Tag Archives: politics

May 20, 1940

Personal

Sunday Night [Postmark suggests Walter got the day wrong again.]

My dear Ina,

Your very important news is great and we hope that the little daughter is on the way. According to your calculations the date would be some time near Walter White’s birthday. She would be grown about the time I reach 65. I am sure that she will keep both of us young and a lot of company, after W.W. and Lewis are grown. With 5 and 6 years between the ages of the youngsters, we should find it not so difficult to see them through college.

May 21, 1940

I am rather glad that we are not going to Menard, for two or three reasons including the arrival of the daughter. I am wondering about the steps at Mr. Gaddis’s house. You will need to be very careful and not undertake to carry things up the steps. Perhaps we can know something definite before long and guard against your climbing too many steps. Is the colored girl coming regularly and could she come every day instead of part time? You do not have a good place for walking, as the road is too dangerous for long walks.

I believe it is best not to mention it to the Cushings until after they go to Menard. We feel sorry for them, and as you say we can consider ourselves lucky. Feb. 19 you had completed your period and I recall that March was on time. In April it was late as we expected it in N.Y.C. You remember I went by the drug store for you while in N.Y.C., and you did not need the napkins until after we returned home. About 2 days after. May be this will help you check the date. April 12 sounds about right.

Since I wrote you I went with R.A. & Thompson to some boxing matches which were OK. The Elk Club here have a good team & there were 8 bouts with the Golden Glove team of Chicago. Denver won 5 of the 8 matches. Every day I manage to walk quite a bit and I am feeling fine. On Sat. & Sun. I get in some extra walking. Tonight I went to a movie for a change. One reel on the trophy winners of 1939, a comic & I think the other was called The House Across the Bay, across from Alcatraz prison.

Both Dr. Wakeland and R.A. seem to regard me with some suspicion, although I have been able to get R.A. to talk some. I do not see him evenings. When Messenger was here it was not a great deal I could get from him. It’s a good thing we do not have a big grasshopper program, because it would be so different that several adjustments would have to be made in the way they do things.

I love you lots & lots & I hope to see you before many moons.

Always your
Walter.

I find this discussion about Walter and Ina’s expected daughter amusing, for reasons that will be apparent soon.

May 19, 1940

Sunday Night 5/19-40

My dear Sweetheart,

Yours of last night was received a few minutes ago. I certainly hope the Cushings are not disappointed in the prospect of an heir, and they should not think for a second that I have any feeling about their going to Menard. I am very glad they are going. I also have the feeling that we will get somewhere on the SW problem through him.

May 19, 1940

Even though Panama City is said to be mine, I just don’t have the feeling that we are going down there. I think the assignment would be pleasant work and we could get something accomplished. Yet, if I do not go there I just do not know of anyone else to do it. Of course it could continue just as it has been for the past few years. Bruce could not supervise Dr. King’s work, and I doubt if they would let him go just for Panama City. That would be one way of reducing Dallas. Also if Laake came to Wash., that would leave only Wells & Eagleson to be transferred. My suggestion would be that, but I doubt if the Bureau is ready to boost Mr. Bruce that much. The other alternative would be to get Mr. Lindquist down there & to move Stage to assist Dornier. That would not meet with Mr. B’s approval either. Annand wants me to go & get King in good grace of Strong.

Strong did not discuss the matter with me. My visit was very short, a hello & the highlights on the bran market & our purchases. He listened with very little comment. Thought it best not to discuss Florida unless he brought up the subject.

Am returning the statement for the Liberty Mutual Co. Please look in your check stubs. I am quite sure that I gave a check when I signed the application. Also, the cancelled check should be in the April lot & listed on the statement. If not, would you send one to them. Pls. look in the black folder with my name printed on it, under auto insurance, & I think you will find the policy & the receipt.

Yesterday PM (after 5 o’clock), this AM & again this PM I took some long walks and exposed myself to the sunlight. I can breathe much better tonight & I feel better. Will continue to do this. I believe that is why I felt so much better when I came home the last time.

With love,

Your,
Walter.

The grape fruit, oranges & ham sound mighty good & it was nice of Mr. Gaddis to share them with us.

January 10, 1940

Stationery from the Hotel Shirley-Savoy, Denver, CO – “Home of KLZ.”

Wednesday PM.

My dear Ina & Boys,

The meetings are over and most of the folks have gone home. Strong, Gaddis and some of the state men are here yet. Think Strong will leave tonight. My speech was well received and I have had some good compliments on it from state leaders. Strong says he is pleased. The group gave me a rising vote of thanks for the good work of the last two years and this brought a good statement from Strong. I had requested a return to research and that I was one of the very best research men in the Bureau, that he had asked me to consider carefully. My request was being granted but he had an idea that I was going to find the contrast so great that I would now want more action. He said that should I make such a decision the Bureau would have a control job for me because they had many such projects. State leaders have shown a very appreciative spirit toward me and from one source I am told that a committee will record in a rather permanent way this high point in my career. I imagine a published resolution.

January 10, 1940

The meetings have gone as Strong and Gaddis planned them, but there was a very close approach to an explosion from state leaders. The Bureau still spends the money and supervises the work of its agents. It did permit a Committee from State leaders to handle any difficulties arising in any state-Bureau difficulty direct with Strong. This Committee will be authorized to make trips when necessary.

The meeting at Mpls on Monday includes a small group there, and both Gaddis & Wakeland asked me to meet with them before continuing my trip south. They cannot conveniently arrange to attend. Unless something changes it I’ll be home in time to attend that meeting & will then resume my travel toward Texas & the West. If there is a change I’ll wire, otherwise I’ll see you about Saturday.

R.A. is here & he thinks the move to Denver from Salt Lake is OK. Their lease terminates Jan 31st. He has been in Texas on leave and looks fine.

I cannot describe to you the feeling of turning over the throttle of the ‘hopper work. There is no let down feeling but one of duty to my family and my own health. I don’t mind saying that it is not an easy change and that the past two days and night have had me on edge. For the rest of the time here I’ll try to clarify any unfinished items of business, and pass along useful information. I have an appointment with the Chief this afternoon for a little talk on the N.W. situation, and will go over my immediate plans with him.

With love,
Your
Walter.

December 10, 1939

Sunday Night
Dec 10, 1939

My dear Sweetheart,

Saturday PM Mr. Gaddis took Claudelle and I to lunch, to visit his house which is being remodeled and enlarged, and then to dinner. We had another invitation from the Bishopps Saturday night so we went out there, and again we got back about 2 AM Sunday. The Bishopps brought us back to town. Mrs. B. was so dog goned mean in her manners last week at the office that I am considering the party last Saturday as a sort of a peace offering. Although the Bs appear most cordial in every other way, I know that they resent deeply my being returned to the project. I will be in the status of investigating his project until my assignment is determined, also I may be considered as serving in Cushing’s place. Both of these give me right of way to discuss things with the chief’s office.

December 10, 1939

Gaddis has been very fine indeed to me and I am sure that he feels that we can be of mutual help in the future. He seems to be in good grace in the Chief’s office again, but he was in the dog house this season.

I expect to visit some of B’s workers at Beltsville & at Martha’s Vineyard this week, also review Dr. Back’s work & others in the office. I have annual reports for the past five years and quarterly reports for all stations for 1939, also budgets for the past three years. I’ll probably leave here about Saturday night, after seeing Dr. Parker & Wakeland, and go to Orlando to meet King. Think I’ll ask Bradley to meet me there, drive me to Ft. Pierce, New Smyrna, & Gainesville. Then get Brody to come to Gainesville and drive me to Panama City. From there I want to go to Dallas and Menard & get to Minneapolis by Xmas. Claudelle is planning to leave about Saturday & I am pretty sure she will come to Mpls & will try to make Uvalde by Xmas. Laake is in the hospital with a hernia & it may be an operation like Dr. Drakes.

My check for salary on Dec. 1 also two small expense checks should be at the office. I’ll have to endorse them for deposit. Would you mind telephoning Miss Beckwall and ask her to mail them to me care Mr. Gaddis. I’ll cash the small ones & return the salary check to you for deposit. The check for Dec. 15 could be sent to you from the office if you will tell her for me.

With all my love,
Your
Walter

December 7, 1939

This letter was out of order in the file, but I’m back-dating it on the blog so it’ll be in the proper order now. Sorry for any inconvenience to those reading on the site’s RSS feed.

Thursday Night

My dear Sweetheart,

I have just had dinner with Mr. Gaddis & Claudelle. We left Claudelle at her address and BM brought me here a few minutes ago. It was a very good dinner.

December 7, 1939

Had my first good talk with Mr. Bishopp today, and I have asked for reports for the past five years, his work program for each project and a copy of his budget for this year. They are still looking up files to find them & when Miss Lynch returns tomorrow I am quite sure I’ll get them. He had proposed to transfer two men to take care of me, but I told him today that the amount saved in them would not be enough and that I was quite sure that the chief did not intend that I be reduced in salary. He said that he understood that I was to have the minimum of the principal grade, $5600. This means that there is now no doubt about that and that my job is to see that the new alignment will provide this much with advantage to the work. I have some good ideas on how to affect the economies. He agreed that Schroeder could be transferred to Alfalfa Weevil survey & I’ll take steps to transfer him between June 1 to 15th.

I’ve seen a few motions from Bish which I am skeptical of, but I think I can handle. Stage should have left here today but left Wednesday with stops planned at the different research labs in Florida & Texas before returning to Portland. If he is out covering up weaknesses before my arrival I’ll be pretty sure to detect it.

Claudelle & I were invited to Bishopp’s last Saturday & I was treated very fine. Yesterday I went to his office at noon & not finding him there I opened different doors to locate him and Stage. After I opened Cushing’s door & peeked in, a voice in the hall asked whom I was looking for. It was Mrs. Bishopp & she asked in a mean accusing manner. Bishopp was with her. I told her I was looking for her. Then I told her I wanted to see Stage before he left. I was then informed that Stage left yesterday & was driving to the southern stations.

Today when I saw Bish he invited Claudelle & I to come to another party at his house on this Saturday night to meet some more folks. We are going. The conference today did not continue the icy atmosphere yesterday, but apparently with a full understanding that I was to examine & report on his division & recommend such changes as would provide a place for myself & improve the efficiency. Gaddis seems to enjoy my assignment & thinks it OK for the Bureau.

Hearings before the Congressional Committee eliminated the new item for encephalomyelitis but with no other cuts for Bish’s division. In other words we can plan next year on the same basis as funds for this year.

In about another week or so I’ll visit Florida & Texas stations. Claudelle is planning to come to Mpls & then go to Uvalde for Xmas. She plans to leave here the Saturday after next.

Please give my very best wishes to Kenneth Helen & Miss Fulcher. The Gulfport project needs Kenneth. Tell him his stock rates high in Wash. His promotion will not be to the next grade but two less than the next grade & the same as Messenger’s.

With love,
Walter

December 3, 1939 (Walter)

Sunday AM

My dear Ina,

Last night Claudelle and I went to the Bishopps for a little get together, expecting the Bishopp office force. It turned out to be a bridge party for Mr. Stage and myself. At least he and I had cherries on our ice cream and the others did not. About 4 tables or 16 people were there. Mr. & Mrs. Hoyt, Mr. & Mrs. Annand, Mr. & Mrs Hyslop, Mr. & Mrs. (Harmed’s assistant), Dr. & Mrs. Robinson. Mrs. Hoyt was very interested in Wayne Hill and she told about how Mrs. Wright enjoyed their dinner with us and what a fine wife and sons I had etc. Mrs. Hoyt smokes cigarettes but otherwise she is a prim and dignified little lady like her mother. Like Hoyt she is also a democratic and diplomatic type. She said that she would like for me to meet the daughter, so I imagine I might get an invitation to eat dinner with them. I think this is a good opportunity to get in a good visit with Hoyt. There are a number of things I want to discuss with him.

December 3, 1939

Strong is in Chicago for a meeting tomorrow.

We have not had the hectic meetings I expected which is due to delayed meetings of state leaders to Jan. 11 & 12th. As a matter of fact the meeting will be for extension directors and Commissioners of Agriculture, primarily, with a suggestion that state leaders should also be present. So far my recommendations to B.M. are going right through regardless of others’ recommendations. Consolidation of cricket & Ghops, with RA as asst project leader. Messenger & Landrum will probably have assignments very similar to the ones they had last year & on the same basis for next year. Dickison to be at Mpls.

Claudelle is thin but not more so than usual. We ate together about three o’clock yesterday afternoon & visited until we went to the Bishopps.

I cannot give you anything definite yet. Will try to travel to the Texas stations between now & Xmas if possible to push along enough to select a house at Menard. I’ve got to make recommendations on the place & maybe we can get more cooperation from some other place. Unless there should be a strong reason for some other place we could not justify changing from Menard. Bishopp is more than courteous etc. Also others in the Bishopp family. Mrs. Bishopp looks bad & he is not as bright eyed as at Dallas.

More later & as soon as I can tell you something more definite.

With love to all three of you

Walter.

Enclosed in the same envelope:

Sunday A.M.
Dec. 4, 1939 [sic]

Dear Walter White,

Yesterday, I met a Mrs. White and two boys. The boys are the sons of Bill White and they are 8 and 12 years of age. They are real boys just like you and Lewis Dunbar. Daddy has known Bill White for about 20 years and likes him very much. Bill is in charge of the division of insects affecting truck crops. Mrs. White is in charge of Bill and the boys and I think she has the hardest job.

Next time I’ll write to Lewis.

Daddy.

December 1, 1939

Another gap. Walter went back home after his previous meeting in Washington, and now he’s returned for negotiations around his new position. For those who haven’t been following since the beginning, “B” and “Bish” refer to Dr. Bishopp, Walter’s former collaborator in screw-worm research, with whom he parted on somewhat chilly terms.

Friday Night

My dear Sweetheart & Boys,

Dr. Wakeland and I arrived as per schedule and I am finding things rather encouraging. Strong is away but he made no doubt about his wishes, though I am not supposed to know yet. This afternoon I called at Dr. B office just to say hello and for a conference later on, which he suggests for about next Thursday. He did say that Mrs. B wanted Mr. Stage and some of the others to have dinner at his home, and perhaps tomorrow night. Stage works on mosquitoes at Portland Oregon & had arrived yesterday. Bish was most cordial but moved about in his chair in an uneasy manner. Bish suggested 46 the minimum of the senior grade but Strong stated that his wishes were that I be kept at the maximum of the grade (which is $5600*). By this I would lose the Prin. grade of $200 which is not so bad. I am sure that B will try to reduce it, but I’m holding out for that much. Although official word has not been given to me I am to review Bish’s entire setup on the work and make recommendations on consolidations & future work. Rather an investigation, with a view to consolidation of all Texas stations and to recommend procedures. It was Strong’s suggestion that I work here temporarily in Cushing’s absence and to review the set up. He stated that the proposal made by Bish was not acceptable (Panama City).

December 2, 1939

Mr. Gaddis has been most helpful and is in a position to help a great deal. Annand and Roehner support the views expressed by Strong and I am quite sure of Hoyt. Claudelle has been helpful and appears to be greatly concerned on the outcome and wonders why I want 2 months leave & what I am going to do with it.

Last night Yeomans was here and I spent the evening with he and Gaddis. Tonight Claudelle and I ate together and visited until almost 10 o’clock. Everyone seems to know that I am to be here temporarily in Cushing’s place & that I am to visit field stations, but Yeomans advises me to stay with B.M. Wakeland is going to visit some larger control offices in the east for ideas. He has been obliged to agree to a consolidation of Mormon Cricket & G hop at Denver and with R.A. as an assistant project leader. The alternative was to let R.A. run crickets as a separate project, which Wakeland cannot agree to do. The matter of Messenger as another Asst has not been decided, but the odds are against it and also against all other general supervisors for such a place. It needs to be someone with fiscal experience. Otherwise, it will mean running the projects from the Wash. office. Schmidt may be Asst in charge of Mormon cricket. He is considered almost a second Quarterman, for which I am proud. Tell Polly that Mr. Townsend will be in charge as this will ease her mind until I can arrange to steal her. Claudelle thinks it impossible for me to get Polly. Kenneth should be able to get away about the 15th of Dec. & it looks like we can close the office there about that time except for a few details. Rainwater & Lugginbill will be there to summarize chinch bug survey but they will not need much help. The meeting will be at Denver on Jan. 11 or 12th & will include Extension directors and Commissioners of Agriculture with less emphasis on state leaders. Regardless of my work here or visits to field stations I am planning to be home Xmas. Claudelle is uncertain but she wants to go to Uvalde & is going to look up rates with a view of going by Chicago & make a side trip to Mpls. She may not know for a few days yet.

With love
Your
Walter.

* That’s $93,534 in today’s dollars, so Walter’s pretty high up on the government pay scale now.

March 5, 1939

Railroad stationery from the Burlington Route, “The National Park Line.”

Saturday Night
En route to Denver.

Dear Sweetheart,

Dorward & Dr. Wakeland are with me and we meet with Colorado cooperatives tomorrow and Monday. I hope to leave Denver Monday night for Minneapolis and should get home Tuesday night. So far our conferences have been fairly satisfactory and we hope that things develop as they are being planned. You probably noticed that the House passed the bill for 2 1/4 million and that the Senate is going to insist on $5,400,000. Just how it will come out remains to be seen. We are planning for the full amount. You already know my personal views on it which I keep to myself. Dorward may go on to Amarillo. I am reducing my trip that much.

March 5, 1939

RA was with us for most of the week and seems to have his program worked out in considerable detail & with most every move approved. He sends his regards to the family. Said he saw Mother Lewis at Uvalde Xmas.

With love to all of you,
Walter.

April 17, 1938

Stationery from the Hotel Graver, “Homelike appointments with good eats at our coffee shop,” Fargo, ND.

Sunday 4:00 PM

My dear Sweetheart,

Dr. Wakeland came to Mpls Friday morning and Saturday we drove to Brookings for a conference with the committee on cricket and G hop control. Last night we came as far as Watertown where we spent the night and today we drove here. He has a conference with Prof. Munro this evening and I expect to sit in it with him. Tomorrow Mr. Shotwell and Dorward will attend a meeting of our G hop men with me. Dorward arrived at Mpls Sat. AM after Wakeland and I left there. Plan to have him spend a few days in ND to get familiar with G hop control and later in the week I’ll accompany him to Salt Lake City for a visit to the different states out in the N. West. He will have about 8 men in 5 states. We should have been there before now but the other areas were more pressing. We have been shipping bait materials during the past two weeks and by the end of next week we will have delivered the first allotments in all except the N.W. There are now about 60 men working in the field and we expect about 100. Most of the others have been selected and recommended to Wash.

April 17, 1938

Since Thursday rains have fallen rather generally over the Dakotas and Minnesota and I believe in the more southern states. About 3 weeks of rainy weather would favor development of G hop diseases and would reduce our job considerably.

The sox, handkerchiefs, ties and the card from the boys were received on the morning of the 14th. I also received ties and sox from Mr. & Mrs. Lewis. I appreciate all of them very much and wish to thank you for selecting them. I am writing a note to Mother Lewis but would appreciate it if you would tell them so too.

This job has kept me in one grand rush ever since it started and I guess it will be that way until the season closes and perhaps for reports then. Nights and Sundays are the same as any other time. Regardless of where I travel, the phone calls and the telegrams reach me. I am sure that you can reach me at most any time through the Mpls office, even if I am not so far from San Antonio.

Wakeland says that he cannot understand Mr. Roberts, and that RA wrote him a memo asking for specific instructions one time. He thinks R.A. should assist him and take responsibility in the work. I told him that R.A. was peculiar at times and that I probably knew him as well as anyone. His judgement is good and when placed in a position where he has to make a decision, he usually does it well. I hope that they get along OK.

Most of the Committees are quiet now and I hope to be aggressive enough so that I am not put on the defensive in this program. I am trying to keep a few steps ahead of them. Many of them are wondering just how far they can go as a state program. They are inclined to take all of the credit just as they have during the past 4 years. My instructions to the supervisors place them under our own office for reports with copies to state leaders. The state leaders have some weak spots which they wish to keep covered and they do not like this. Later, I think they will say that it was all for the best & that they like it.

I received your letter about my visit to Aberdeen and wonder what the letter was like which you did not mail.

I hope that you do not misunderstand about the visit there. I had already written to Mrs. H and told of it when I was at home. I went to Aberdeen because it was Saturday. I wanted to see Mr. Allen of the Dakota Farmer and because I needed to get away from the office strain a while. I was surprised that Evalyn was there and they did not know that I was coming. They were surprised too. I think that you should not feel badly about it at all. The visit was friendly and I think I’ve told you all. At least there isn’t anything to keep from you. I made a friendly visit and that will do until you get here. If you wish to call on them with me, I’ll be glad to take you and the sons. Please forget it.

With lots of love to all of you

Your
Walter.

Separate page

Easter Sunday

Dear Walter White,

Daddy wishes to thank you for the nice big card from you and Lewis on his birthday. He does not feel older and it didn’t hurt a bit when he got to be 44 years old.

All of the snow melted sometime ago and pretty soon the grasshoppers will be hatching. We have about 7500 cars of poison bait and about 100 men to supervise the work in 24 states. It is a big job and Daddy’s telephone rings a great deal.

Will come home as soon as I can conveniently arrange to do so but cannot tell yet.

Love
Daddy.

January 29, 1938

Stationery from the White House Hotel, Gainesville, FL.

Jan. 29 – Friday*

Dear Sweetheart,

It was a joy to get your letter yesterday and I am sure that my letter reached you. I know that you have not been as comfortable in that house as you should have been, and I hope you are getting the best use of Madie with the fires and attending children. I think you should call on her to do all those jobs. You have had a lot of cold weather. It is cold here now but for the greater part of January it has been like summer.

January 29, 1938

Strong insists that he won’t have Bruce at the head of one of his offices & steps have been taken to get Mr. Roberts down here. On account of the strong friendship between Bruce and the University people here, they are going to resent this & are apt to make efforts to keep Bruce. Yeomans will protest if Roberts comes down & Bruce goes out. He likes Bruce & the Fla. job. There are a number of small things, lax methods etc. against Bruce & probably more against McGehee. Strong & Spencer were here two days. Strong is in the state now & will probably leave Dodson down here for further checks. I am sure that they will go over the actual field operations in some detail & that later some of them will check the San Antonio office too.

Bruce is sick in bed with malaria & I’ve discussed the plan for him to return to research with Bishopp. He does not like the idea & says that he will resign. The university here have been trying to get money & to take Bruce from us in the next appropriation as a leader.

I do not know how long I’ll be here but at least for a week or more. May be advisable for me to keep Roberts out but I’ve already followed the suggestion of Strong to get Roberts down here. Yeomans is going to give trouble & he is going to resist on another appropriation. Strong does not want another one on SW.

With lots & lots of love to all of you.

Your
Walter.

* Probably right date, wrong day.