pretty heavy rain in afternoon.

I took Lizzie to the hair dresser this morning and called for her and drove her home about noon. At 12:30 I drove up & brought Annie out to dinner.

Not feeling very well today.

We called on the Cowls about 6:30 to 7:30.

I did manage to take a walk on golf course in late afternoon. In the bunch of golfers I followed over to the Club house was a fine young player named Johnson. He defeated Dr. Epson Andrews. Young Johnson is the son of our greenskeeper, and I am sure his father taught him while he was young.

Both the N.Y. Giants & the N. Y. Yankees won their respective games and moved into the World Series beginning next week.

Sunday, October 2/49

60° to 82° to 71° 29.92 to 30.02, 30.00

This morning I drove Annie over to Chattahoochee to see Joseph. He did not seem to be as well as he was a week ago.

When we got back at 1:25, Lizzie had dinner ready. I rested up after dinner and then walked with some players over to the Golf Club. Had a chat with Buster Lawson & others, and then walked back home.

The N.Y. Yankees and the Boston Red Sox were tied in the pennant race when they began their game in New York today. The Yankees won.

Miami Herald Bldg. reported on fire.

Monday Oct. 3.

65° to 82° to 70° 29.95, 30.03, 29.98

Mostly cloudy and overcast. Much the same as yesterday. A little Sunshine from 10:30 to 12:30[.] Had to go to the bank and do a lot of little things. Went for Annie at 12:30.

The Miami Herald fire which began Saturday aft. at 6:20 in the paper storage room on the 4th floor, seems to be playing out. But it burned about $625,000 worth of newsprint paper but the fire was kept inside the 4th floor

Tuesday, October 4, 1949.

66° to 86° to 73° 29.98, 30. 29.96

Cool early morning. Cloudy early morning, clearing up later with a little sunshine now and then, but mostly overcast and sultry. Lizzie not at all well, but I took her up town for a short while this morning.

The Miami Herald fire in the top ware-house floor was brought under control last night, and the big job of taking out the big rolls of wet paper, some of which were still burning in spots, was begun. The fire chief hopes that when he gets the paper rolls out he can examine the interior to find out if possible what caused the fire. I believe somebody deliberately set the fire. Maybe one of the disgruntled typesetters who have been on strike for several months.

I have written some letters today but no real work. Just couldn’t get to it—which has been the case for quite awhile.

Wednesday, October 5, 1949.

70° to 84° to 72° 29.96, 29.91

Mostly clear and cool early morning. Then it became overcast and very humid until late afternoon, when it cleared up some, and tonight it is clear, with bright moonlight.

I took Lizzie out to Dr. Garmany’s office on N. Monroe St. at 9:30 this morning and went for her at 12:15. She has had a thorough check up and I hope this will have good results. We came back by Piggly-Wiggly and she did a little shopping. Then by the Supreme Ct. Bldg. for Annie & arrived home at about 1 p.m.

I felt terribly all morning / & afternoon / but am much better tonight. The Cowles came over & stayed till 11 p.m.

The N.Y. Giants beat the Brooklyn Dodgers 1 to nothing in first game of World Series.

Mr. Temple and his assistant are scraping the paint off our house preparatory to painting it.

Thursday, October 6, 1949.

72° to 84° to 74° 30.00, 30.04, 29.90

Cloudy morning. A little sunshine at times, but mostly cloudy all day.

This morning Lizzie felt better and drove to Dr. Garmany’s office, and his report, after examining the specimens & tests of yesterday, was on the whole very reassuring and encouraging. I think he is one of the best young doctors I have ever met, and I believe he will do a lot for Lizzie.

Took a walk on golf course late this afternoon and watched Jimmie Lee & “Buddy” Teague play all the way to club house. Both good players, but Jimmie won his match.

Today Brooklyn won over N.Y. by same score that N.Y. won over them yesterday, 1 to nothing.

Friday, October 7, 1949.

74° to 85° to 73° 29.95, 29.98, 29.95

Mostly cloudy and quite warm in afternoon.

Did some work today on the file in the Bee Branch Cattle Co. v. Elsa S. Koon case—on which rehearing was granted. I concurred in Judge Chapman’s opinion several months ago. Reargument was granted & had, two or three weeks ago. The case presents some important questions and the court was divided on it. I have got a lot of reading to do. The record is quite voluminous; also the briefs.

Tonight the Cowles and Elmira Palmer came over & spent the evening.

I have not felt at all well to past few days.

The Yankees defeated the Brooklyn Dodger 4 to 1 this afternoon—in the 9th inning.

Saturday, October 8, 1949.

73° to 86° to 75° 29.95—30.00

Mostly clear, and warm after 11 A.M.

Felt pretty bad and shaky this morning, but drove up town, went to the bank to see what fire insurance we had, auto insurance, &c. Then went to see Frank Moor. He thinks our insurance on home should be increased from $10,000 to 15 or 20 thousand.

Then I went to the Sup[.] Ct. Bldg about 12:15 and brought Annie home. Lay down & listened over radio to the World Series—the last 3 innings. The Yankees rallied in the last inning and made 3 runs, enough to put them ahead of the Dodgers—6 to 4.

Tonight—& this aft—I read a whole lot of that big record. Felt better tonight.

Sunday, October 9, 1949.

73° to 86° to 72° 30.00, 30.05, 29.94

A bit cloudy at times, but mostly clear and bright, with no appreciable humidity.

Lizzie, Annie & I left at 10 Am for Chattahoochee. Got there at 11 oclock. Found Joe a little better and more like him self. We left at noon and Got to Talquin Inn, about 4 miles west of Tallahassee, about 12:50. Got dinner there, and on our way home we went by the Supreme Court Bldg & got the mail. Got home about 2:00. After dinner we listened to the last game of the World Series. N.Y. Yankees won by 10 to 6, and thus won the World Series, 4 games to the Dodgers 1. Joe Page’s pitching did the work.

About 5:30 I took a walk over to the Country Club & back. Saw some good golf.

Monday, October 10, 1949.

72° to 87° to 74° 29.94 to29.96, 29.94

Overcast & dark early morning but soon clearing. Somewhat cloudy in afternoon with light showers for a few minutes about 5:10 p.m.

Various things have prevented me from doing any work today, and tonight Gunter Stephenson and wife spent the evening with us. I met Gunter’s wife while passing through Winter Haven about 10 or 11 years ago, the only time I had ever seen her until tonight. She is a fine young woman & quite good looking. They have 3 children, the oldest being 13.

Tuesday, October 11, 1949. Rain

69° to 85° to 75 29.94, 29.98, 29.92

Much the same weather as yesterday, but a real rain, for an hour in late afternoon, but not very heavy.

I have tried to do some work today, but felt so under the weather I could not concentrate my mind well.

Tonight the Cowles came over but I didn’t feel like work any way.

The County Fair opened today with a long parade from Tennessee St. down Monroe, and when I left to get Annie about 4:30, I had to stop when I reached Richardson’s Corner until the parade went by. It took me 30 mins. to drive from home to the Supreme Court bldg.

Wednesday, October 12, 1949.

69° to 83° to 76° 29.92, 29.88

Some what cloudy. A few drops of rain fell, / this aft. / but not a real rain and it soon cleared up.

I put in a large part of the day and and[sic] hour or two tonight reading the long record in the case of Bee Branch Cattle Co. et al v. Elsa S. Koon.

Late this afternoon I walked out on golf course and found a good golf ball almost in front of our house and in the edge of the rough on fairway of No. 15. I caught up with four players who had just passed, but none of them had lost a ball. Then I walked over to the Club & drank a bottle of beer with Bruce Davis & several others. Chatted awhile & got back home about dusk. Found the Cowles here, and they stayed till 7 p.m.

Thursday, October 13, 1949.

70° to 82° to 76° 29.90, 30.02, 29.92

Clear & fine.

Put in most of the day reading that long record, & finished it. Tomorrow I will read the briefs—about 100 or more pages of them

Felt a little better today. And Lizzie too. But she had her hands full[.]

No cook all this week. Julia has been sick.

The painting of our house is about finished. Will be tomorrow morning. Mr. Temple and his men have done a good job.

Friday, October 14, 1949.

70° to 84° to 76° to 69 29.92, 29.94, 29.88

Mostly clear and warm.

Painters still at work, but about through.

I have not felt at all well today. Have not been able to do much. Very depressing.

Judge Harold Medina can rest awhile now. The trial of the 11 Communists leaders is over. It was tough on the fine / 61 yr. old / judge. He put up with a lot, being careful to keep any error from creeping into the record. The case went to the jury yesterday at 3:53 p.m. After a trial lasting 9 months—the longest trial in our history. This morning about 11:15 the jury came in with verdicts of guilty as to all of the defendants, and sentences of 10 yrs or less in some cases, were imposed. The Judge Medina imposed punishment for contempt on four of the defendants lawyers—jail sentences of 6 mos. to 1 month—all of them will probably be disbarred.

Saturday, October 15, 1949.

67° to 84° to 70° 29.79 to 29.82,

Partly cloudy and overcast. Not feeling at all well. But still up and going.

Still no cook. It has been pretty hard on Lizzie.

As Annie was at the hair dressers, Lizzie and I got lunch at the “Seven Seas.”

Got in some work this afternoon and tonight.

Our house has been nicely painted by Mr. B. J. Temple. I gave him a check for $305.00. Pretty high, but labor is high. He is an “open shop” man, not a union member. But he does a good job, and is a high class, honest & respectable citizen. About 72 I should say.

Sunday, October 16, 1949.

66° to 82° to 67° 29.82, 29.86, 29.88, 29.90

Overcast early morning, clearing up by 11 A.M.

Not feeling well, I did not go to church, nor with Lizzie and Annie when they drove off at 1:55 for an afternoon trip to Chattahoochee.

This aft. About 4 p.m. I went by and got Walter Cowles and we followed Jimmy Lee and Sid Andrews from the 14th to 18th holes inclusing—5 holes. They played 18 holes this morning and 18 this afternoon. Jimmy Lee won the / Club / Championship for the 7th or 8th time, by 1 up. It was a close match. Jimmy was 4 up on the first 18 holes, but this afternoon they were all even at the end of the 15th. Jimmy won the 16, putting him 1 up, and they holed the 17th & 18th

The steel strike and coal strike are still on. Great blow to prosperity.

Monday, October 17, 1949.

64° to 82° to 68° 29.90, 29.98

Clear and cool. A very fine day.

Spent a good part of the day in the Supreme Court offices. Doing some studying and writing, and chatting with lawyers, whom I know, from Jacksonville and Miami.

Took my usual walk on golf course in late afternoon.

Tuesday, October 18, 1949.

64° to 84° to 69° 29.98, 30.02, 30.01

Mostly clear and pleasant. A bit warm in middle of the day.

Our cook Julia came back to work this morning, but she didn’t feel very well. After dinner, Lizzie drove her home, before I knew it. Otherwise I would have done so.

Had a fairly active morning. Spent an hour or so at Supreme Court Bldg. Didn’t feel so well this afternoon.

Had a fine Town Meeting of the Air program tonight, in Washington, the first since their return from their 12 weeks world tour. Dr. Geo. V. Denny has made it a very helpful institution.

My old friend Henry C. Tillman of Tampa was appointed one of the two additional Circuit Judges down there. A good appointment.

Wednesday, October 19, 1949.

63° to 83° to 66° 29.98, 30.02, 29.97

Another fine day.

Nothing unusual happened.

The Cowles came over & spent the evening.

We are preparing to leave in the morning for Auburn to see Aunt Lettie and Virginia. As Judge Terrell is away, Annie will go with us.

Thursday, October 20, 1949. Trip to Alabama

Weather about the same.

Lizzie, Annie & I / Left Tallahassee at 10:30 and arrived in Cuthbert, Ga. at about 1 p.m. There we had a fine dinner. Had Lizzie’s car serviced and reached Auburn / via Columbus and Opelika / about 5 p.m., our time. 4 p.m. Auburn, Central time. Aunt Lettie, Virginia Dowdell and Susan Lipscomb Bradfield gave us an ardent welcome. Catherine, (Mrs. Homer) Wright (who is Post Mistress of Auburn) was over to dinner with us. She is a very fine woman. Lan Lipscomb and his wife Frieddie dropped in after dinner.

Friday, October 21, 1949.

Weather clear and mild.

Still in Auburn. Aunt Lettie had quite a fine dinner today. Quite a lot of our kinsfolk, among them Render Read, who, as usual, just about monopolized the conversation. But he really is smart. He & his wife are living in Auburn & have one child. Render is my first Cousin—one of the sons of my mother’s oldest sister, Aunt Bettie Dowdell Read, a very fine and lovable person. It was at her suggestion that I went to La Fayette about July 1, 1896, to read law under Uncle J. Render Dowdell and did his stenographic work. I resigned as Manager of the Talbotton Butter & Cheese Factory.

That night, Lan Lipscomb and his pretty wife Frieddie had us to supper at their fine new & modern home. Virginia, Susan, & Aunt Lettie were also invited.

Saturday, October 22, 1949. La Fayette and Montgomery.

Still clear and mild.

We left Auburn about 10 A.M. and drove by Opelika to La Fayette, arriving there about 10:45. We went to Sallie Dowdell Boroling’s pretty home and Sallie and her 14 yr. old son were there. Sallie is as beautiful as ever, & looks young, thought there is some gray hair among the brown. She phoned her husband, George B, and he came out at once. And we had a good time. They drove us all around town—and it is prettier than when we left there. The population has grown from 1800 to over 3,000. We saw Uncle Render’s old home, which Annie Love[?], without any help from Will Donson[?], paid the taxes on for some years. It was finally sold for taxes. The purchaser has repainted this fine old Colonial dwelling and it looks fine.

We left about 12:15, got lunch in Opelika, and drove down to Montgomery. Stayed at the Jefferson Davis Hotel. After supper we drove out to see the Pickett girls—Fannie, Lizzie Banks & Edna Pickett Dismalkey[?] and the latter’s fine 15 yr. old boy, John. We had a most delightful evening, and returned to our hotel about 11 p.m.

Sunday, October 23, 1949. Home again.

Still clear and warm. It has been a bit warmer in Alabama than it was at home when we left.

We left Montgomery on the main highway to Troy & Dothan. But about 15 or so miles South, the road was closed and we were directed to take the left, which led direct to Unicoe[?] Springs—40 miles out of our way, and from there So. to Banks, Brundidge, Ozark, to Dothan, which we reached at 12 o’clock by Central time. We got a very good dinner at the Hotel Houston, and then drove down to Marianna, Fla. And from there East to Chattahoochee, which we reached at 3:15 Eastern (Fla.) time, but in time to visit with Joseph for 3/4 of an hour. Then we drove on to Tallahassee, reaching home about 5:15. Found everything in good shape. It was good to be home again. After resting for awhile, Lizzie fixed us up a nice supper.

We were quite tired, but on the whole we had a most delightful trip. But “there’s no place like home,” where we have so many comforts and conveniences that we did not find on our trip.

We stopped by the Supreme Court building and Annie & I went to her office and got the mail. Quite a bit of it.

Monday, October 24, 1949.

68° to 89° to 71° 29.98, 30.02, 29.97

Pleasant morning. Quite warm from noon on. About like it was in Auburn and Montgomery. Somewhat cloudy afternoon.

Have not felt at all well today. Pretty well fagged out by our trip. All of us.

A bit warmer weather than it was before we left on our Alabama trip.

Tuesday, October 25, 1949.

69° to 89° to 69° 29.97, 30.02, 29.97

Still clear and dry. No rain since Oct. 11, and then it rained for only one hour. Before that there had been no rain since Oct. 1st. So we have had only one rain since Oct 1st. And before that we had had no rain since Sept 22nd. We had rain every day from Sept. 19th to Sept. 22nd—four days—but very little since.

I went to see Raymond Barnes this morning in behalf of Joe Dowdell, Jr., who has been uneasy about his future—afraid he might lose his job. The Industrial Commission and the Unemployment Compensation Div. are facing a coming shortage of funds. But Raymond promised me that he would keep Joe on, & to tell him not to worry.

Wednesday, October 26, 1949.

68° to 83° to 71° 29.97—30.01

Clear morning. Cloudy afternoon. But the barometer is higher tonight than it was this morning. So I fear we won’t get any rain soon. But we need it.

Lizzie and I went to Dr. Garmany’s office this morning. He fixed up a bad place on my back where I had been scratching an itching mole. Then he gave me a quick check up. My blood pressure was 172, which he said was nothing to be alarmed about. But he suggested I come back Saturday at 9:30 and he would give me a thorough check.

The Steel and Coal strikes are beginning to paralyze the railroads and factories. As all attempts at mediation have failed, Pres. Truman will probably take some action soon.

Have been suffering from a queer drawing sensation in the back of my head & neck tonight.

Thursday, October 27, 1949.

68° to 83° to 71° 30.00, 30.02, 30.01

Fairly clear morning. Mostly cloudy afternoon.

Have felt some better today although I did not sleep very well last night.

At the request of Secretary of the Navy Matthews, in a some what lengthy letter attacking Admiral Denfield who is or was, Sec’y of the Navy, Pres. Truman today removed Admiral Denfield from office. This will not meet with public approval. Admiral Denfield was summoned to testify before the House Committee on Military Affairs and was told by the Committee he could testify freely; that there would be no reprisals. So he proceeded to defend the Navy’s position and to attack the plans of Sec’y of Defense Johnson to cut down the Navy. Then came the reprisals. He was removed from the office. What a shame.

Friday, October 28, 1949.

70° to 80° to 70° 29.88,30.00

Mostly cloudy, but no rain.

Our fine old friend and former pastor, Rev. W. F. Dunkle, died at noon today at St. Francis Hospital. Lizzie and I did not know about it till the afternoon paper came. In late afternoon we went to the Dunkle home and met Mr. Dunkle’s daughter and his son John Robert. William F. Dunkle, Jr., the oldest son, is here with his wife, from Wilmington, Del., where he is pastor of a large church, but they were out when we were there.

We had Mrs. Ruby Whitfield, and her guest Mrs. Maxwell of Jax., to dinner with us today.

Saturday, October 29, 1949. Showers.

68° to 80° to 71° 30.00, 29.96, 29.99

This morning pursuant to appointment I went to Dr. Garmany’s office way out on N. Monroe St. at 9:30, but he did not show up till 11.15. He gave me a pretty thorough examination and found nothing much the matter—no organic trouble, but said I needed some building up. So he gave me a prescription which I had filled at Fain’s –about 20 small bottles, each of which provided for an intravenous injection to be administered by a nurse. So I will get Mrs. Beasely to give them, one every two or three days. Also I must take vitamins.

This afternoon at 3 p.m. funeral services were held for Dr. W. F. Dunkle, at Trinity M. E. Church. A light shower was falling, but there was a good crowd there. He was buried in Oakland Cemetery. His sons William and John & their wives were here. William is a tall, fine-looking grand minister, now presiding in Wilmington, Del. His other son, John Robert, & his daughters were there. The rain held up during the burial.

Sunday. October 30, 1949. Slow rain in morning. Hard in afternoon.

70° to 77° to 71° 29.93, 29.90, 29.83

A dark morning—overcast, with slow, light rain or drizzle. Lizzie and Annie left in Lizzie’s car, about 10.10 for Chattahoochee to see Joe. I went to church, and by that time the drizzle had stopped.

Lizzie & Annie did not get back from Chattahoochee until 1: 30. The were held up from Quincy to Tallahassee by a negro funeral moving from Quincy—a long line of cars moving about 20 miles or less per hour which they could not get around on account of cars going toward Quincy.

They said that Joseph was worse—that his mental attitude was like it was a week ago, only worse than then.

From 3 to 5:30 p.m. this afternoon we had a hard, steady rain. Not much wind. First real soaking rain we’ve had since Oct 1st.

Monday, October 31, 1949. Rain

70° to 77° to 53° 29.80, 29.70, 29.73 Hard rain early this morning before day-break, and again this aft. Tonight it is getting colder & windy.

Mrs. Beasley gave me an intravenous injection today—some medicine Dr. Garmany has prescribed.

Tuesday, November 1, 1949. Cold Snap.

47° to 76° to 50° 29.75, 29.81

Quite cold and overcast.

Our first real cold-snap.

And the new State Sales Tax goes into effect today.

Top, or 8th floor, of the Washington D.C. Post office building, caught on fire today. The fire was accompanied by rumblings and explosions. Two persons hurt—but no one was killed.

Terrible Air Plane accident today to a big Eastern Air Lines plane with 50 aboard. A young Brazillian pilot, of Brazil, in a fighting plane, ran squarely into the side of the big liner as it was preparing to land at the air port in Washington and the big plane was broken in two and fell to the ground, killing all on board. Too awful! About 50 or 55 people killed. The Eastern Air Lines have had a very fine record for safety. The pilot of the Brazillian plane was hurt but not killed.

Wednesday, November 2, 1949.

42° to 63° to 46° 29.76, 29.83,29.76

Cold morning, but clear, and the afternoon was very pleasant. The strong breeze had died down.

I took a big red capsule after breakfast and this afternoon Mrs. Beazley came by and gave me another “shot” of something Dr. Garmany had prescribed—my second.

I have not felt like myself today. May be it’s the medicine and the injections.

A new nation was born today, the Republic of Indonesia, by virtue of a plan worked out after ten weeks conference between the Indonesians and the Dutch at The Hague. The Dutch sovereignty over New Guinea was acknowledged. So, after 300 years of occupation the Dutch are to move out of these rich territorial possessions.

Thursday, November 3, 1949.

45° to 67° to 47° 29.76, 29.83, 29.93

A bit milder, but still fairly cool.

Still not feeling well, Lizzie thinks it must be due to the hypodermic injections I am taking every other day. I doubt it.

This morning I had a very pleasant visit to Dick Ervin, our new Attorney General in his office. Then I went to get Annie at what I thought was 12:45. It was in fact 1:45. My watch was an hour slow. This upset Lizzie & our cook. I must take my watch to the shop.

This afternoon I went over to the Country Club and heard the last part of the lecture & demonstration by Miss Louise Suggs, National and English women’s golf champion, and later watched her play with Jin Lee against Sonnia Hay and Miss _____[,] former Ga. Champion. They all played well and wound up in a tie. I only saw them play the first and last two holes. Feel better tonight.

Friday, November 4, 1949.

39° to 66° to 45° 29.93, [ ? ], 30.00

Still clear and cold.

Feeling some better today.

Mrs. Beasley gave me another injection this afternoon.

So chilly I did not go to town till after 12.

This afternoon I did a little investigating in the Supreme Court library and brought Annie home.

Took a walk on golf course.

Feeling pretty well.

Tonight the Cowles came over and stayed till after11 p.m.

Saturday, November 5, 1949. Sick with cold.

About 40° to 66° to 46°

Temperatures about the same.

Sick in bed all day with a bad cold. Last night when I went to bed it was pretty warm in my room; so I did not need much cover. But it turned real cold later on and I woke up about 3:15 quite cold and sneezing and coughing. I had taken a bad cold. Lizzie insisted that I stay in bed all day and take frequent doses of Milk of Magnesia, which I did. Felt much better in afternoon. Lizzie & Annie drove over to Chattahoochee to see Joe. Were delayed by getting behind a big negro funeral from Quincy to Tallahassee. They got home about 6 p.m. I was still in bed.

I listened to the football scores. / U of / Fla. gave U. of Ga. the first basting[?] in seven years.

Sunday, November 6, 1949.

42° to 67° to 45° 30.00, 30.06, 30.00

We have now had six days of very cool, but clear, weather.

I stayed indoors most of the day, but this afternoon about 4 p.m. Lizzie and I drove over to see the new Tallahassee Memorial Hospital. It is the prettiest hospital I have ever see, and quite large. Big crowd there. It cost about $2,000,000.

When we got back about 5 p.m. I took a good walk on golf course watching some of my friends play. Feel pretty well tonight.

Monday, November 7, 1949.

40° to 68° to 45° 30.00, 31.00, 30.00

A pleasant day, but a bit cloudy this afternoon.

Wrote a few letters this morning.

This afternoon I went to Supreme Court Bldg; got quite a lot of mail. Saw my good friend Carl Hiaasen in Judge Terrell’s office and went in & had a pleasant chat with him and Judge Terrell. I went back to Annie’s room, and in a few minutes Carl came out and I asked him to call to see us this evening. He came about 8 P.m[.] & stayed till 9:30. We had a delightful time. Carl is a very fine man, an interesting conversationalist and one of the very ablest lawyers in the State. Liz & I drove him back to his hotel.

Tuesday, November 8, 1949.

43° to 72° --70°--48° 30.00, 29.98

Partly cloudy and overcast, but with warmer temperatures.

This morning I went to town—went to the bank & Fains, and then called on lawyer friends, J. Velma Keen and his two bright young partners, O’Kelly & Spitz. Then I went to Supreme Court Bldg. & drove Annie up to the Beauty Parlor.

This afternoon I got a good nap, then drove up for Annie. Took a short walk on golf course.

When I got home Mary Maud and the Cowles were here.

I read in today’s Tampa Tribune that Judge Louie Strum had to undergo an operation last week. I called up his son Gray who said the operation took place a week ago today, and was more serious than anticipated, but that his father was now getting better.

Dem. / [whole phrase that is illegible] / defeated Jno. Foster Dulles for the N.Y. Senatorship today by 260,000[.] I thought it would be more.

Wednesday, November 9, 1949.

Barometer Temp.

29.97, 30.01, 29.93 57° to 72° to 63°

Mostly hazy, and pleasant temperatures.

The 51 day old coal strike was suspended today for three weeks pending further negotiations between John Lewis and the coal mine operators.

Meanwhile the big steel strike goes on. All the companies have agreed to the Union’s demands except United States Steel

The first reports / last night / were that Gov Lehman had defeated John Foster Dulles by a 500,000 majority but when the reports from upstate New York came in later Lehman’s majority was reduced to about 200,000 / 196,000. Dulles ran ahead of Lehman by a big vote except in New York City.

Thursday, November 10, 1949.

68° to 75° to 58° 29.93, 30.00, 29.93

A very mild, but somewhat overcast day.

Not feeling very well, but took a pretty good walk on golf course about 5 p.m. to 6, and felt better.

Friday, November 11, 1949. Armistice Day

50° to 76° to 57° 29.93, 30.00, 29.89

A beautiful, clear and pleasant day.

I spent the day quietly. Did not go to see the parade or to hear the speaking at the band stand in rear of court house.

In fact, I did not go to town at any time. Read a lot, and wrote some letters.

This afternoon I took an hour’s walk on golf course.

Mrs. Beasley gave me a hypodermic prescribed by Dr. Garmany two weeks ago, for every other day. From now twice a week and then once a week. I think they have done me some good.

Saturday, November 12, 1949.

55° to 77° to 65° 29.80, 29.99, 29.87

Another beautiful and pleasant day. A few clouds but no sign of rain.

F. St. Univ. beat Millsapp College of Jackson Miss., here today 40 to nothing.

The Negro College here, Fla. A.&M., defeated the Florence, SC, team, / Allan Cullyr[?], / at Florence, 34 to nothing, winning the Collegiate Ass’n Championship for the 6th straight year.

Lizzie & Annie drove over to Chattahoochee this aft. Found Joe worse. Too bad.

Sunday, November 13, 1949. Light rain.

60° to 76° to 63° 29.87, 29.90, 29.83

Overcast early morning, but almost clear by 10:30. So Lizzie and I went to church. As usual, Bro. Cotton preached a good sermon.

This afternoon I took a short nap and then stayed in bed till 4:30. Reading much of the time. Went for a walk, watching golfers, all the way to the club house and back.

Tonight I lay down for awhile and then joined Annie & Lizzie up front, talking, listening to the radio & reading till 11:30

Feels like we might have some more rain.

Monday, November 14, 1949. Rain

64° to 67° to 55° 29.80, 29.73, 29.80

Mostly cloudy early morning with intermittent showers from 12 o’clock till 1:30, then a pretty steady light rain on till 4:30 when it began to clear up and by 4:45 the sun began to shine. Meanwhile it had become quite cool.

It was so cool and the ground so wet, I did not get my usual walk on golf course.

Tuesday, November 15, 1949.

46° to 67° to 56° 29.80—29.83

A gorgeous day.

Nothing unusual happened, except that I received a very fine and cordial letter from Hon. Gessner T. McCorvey of Mobile, Pres. of the Ala. Bar Ass’n last year. I wrote him congratulating him on his fine speech as Pres of the Ala. Bar Ass’n which was printed in full in the Alabama Lawyer a month ago. He was the leader of the States Right Democratic party in Ala. Last year.

Wednesday, November 16, 1949.

47° to 77° to 52° 29.90, 30.00, 29.93

Pretty cool, but clear.

Uneventful day—here.

Plenty of things happening throughout the world, and here in the U.S. Another airplane accident—a / U.S. B-29, 20 men aboard / plane flying from California to / London via / Bermuda did not reach Bermuda—radioed it was running out of gas—and disappeared with some 20 people on board—crew of 11 and a ground crew of 9.

Secretary of State Acheson has returned from his conferences in Paris with the British & French foreign ministers. He also visited Germany. Reports progress.

The big superfortress above referred to was flying non-stop from California to Bermuda, 3500 miles, on its way to London. A big search is being made.

Thursday, November 17, 1949. Our first cold day.

44° to 68° to 44° 29.93, 30.00, 29.98

Clear and cold, except in the middle of the day when it was quite pleasant.

The B-29 with 20 servicemen aboard, which failed to reach Bermuda, has not been located yet, but a red flare has been reported as having been seen 230 miles N.E. of Bermuda and planes have been sent to investigate. The B-29 was equipped with life rafts and flares. I hope they will yet be rescued. There was another plane accident out on the West Coast with some loss of life but details not reported as yet. Two B-29s collided.

U.S. Navy Captain Jno. G. Crommelin, an old Montgomery, Ala. boy, demands a court martial, in reply to Adm. Forrest P. Sherman’s public letter of reprimand.

Friday, November 18, 1949. Real cold.

35° to 67° to 44° 29.98, 30.00

A real cold day, but clear and fine.

Another B-29 crash; five killed & four escaped by jumping today, at Tampa. The big ship was taking off to search for the missing airmen near Bermuda. In five minutes after the B-29 left the ground, engine trouble developed and the pilot turned to get back to McDill Field, but he failed by 500 ft., as the big plane went down in the muddy waters near the shore of Tampa Bay. This is the 5th B-29 disaster in 5 days.

Saturday, November 19, 1949. Cold.

32° to 63° 29.98, 30.00

V.P. Barkley & Mrs. Hadley were married in St. Louis today.

Our coldest day so far this fall. Unusually cold for this time of the year. I caught a slight cold tonight.

It is so good to know that 18 out of the 20 U.S. Airmen whose B-29 had to be ditched at sea were located and rescued from the rubber life rafts by the Canadian destroyer Aida late this afternoon. A B-17 bomber had sighted them about 3:30 and had radioed to the surface ships engaged in the search, and the bomber continued to circle the two rafts until the destroyer came and took them aboard. The 18 men were very weak, but it was hoped they could be transferred to air-craft carrier Magnificent which had accompanied the Aida in the search, so they could have better treatment.

Sunday, November 20, 1949.

44° to 80° to 58° 29.98, 30.01, 29.93

Still quite cool, but bright and clear.

Annie gave us some uneasiness tonight. Elmira asked her to take a ride down to the Light house. They / left at 3:30 / did not return until 9:15. We were just preparing to get the Highway patrol to look for them. We had phoned to the Café at S. Marks and found they had not been there.

This afternoon about 4:40 I took a walk on the golf course. They were having a Scotch-foursome tournament. The weather was perfect.

Monday, November 21, 1949.

49° to 77° to 50° 29.93, 30.00

Clear morning. Cloudy in middle of the day. Looked like it would rain, but by 4 p.m. it was perfectly clear again and getting cooler.

This is the 48th anniversary of our marriage. Lizzie and I were married in Montgomery at noon on Nov. 21st, 1901, in old Court St. Methodist Church, and went by train to LaFayette. It was a fine day like today, but no clouds. / Cousin / Susie Read and Fletcher Chester were married the same day in Opelika and went up with us to LaFayette and we all spent the night at Uncle Render Dowdell’s home.

I gave Lizzie a present today.

Tuesday, November 22, 1949. Clear, Cold & windy.

38° to 77° to 40° 30.00, 30.08, 30.03

There was a strong N.W. wind today which made it feel really colder than it was. Colder weather predicted for tomorrow.

This afternoon our niece, Sue Harris and husband George D. Harris of Scarsdale, N.Y, called us up from Hawkinsville, Ga., where they are making a brief visit. Lizzie and I both had a pleasant chat with them. Susie has always been one of our favorite nieces. Henrietta is in London—she and her husband / Hugh Mitchell, / but they have placed their son in school in New England. They have been in London for several years, where Hugh represents an American house. They both visited Sue & George in Scarsdale, N.Y. this past Summer, and on their recent return to England they had very rough weather.

Wednesday, November 23, 1949.

37° to 56° to 41°

Clear and cool. Not as much wind as yesterday.

Tooth trouble. I had tooth ache for several days. Went to see Dr. Conrad at noon. He took out my bridge—upper bridge, and found from x-rays that I had an abcess[sic] at the base of one of my upper left eye teeth. Told me to come back Saturday morning and maybe he could put my bridge back. I can only eat soft food.

Thursday, November 24, 1949. Thanksgiving Day.

Feel pretty bad this morning.

A mild, delightful day. Clear until late this afternoon.

We—Lizzie, Annie & I and Walter Cowles & wife Elfrida—went down to the restaurant located over the edge of the Ochlocknee River—a large, nice place, for dinner. We left shortly after 11 A.M., and went by the New Road to Crawfordville (22 miles), then to Panacea and then four or five miles further to the eating place.

We had a very nice meal, tho the service was slow, only one girl to service some dozen or more tables. After dinner we drove down several miles below the long bridge over the River to the turn left to alligator point. Went to the end of the road & returned home about 5 p.m.

Tonight Lizzie & Annie & the Cowles went to the picture show about 7:20 I staid home, & phoned Ophelia Strum & found Judge Strum was getting along very well.

Friday, November 25, 1949.

44° to 74° to 43° 29.78, 29.84

Mostly clear, with strong N.W. wind.

Tonight Lizzie and I called up Dow and Hilda. I had not heard from Dow / in some time / and I was afraid he was sick. I had written him some ten or twelve days ago, and has he did not reply I was uneasy about him, but he said he was feeling pretty well, and thought we should run down to Miami this coming week and see what we could do about our property. I suggested he come down and spend a night and day with us & then we could fly down to Miami for a day or two. He said little Hilda has been pretty sick, but was getting O.K,[sic] and he would act in accord with my suggestions.

Saturday, November 26, 1949.

31° to 70° to 46° 29.92, 29.98, 29.90

Quite cold. Coldest early morning so far this Fall.

Went to Dr. Conrad’s office at noon, and he replaced my bridge. Of course it was somewhat painful, but I hope I am through with dental work for some time. I hope also I will regain my health and energy. I have not felt like myself for the past several months and have accomplished very little, outside of keeping up with my correspondence.

Lizzie & Annie drove over to see Joseph this afternoon. He has refused solid food for the past week but seemed about as well or better than he was a week ago.

Judge Sebring is out at the Dale Mabry field hospital, and may have to have an operation. I will try and go to see him tomorrow. He has an attack of hernia I think.

Sunday, November 27, 1949.

36° to 76° to 50° 29.90, 29.97, 29.92

Quite warm today, as compared with yesterday.

It is reported that the temperature fell as low as 25° in parts of South Florida this morning, doing great damage to the early vegetable crops.

I went out this afternoon intending to go to Dale Mabry hospital to see how Judge Sebring was getting on, but on way, I met Mrs. Sebring at the corner of Pensacola & Adams Streets, and she stopped her car and told me that the three doctors and surgeons had been exploring and had about reached a conclusion that no serious operation would be necessary. So I returned home.

The foreign news is disquieting—and discouraging—all due to Russia.

Monday, November 28, 1949.

Weather conditions about the same.

Considerable pain in the region of the bridge that Dr. Conrad replaced Saturday and particularly in the cavity of the eye tooth which he pulled on Nov. 23rd. He removed the bridge and drained the cavity of the pulled tooth. I had considerable pain during the afternoon and night. Called Dow & told him I would have to put off the trip to Miami until next week.

Lizzie slept in my room tonight. I had to take two seconals[?] to get some sleep.

Tuesday, November 29, 1949. Rain.

Weather quite warm. Some rain.

I felt fairly well this morning but went to see Dr. Conrad again at noon. He found by probing that the trouble was in the cavity left by the pulling of the eye tooth. He treated it, and I have been fairly comfortable this afternoon and tonight, but far from well.

The Cowles came over tonight, but I stayed in bed listening to Town Meeting over the radio until 9:30 when I went up and stayed in our sitting room with Lizzie & Annie and the Cowles until they left at 11:30.

Another serious air plane accident, in Texas this time; 24 persons killed. We’ve had a most unusual series of Airplane accidents in the past two weeks.

Wednesday, November 30, 1949.

62° to 74° to 50° 29.88, 29.90

Some rain last night, but clear this morning. Very pleasant. But quite cool this afternoon and evening.

I managed to get some sleep last night by taking a seconal when I went to bed at 12 o’clock, but woke up about 2 A.M. & couldn[‘]t get back to sleep until I took another seconal about 5 o’clock. Then I slept till 7:30 a.m. and woke up feeling very bad and with pain in left side of head, centering in the cavity where my left eye tooth had been. Went to Dr. Conrad’s office, and he suggested I go to see Dr. Andrews. He said that there was some pus from the tooth cavity and gave me an injection of Penicillin and some pain relieving tablets. I have felt much better this afternoon & tonight.

Judge Sebring operated on this afternoon for an abcess in intestine.

Thursday, December 1, 1949.

47° to 69° to 47° 30.01, 30.02, 30.00

A fine, clear day. Pleasantly cool.

Lizzie drove me up to Dr. Andrews’s office and Miss Kelly, his assistant, gave me another shot of penicillin.

I felt much better this afternoon and tonight. Took a short walk on golf course.

John Lewis today ordered his men to work three days a week. The miners didn’t like it much. He has already deprived / each of / them of about $1200 in wages this year. He is evidently determined to out-do Philip Murray who obtained a settlement for the C.I.O. workers several weeks ago which was satisfactory to his C.I.O members. But John Lewis had no ground for calling his 3 day work week strike.

Friday, December 2, 1949.

45° to 72° to 47° 30.00—30.02

Another fine day.

I went to Dr. Andrews office and got another penicillin shot. Lizzie drove me up. Then to Dr. Conrad’s office. He examined the place where my eye-tooth had been and said I had what they call a “dry socket” which might take some time to clear up, and he could not replace my bridge until it had healed up. So I must wait awhile. I am afraid I can’t make my trip to Miami with Dow to get a settlement with Joe Gorman as to rents, &c. We intended to go this week, & then put it off till next week. Now I fear I’ll have to put it off again.

Fulton Lewis, Jr., had a former Army officer on his program tonight who gave some sensational testimony as to leaks of A-bomb secrets to Russia.

Saturday, December 3, 1949.

34° to 70° to 49° 30.10, 30.12, 30.10

Clear & cold morning. Almost down to freezing.

Lizzie drove me by Dr. Andrews’ office for a shot of penicillin. Then to Dr. Conrad’s office where I had to wait some time before he could examine the place where my eye-tooth had been. He though it was improving and that that[sic] I might lay off from the penicillin injections. But I’m still feeling badly.

While I was waiting in Dr. Conrad’s outer office I had quite a talk with Ellison Conrad, the Doctor’s oldest of 3 sons, and found him to be an unusually fine, intelligent and sociable youngster—13-1/2 yrs old.

This afternoon Lizzie and Annie drove over to Chattahoochee to see Joseph. Got back at 5:15.

Then we had a visit from Mary Maud till 7:15.

Sunday, December 4, 1949.

36° to 71° to 56° 30.10, 30.11, 30.10

Mostly clear and cool.

I felt some better this afternoon and tonight.

This afternoon Lizzie drove me out to Dale Mabry Hospital about 3:45 to see how Judge Sebring was getting on. He is in room 104, but the place is such a labyrinth I had to get a nurse to help me find it. The door to his room was slightly ajar, and the nurse tipped in and then Mrs. Sebring came out, and she took me out on the porch nearby and told me about the serious operation Judge S. had to undergo night before last, by which a large tumor or abcess[sic] was removed from just below his stomach. I do hope he recovers. He is a fine & able man.

Monday, December 5, 1949.

37° to 70° to 49° 30.10, 30.30, 30.25

Clear & fine—but cool.

Went to Dr. Conrad’s office this morning—about noon—and he examined my tooth condition and told me he would advise me not to go to Miami until next week. I so phoned Dow tonight. It is so necessary—Joe Gorman has made no report as to rents collected or taxes paid.

Felt mighty bad tonight.

Tuesday, December 6, 1949. Light Rain at night.

32° to 62° to 49° 30.03, 30.04, 29.94

Clear & cold morning.

Feeling a little better.

But little accomplished. Went to Dr. Brown’s office to have ingrowing eyelashes pulled out.

The UnAmerican activities Committee heard the testimony of Major Jordan in regard to what he said over the radio last Friday night, during Fulton Lewis, Jr.’s broadcast. Major Jordan stood by what he said and gave some additional facts. Only part of the Congressional Committee were present. It looks like the Russians were getting radar, uranium and some “heavy water” through connivance or neglect of some of our American officials.

Wednesday, December 7, 1949. Light slow rain during night.

36° to 64° to 61° 29.94, 29.96, 293.94

Mostly clear morning. Cloudy afternoon with light slow rain shortly after dark.

Felt some better today, but my memory seems to be slipping. Lizzie says she reminded me before she left for town this morning that I was to go to Dr. Conrad’s office at 12 noon. But I completely forgot it. Didn[‘]t even remember her telling me. I wonder if the penicillin I’ve been taking for a week or more has affected my memory.

The UnAmerican Activities Committee took some testimony yesterday in regard to Major Jordan’s charges about radar and uranium being shipped to Russia by planes in 1943-44.

Thursday, December 8, 1949.

57° to 74° to 54° 29.94, 30.00

A very pleasant, and mostly sunshining day.

Still feeling lackadaisical. However, I think I am a bit better.

I went to see my dentist Dr. Conrad at noon and he said that the cavity left by the pulling of that eye tooth was still in too bad a shape to put in the false teeth and bridge & he feared I could not go to Miami next week.

Friday, December 9, 1949.

50° to 67° to 54° 30.00, 30.02

A little rain during the last night / not much / . Mostly clear today.

Lizzie was feeling unusually bad today and drove up to far North Monroe St. to see Dr. Garmany. He was a long time getting to see her, but finally gave her an examination and a prescription, which I hope will do her good.

I drove up to the Supreme Court Bldg. about noon and called on Mr. Cash, State Librarian. He is back at work after a right serious operation.

Then I went up to the foyer of the Supreme Court Bldg & had the pleasure of meeting my West Palm Beach friends Mr. & Mrs. Paty. I had not seen Mrs. Paty in 15 or 20 years. She is a very fine woman and unusually pretty. Has changed very little. They have several children, one boy in the recent war.

Saturday, December 10, 1949.

56° to 68° to 65° 30.02, 30.04

Fairly clear morning, but a bit overcast and cloudy this afternoon. Unusually mild this aft and tonight.

I went to town this morning, went to Dr. Conrads at noon, and then to Supr. Ct. to get Annie. After dinner, Annie and Lizzie went over to see Joseph & got back about 5:20. I was out walking on the golf course. Met a very nice young fellow, who was a good player, from Miami, Named Jimmy James. Followed him & his bunch to the club house.

The walk made me feel better. At 6 o’clock Judge Chapman called to take me to Judge Buford’s party at his home, dropping by & picking up Judge Terrell. We arrived on time—6:30. Judge Buford met us at the door. We had a fine dinner and a grand time. At my table was Comptroller Gay, B.K. Roberts, Judge Buford & Guyte McCord. I got home at about 9:15.

Sunday, December 11, 1949.

53° to 74° to 56° 30.04—30.06

Mostly cloudy. Some sunshine in mid day, but over cast to some extent in afternoon. Very mild and pleasant all day.

This morning I woke up feeling pretty tough. My left eye very weak. Considerable pain in the region of the cavity left by extraction of my left eye tooth on Nov. 23rd, and the / very / severe pain after the bridge work was put in by Dr. Conrad on Nov. 26th. So severe that Dr. C. took out the bridge on Nov. 28th. I think I have a “dry socket.” I have felt so bad since that I have had to put off my trip with Dow to Miami to see about our property down there.

Fulton Lewis, Jr. started something when he had Major Racey Jordan to make a statement, on evening of Dec. 2nd, as to his observations of shipments of uranium and government documents to Russia when he was on duty at Great Falls, [ ? ] in 1943-1944. The Congressional Committee ought to go to the bottom of this.

Monday, December 12, 1949.

60° to 75° to 62° 30.10, 30.12, 30.04

The warmest day for sometime, and mostly bright & clear.

I got a good night’s sleep last night and felt better today than any day since Nov. 23rd when my left eye tooth was extracted, leaving what is known as a “dry socket.”

Angus Ward, our minister to Mukden, and his family and his assistants, about twenty persons in all, at last is safe on an American ship. They have been held / without cause / as prisoners for about a year, by the Chinese Communist forces, and given only bread and water. Our government should take drastic action against the Chinese Communist government.

Tuesday, December 13, 1949.

58° to 78° to 61° 30.06—30.00

Mostly clear and warm. Strong Southerly breezes.

Felt some better today, but tonight I had stomach and bowel upset. Lizzie thinks I have taken too many cathartics today. She may be right. I may have chewed too much tobacco also.

Wednesday, December 14, 1949.

55° to 67° to 56° 30.00, 29.94

Dark, overcast morning, with light, sprinkle of rain about 9:30[.] Fairly cool.

Not feeling well.

Went to Dr. Conrad’s office at 12:15. He inspected the cavity but evidently found that the “dry socket” was not yet healed. Told me to come again Friday or Saturday.

This afternoon I went for Annie at 4:50 and when I returned I walked out to the club house & back, watching some of my golf friends. It was about dark when I got back.

Tonight Dow called me up to see when I could join him in the trip to Miami we’ve been contemplating, to get our property down there straightened out. I could not say.

Thursday, December 15, 1949. Cold, Rainy.

44°, 50°, 40° 29.84, 29.94

The cold wave struck us this early morning about 3 A.M., accompanied by steady rain. We had a dark, cold rainy day, with strong N.W. wind. The rain held up about 6 p.m. Lizzie & Annie went over to Mary Maud’s at 6 & returned at 7. After dinner I lay down for awhile & then came up front. Walter & Elfrida Cowles were here and stayed till about 10:15. They leave for the North tomorrow morning, by bus to Jacksonville from there to Wash’n by train, to be gone for two weeks I guess. May be more.

Gen. Eisenhower has been making some speeches in his native State of Texas. He says he has no political ambitions, but his attacks on some of the policies of the Truman administration were effective.

Friday, December 16, 1949. Cold & Clear

32° to 58° to 43° 29.94, 29.96

Cold morning, with strong N.W. wind, gradually turning to N. & N.E.

Went to the Doctor this noon. He said that the “dry socket” was healing very slowly.

We hear this morning that 1st Lt. Robert L. Eyman, son of Dr. Robt Eyman, had been killed in a plane crash at Roswell, New Mexico, yesterday—along with 5 others, 8 escaped with their lives but some were badly hurt. They were returning from a training flight on a B-29 when the plane ran into a windmill as it was preparing to land. Lt. Eyman left a wife and young child. I knew him when he was a boy. He was 24 yrs old & a graduate of West Point. A sad story.

Saturday, December 17, 1949.

40° to 68° to 54° 29.96, 30.04

Did not feel at all well this morning, but better this afternoon.

Took a good long walk on golf course without fatigue.

This morning about 11 A.m., Lizzie and I called on Dr. & Mrs. Eyman. They were very cordial and pleasant. They said they did not sleep any the night they heard of their son’s death in a plane crash.

Sunday, December 18, 1949.

54° to 70° to 62° 30.04, 30.02

Much warmer. Cloudy or overcast. Quite a warm day. I think we will have some rain tomorrow.

Lizzie, Annie & I drove over to Chattahoochee about 9:50 this A.M., & got back home at 1:20 this afternoon. We found that Joe had gotten to where he would not eat, or could not, and they had transferred him from the Infirmary Bldg. to the hospital bldg. about 400 ft. East of the Infirmary where he was being fed intravenealy[?]. He was asleep or in a stupor when we got there. And did not talk any hardly at all. We stayed an hour or more. I think he is much worse.

This afternoon at 4:30 I took a good long walk on golf course & felt some better.

Monday, December 19, 1949.

60° to 72° to 62° 30.02, 30.05, 30.02

Light rain during the night last night.

Warm and overcast today. I went to see Dr. Conrad about noon, but others were ahead of me. It was nearly 1 o’clock when I got to see Dr. C. Meanwhile Mrs. Conrad and her youngest boy about 5 yrs. old came out in the reception room and I was glad to see her. She looks as young and pretty as ever—a fine young woman and a devoted mother.

Took a short walk on golf course. Then visited the Fains where Liz had preceded me. Nell and her 3 children and Angie and her two were there.

I had neuralgia in left side of head tonight.

Tuesday, December 20, 1949.

60° to 72° to 61° 30.02, 30.00

A bright, clear & beautiful day. But I have not felt well.

This afternoon I sat in conference with the Court in the Bee Brand Cattle Co. case. I don’t know why it has been held up so long. The case was argued a year ago, and Judge Chapman wrote the opinion in which a majority of the Court concurred—I among them. Then a rehearing was granted and a reargument was had about last July. I think I will stand by the original opinion when the file reaches me.

Had a new clutch put in my old car / that I bought from Mrs. Fayard / & several other things done to it. I made a mistake in selling my 1941 Chevrolet / in good condition / which had only been run about 30,000 miles and then buying the same kind of car which had been run 60,000 miles.

Wednesday, December 21, 1949.

58° to 75° to 62° 30.00, 29.91

Bright, clear morning. Mostly clear and fine all day.

Another day with very little worth while accomplished. So many little things to attend to.

We are getting lots of Christmas cards. It is nice to be remembered by so many friends and Kinfolks. We have not sent out any X-mas cards ourselves for quite awhile.

Thursday, December 22, 1949. Short Rain tonight at 11 pm.

59° to 74° to 54° 29.88, 29.92

Clear & fine morning, and mostly clear this afternoon.

Went to see Dr. Conrad, and he said the / dry / socket, left by the pulling of my left eye tooth, shows some improvement, and may be next week he can put my bridge back. It’s hard to eat with all my upper teeth out.

The Russian government made a big-to-do over Stalin’s birthday a day or so ago. He is now 70. They are trying to deify Stalin, who had had so many thousands of people put to death without cause.

Tonight from 6:10 to 7:20 we were invited over to Mary Mauds. Had a very pleasant time[.] Jeff came in soon after we arrived.

And about 9 p.m. we drove up town and by the Governor’s Mansion. Mrs. Warren has quite a fine electrically lighted X-mas decorations in front yard.

Friday, December 23, 1949.

50° to 75° to 55°

Weather a bit cool, but mostly clear and pleasant. Windy.

This evening at 6 to 7 we attended a very pleasant egg nog party given by Mr. & Mrs. Ed. Harrison.

Lizzie and I drove over to Chattahoochee to see Joseph. He is definitely worse. Has been in the hospital building for past week or so. The nurse, a Mrs. Dykes, was very nice and had him brought out in a wheel chair, but he did not talk any and I doubt if he recognized us.

[final paragraph on this page crossed out]

Saturday, December 24, 1949. Joseph died about 6:45 tonight.

34° to 70° to 48° 30.12—30.10

Mostly / pretty cool, / The N.W. wind continues, tho not as strong as for past few days.

This afternoon about / 5:45 / we received a telegram from Dr. Satterfield saying that Joseph had arterio schlerosis / & rheumatism / of the heart and that his condition was extremely critical / & he had wired Mabel also. / At 7 pm Lizzie called the Dr. over the phone and he said that Joseph had passed away about 15 minutes before that. Lizzie called up “little Joe,” Coral Gables, & told him, but suggested he not phone his mother until Tomorrow, as there was nothing she could do. She told him we would make all arrangements for his, Joseph, Sr;s, burial in Montgomery next week and that we would wire him $200.00 to pay expenses of his & Mabel’s trip to Montgomery. We also called James in Honolulu.

Sunday, December 25, 1949. Christmas.

40° to 65° to 46°

Cold & clear morning; wind still from N.E. Clouding up in afternoon, but no rain.

Lizzie and I went over to Chattahoochee right after breakfast and got there about 10 A. M. We called to see our friend Mrs. Clark at the Infirmary Bldg. She was very cordial and sympathetic, and she introduced us to Mr. Hering or Heren, who went with us to the Clark funeral parlors, and we selected a coffin for Joseph’s funeral, and I gave my check for $300.00 and $45.00 for express charges to [ ? ]

in Montgomery. Lizzie had brought some of Joseph’s best clothes.

We returned home about 12:15. Lizzie was tired, but got lunch—in fact a good dinner. She thought we had better plan for the funeral to be on next Friday, so Annie could attend & then go home with us. After many trials she finally got Little Joe over the phone & told him to tell Mabel, but not to spoil the Christmas morning by letting the children know.

James received our cable early this morning and he called up over long distance trans-oceanic telephone & had a talk with Lizzie, and Lizzie persuaded him not to try & come. Lizzie didn’t sleep any last night and is exhausted.

We opened up the presents late this evening. I received more than I deserved.

Monday, December 26, 1949.

42° to 73° to 62° 30.10, 30.03, 30.02

Clear and quite warm by 11 A.M. and quite clear till late this aft. A light drizzle about 11 p.m. tonight.

Lizzie managed to get some sleep last night, but is still badly worn down.

Jimmy W. phoned this morning that Annie would not attempt to go to the funeral in Montgomery. “Little Joe” phoned from Coral Gables that Mabel and he would go up to Montgomery by plane arriving there 11 A.M. Thursday, and returning Thursday night; that it would cost very little more than to go by train which would entail cost of meals. I wired him $200.00 for travel expenses.

I took short walk on golf course this morning and again this aft.

Mary Maud Jeffords returned from X-mas trip to Ala. to see her mother late this afternoon. Jeff had drunk too much, so she did the driving. But she came over right after supper to extend her sympathy to Lizzie and stayed till 11: 15.

Tuesday, December 27, 1949.

58° to 72° 30.02,30.02

Mild but overcast early morning. Warm by midday.

Republic of Indonesia was established today. The Dutch have been generous. I hope the Communists do not succeed in taking over these / rich / islands, which I am convinced they will try to do.

I had hoped to get my teeth fixed up & my bridge back in place before leaving tomorrow for Montgomery, but his assistant, Mrs. Jenkins, told Lizzie today that Dr. Conrad was sick and in the hospital. I’m sorry. He’s a fine man.

I have not had any energy today. May be it’s the very warm weather. But I forced myself to take a walk on golf course late this afternoon. Watched my friend Dempsey Powell & Mr. Bob Johnson, Doris’s husband, play the last four holes & then walked back.

We plan to drive to Montgomery tomorrow.

Wednesday, December 28, 1949. Trip to Montgomery.

Weather the same.

Still brilliantly clear and pleasant.

We drove to Montgomery today via Bainbridge & Dothan. From Dothan to Montgomery the road is very curvy and one high hill after another. We had to stop at Ozark for lunch. Reached Montgomery about 3:45 p.m. Got a nice double room at the Jeff’n Davis Hotel, and as Lizzie had done the driving, she was very tired, and we went to bed for a nap, about 4 p.m. Then Harlwell Davis called and said we just had to take dinner at his home at 6 p.m. We told him we had to have some rest & to expect us at 7 p.m. But he called for us in his car at 6 & we went out about 6:30 and spent the evening. Lovely Mary Dowdell Ashley came out & we had a very pleasant evening. Harlwell drove us back to our Hotel about 10 p.m. & we went promptly to bed. Poor Liz was worn to a frazzle, & me too.

Thursday, December 29, 1949. Joseph’s Funeral.

Clear and mild.

This morning I went to the Montgomery County Court House, and had a very pleasant chat with / Judge / Walter B. Jones, and the[n] a pleasant visit with Temple Sibels, who was Solicitor when I was Judge of the Criminal Division of the old City Court of Montgomery. He has been Solicitor for 38 years—a record; is still hale and hearty and still plays golf. Then I called to see the Clerk, Jno. E. Mathews, who was assistant clerk when I was there. Henry Hughes, the old Clerk, died several years ago. Then I visited my old court room. I had to walk back to the hotel & got to our room at 12:30 & found Lizzie in tears. I was to go to Leak’s funeral parlor with her at 12, and forgot it. My fault. Mabel & little Joe had arrived early this morning by plane from Miami. And we all went to the funeral parlors about 2:15. The funeral services took place at 2:30, conducted by Dr. Farrister, and then the procession to the Cemetery, and then the interment, with a prayer by Dr. Farrister. There were lots of flowers and a larger crowd of friends & relatives than we expected. Aunt Lettie Ross was there from Auburn, and Virginia D. and Susan. We had supper with John & Mary Ashley. A number of friends & relatives were there. Mabel behaved better than we had expected. Lizzie had warned her. Tonight after we returned to the hotel Mabel & Joe came to our room. We talked until nearly one o’clock. They left for Miami by plane at 3:30 A.M.

Friday, December 30, 1949.

Clear & Mild.

Montgomery trip about over.

Lizzie & I drove to Auburn, after going by the Cemetery and placing on Joseph’s grave the beautiful flowers James had sent by air Mail from Honolulu.

We got to Auburn about 11 A.M. & dropped by to see dear Aunt Lettie and Virginia and Susan. They insisted on our staying to dinner, & it was a good one. After dinner we drove to Columbus, and then down to Albany. About 15 miles from Albany we heard a tremendous clatter of noise inside or under the car. It was about dusk. I examined the car & could find nothing wrong and then I took the wheel and started it up and it drove all right. But we drove slowly into Albany; stopped at the New Albany Hotel, had a good dinner, a nice room and a fairly good night’s sleep.

Saturday, December 31, 1949. Clear & Mild.

52° to 72° to 60° 30.20 to 30.12

After breakfast this morning at the Hotel, we drove our car to the Chevrolet headquarters, had the car examined and a test run made, and they found nothing wrong.

We left Albany about 9:15, and arrived in Tallahassee at noon. Lizzie stopped at the A. & P. & Pigly Wiggly & Lovat’s for groceries; then we drove to our cook, Julia’s, house and took her out home to cook dinner for us. We found the house in good shape. After dinner we took Julia home, but then we returned to our home and went to bed. We were pretty badly worn out.

The trip was trying. The burden of it all fell on Lizzie. It was sad, but at the same time it was good to see so many of our friends and relatives that we had not seen in so long.

God has been good to us. It is so good to be back home again.

We have had only one real rain for three months and that was on Dec. 15th.

I am tired nearly all the time. So I think I’ll quit keeping a diary.

Memoranda.

According to one writer, Grandpa James Ferguson Dowdell was born in 1818, in Jasper County Ga., and died at his home near Auburn, Ala., Sept. 6, 1871. At the age of 53.

_______________

The U.S. Supreme Court, in Jacobson v. Massachusetts, 197 U.S., 11; 49 Law ed. 643; 3 Ann. Case, 765, held that: — the preamble of the Constitution of the U.S. is not a grant or delegation of power to the Federal government, but merely a generic Statement of the great aims and ends of our National government. Justice Harlan wrote the opinion. I cannot find that it has ever been overruled.

So the effort to make the U.S. a “welfare state,” if carried out, would be unconstitutional.

Memoranda.

Some Names of Golf player friends

W. Ed. Buhrman and wife Mary Ann Burhman

Miss Elizabeth Rogers (now Mrs. Tom[)]

Miss Alma Shelfer

Miss Margaret Horne,

Miss Pauline Kelly

Mrs. Bessie Porter

Mr. & Mrs. Tom Gallatin (Fannie) [actually her name was Sallie {Erik Robinson, Feb 1, 2012}]

Mr. & Mrs. John Teague. Mrs. Teague was a Miss Francis Johnson, I think.

Mrs. Rebecca Marks (Sec. to BK Roberts)

Dr. Pat Flynn; Mike Dolan;

Mr. Daugherty

Mr. Buster Lawson

Mr. Tom Green

Mr. & Mrs Gallatin.

Jimmy James, Miami

Mike Nolan

Harry / G. / Smith

Connie McCann (moved away but comes back)

Tommie Thomason (moved away)

Jim Lee

Bill Ewing

George Grady, Farm Supt. (2)

Garry Whitehead. Road Dept

Pierce Ford

Paul Brock

Mr _____ Crawford, Humble Oil Co.

D. Howard Danford, Ath. Dir. College

Young Dean Smith (over)

Memoranda.

Morris, __________ Allen Morris’s Son

[END]

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