Tag Archives: politics

March 25, 1935

March 25, 1935

My dear Ina,

There is no way to get the central headquarters of the S.W. located at Savannah. I talked to Mr. Strong tonight and he thinks it best to locate in Atlanta. This means that I could come home often, and I am guessing some. Mr. Hull is to come to Savannah to look after sand fly work. Bish promises to transfer Mr. Hall. Mr. Laake will return by Savannah and will look for a location for screw worm research in southern Georgia. R.A. should be in Mississippi now on a survey.

March 25, 1935

March 25, 1935

I connected with Dr. White this evening after dinner and visited 2-1/2 hours. Will try to see him tomorrow for supper but I am not sure. I am going to return as soon as I can. Mr. Parman leaves tomorrow afternoon. Yeomans is here but I have not seen him as yet. His appropriation went to Tom Linders’ office.

With love,
Walter.

March 22, 1935

Stationery from the Hotel Houston, 910 E St. NW, Washington, DC.

My dear Ina,

I have just returned from the Cushings’ where Laake, Parman, Mr. & Mrs. Bishopp and I had dinner and a pleasant evening. The Cushings are living in Mr. & Mrs. Peters’s home while Mrs. Peters is away. Prof. Harned had asked me to join his family for a Mississippi meeting tonight, but when Cushing told me of their plans I had to beg off from the Miss. meeting. I was really glad to beg off, because I’ll see the Harneds Sunday. They may take me to Baltimore. Mr. Parman looks older and Mr. Laake seems younger. Mrs. Bishopp has some gray hair but talks in the usual way. Cushing looks fine and Mrs. Cushing looks as good as she did when they returned from England. She lost some of the Arctic bleaching but has a good healthy color. She has as much pep as usual.

March 22, 1935

March 22, 1935

The set up for screw worms seems to place me as director of all control work and Laake with all research work. Mr. Howell is listed as Asst. state leader of Ga., but I am quite sure that we will not be able to get him for that place. When Mr. Coffin gets behind it, I think his stock will go up. Prince was listed as state leader for Ga., though some political strings are pulling for others. It seems that the Congressmen and Senators will name most of the County men and that the district and state men will be left largely to us. Parman is listed for Mississippi, McGehee for Alabama, Mr. Bruce for Florida, and for Texas and Louisiana I do not know the men suggested. Bishopp keeps both control and research under his general direction. I’ll find out more tomorrow.

At a meeting with Mr. Strong today, Bish announced Atlanta as a general headquarters for all control work. I haven’t had a chance to discuss this, except that I am told that Mr. Strong does not favor Savannah for it. It is not central or a large enough place. The southeastern research on screw worms may go to Valdosta. King and Bradley are kept for possible mosquito work, but Strong does not favor a large program for the Bureau.

I’ve already announced my intentions of leaving soon, but I know that I’ll be here for several days. If you write, it should be addressed to the Bureau of Ent. & P.Q., Man and Animals Division. I may go to the same hotel where Laake and Parman are staying.

With lots of love,

Your,
Walter.

It looks like you might have a chance to visit at Uvalde during the S.W. work. I would be in charge of control work out there too.

October 30, 1934

Stationery from the Hotel Mayflower, Jacksonville, Florida.

Slashes indicate premature line endings from mouse damage.

Tuesday A.M.

Dear Folks,

The meeting was/ one in every way. I am att/ Rotary here this noon. This/ John and I are going to Orlando to see Dr. King. He is dis/ over the fact that the Florida Extension people asked me to/ to the County agents on screw worms, when he has a program with them at the present time.

October 30, 1934

October 30, 1934

Will spend tonight at Orlando and tomorrow morning.

With love,
Walter.

August 7, 1934

Office of State Entomologist, State Capitol, Atlanta.

Dr. W.E. Dove
403 Postoffice Building
Savannah, Georgia

Dear Dr. Dove:

I am more than extremely sorry that the articles that appeared in the Savannah Evening News implicated you or indicated in any way that you were involved in political activities or criticised another Federal Department. I know that you were extremely careful in all the statements that you made to Congressman Parker and if I remember correctly, I did about nine-tenths of the talking with Mr. Sutlive. I am quite sure that he in no way desired to involve you in any way in any controversy but that it was his over eagerness to be of help. You may rest assured that if any trouble develops that I will do everything in my power to see that you do not suffer, for I know positively that you have not connected yourself with any political activities and have not criticised any other Bureau.

August 7, 1934

August 7, 1934

I realize, however, that Parker was interested in this project from a more or less political view point and that I made a mistake in asking for his assistance. However, I knew that that was our last hope.

I know that in case (which I do not believe will develop) any accusations are filed against you that you will not only have my support but the support of hundreds of your friends in your section. I know that Col. Butler would fight to the last ditch.

Miss Shepperson did not agree to our project as submitted and would not agree to purchase any materials. She has asked me to talk with Mr. Vansant, who is in charge of all their farm supervisors in the state and work out a project along the following lines:

FERA has a farm supervisor who is a graduate of the State College of Agriculture for every three counties in the State. Miss Shepperson proposed that we have meetings with these farm supervisors, discuss the situation with them and instruct them on how to treat the cattle and they in turn go into the counties assigned them and hold meetings in from three to six sections of the county depending entirely upon the size of the county. She also indicated that it would be possible where found necessary to have FERA workers destroy carcasses.

The only alternative she offered was to secure a special allotment of funds directly from Hopkins’ office for this work but did not advise strongly that we try to secure these funds.

I have not as yet talked with Vansant and desire to have your reaction before I do talk with him. I would greatly appreciate your wiring me collect tomorrow morning your reactions and if you and Roberts would be available for these sectional meetings. Frankly, I do not see how we can carry the project unless we do have your support.

I am quite sure that you are fully aware that I have never attempted to play politics with any of the FERA work and can assure you that so far as I am concerned, there will be no politics in these meetings. I think that the three of us could hold the meetings.

With kindest personal regards, I am

Yours very truly,

M S Yeomans

msy/as

September 3, 1933

401 Cecil St.
University Park,
Hyattsville, Md.
Sept 3, 1933.

Dear Dove:

I do not know how to apologize for not acknowledging your good letter of Aug. 2 sooner. I have been thinking that something more tangible would show up most any minute, but it hasn’t yet. Let me first thank you for your thoughtfulness and efforts in my behalf, also for the nice things you had to say of me. This last year and a half have shown me that friends are invaluable.

September 3, 1933

September 3, 1933

Now with reference to Mr. Garner I don’t know whether he will do much in this case as he has never seemed very friendly to entomology. It is certain that if he should interest himself that he could be a big factor. It will certainly do no harm to have him informed. Probably if several of his Texas friends should ask him to support the work of the bureau and recommend my appointment he would take some action. Your plan to have Mr. Lewis write Mr. Garner reminding him of their conversation is sound. If you think it desirable, you could drop him a personal note confirming your conversation, but I think that letters from his Texas associates especially officers of the Livestock Assn’s would be better. Maybe a line from you to Parman would help. I don’t think he knows of the situation here, at least not from me.

One of the difficulties here is the lack of knowledge of what is going to happen to the Bureau and who is close to Sec’y Wallace and others directing the policy of the Dept. One of my friends who has been writing some letters in my behalf sent me several letters. One of these was from Asst. Secy. Tugwell (in reply to a letter to Secy. Wallace). In this he said he would be glad to give careful consideration etc “if an appointment to that position is made.” This certainly hints at a dismemberment of the Bu. or possibly a fusion. Joining the Bu. & the Bu. of Plant Quarantine has been mentioned as a possibility. A good many feel that if this is done they wouldn’t want to see Strong, Chief of Quarantine made Chief of the consolidated organization because he is not an entomologist and not a college man. This they fear would make him an unsuitable leader for research, and might cause in him a lack of appreciation of research, especially of a fundamental nature.

The question of maintaining the Bureau as an administrative unit is paramount and I feel that every entomologist should do everything possible to hold our ground. In this direction, I am working on methods of disseminating favorable propaganda. Probably a committee of the two associations will be working on this soon. My feeling is that such work should be done very quietly, that is so it does not appear to be organized. This should create backing among the public and help educate the powers that be on the importance of the science. The com. could also contact industrial, and commercial & agr’l organizations and encourage their active support. Let me have your ideas along this line.

All join in sending best regards to all.

Sincerely
F.C.B.

I understand that the Committee on Bu. affairs appointed by the 2 assn’s have filed a statement with the Sec’y outlining the qualifications of a Chief of Bu. of Ent. but not mentioning names. E.F. Phillips (bee man of Cornell) appears to be a candidate. He is chairman of the Committee.

July 31, 1933 (from Dr. Bishopp)

The next letter in the file is nearly a year later, on a completely different subject.

401 Cecil St. Uni Park
Hyattsville, Md.
July 31 – 1933

Dear Dove:

It now appears practically certain that Dr. Marlett will retire upon reaching his 70th birthday in Sept. This makes the appointment of his successor a matter soon to come before the Secretary. As a matter of fact, a committee was appointed to represent the two entomological associations to make certain recommendations to the Secy regarding the Bureau, and one of these, I understand was the importance of an early appointment of a successor so that he might be ready to proceed energetically and intelligently with the conduct of Bureau affairs as soon as the Chief retires. I have been informed that the committee is unanimously opposed to Mr. Rohmer as Chief, though I don’t know that they have agreed to push any special candidate. This committee consists of E.F. Phillips, W.E. Britton, E.P. Felt, J.S. Houser and E.N. Cory. Phillips is receptive to the appointment and there is some indication that he is doing some active pulling for the job.

July 31, 1933 (from Dr. Bishopp)

July 31, 1933 (from Dr. Bishopp)

Within the Bureau, apparently Dr. Marlatt expects to push Mr. Rohmer into the place, though he is not favorably looked upon by most of the division heads. Larrimer & I are the only other Bu. members whose names I have heard mentioned favorably.

I think it a worthy ambition for any entomologist to desire elevation to that important position and while I recognize my many shortcomings I feel that my experience, knowledge of the personnel and work of the Bureau and my knowledge of the entomological problems of the country and of the point of view of the farmers is at least equal to that of others. I have been encouraged greatly in making some effort to secure the appointment by the concentrated support of a goodly number of my associates in the Bu. and friends outside.

If you think I can handle the job satisfactorily I shall greatly appreciate your support where opportunity offers. A word now and then among the entomologists will help crystallize sentiment. There is every indication that some political wires are being pulled for certain others outside the Bu. so that slant may be very helpful and very necessary. I hope that the appointment will not take on a purely political aspect, but partisan consideration is having quite a part there these days. While I can’t claim being an old line Democrat, I’ve helped elect many good Democrats including F.D. (with 3 votes from our family). While the gov’t man is getting his bumps now we hope it will come out all to the good in the end.

We still hope and are working hard for the maintenance of the Bu. as a unit and the committee feels that the early appointment of a new Chief will be an important step in that direction.

Such help as you may lend will not be forgotten.

Wish you and the family could get up this way this summer, we would all enjoy a visit from you so much.

With best regards from all to all

Sincerely
FCB

May 18, 1929

Baltimore Md.
Saturday Night 11:30 PM

My dear Sweetheart,

I spent today in Washington and attended the meeting tonight (Helm. Soc.) I reported on the thermotropic experiments and the report went over in good shape. Stiles made a few remarks in the form of contratulations to Dr. White and I in our establishing a precedent of breaking away from the time honored rules of an entomologist for insects. All others hands off! Said he wanted to work a problem which dealt with an insect and he was not permitted to do so. That we had broken the old established rule which should have not been a rule and that he was glad of it. Dr. White and I decided that it was better to keep “mum,” so it was not discussed in the meeting. I rather wish that I had not reported, but Dr. White said it was OK anyhow since Stiles needed a chance to get it off his chest and that he probably felt better. I started to skip the meeting, but Dr. White insisted that we go down. I did not report on the incidental infections of A. braziliense and A. caninum in the boy. I am glad that I did not.

May 18, 1929

May 18, 1929

Hall is in the hospital. He is improving but may be confined for two months more. Only one man besides myself was present from Hopkins. He made a report. Other reports were of passing interest.

The Alaska work is practically forced on me. I indicated to Bishopp that I would be interested and that I’d consider it if my wife could make the trip with me. That I felt that I should have sufficient expenses to take care of both of us. He does not know how much will be allowed but the Bureau pays the salary and the Territory of Alaska pays expenses. Told him that I was not in position to finance the trip. He is attempting to get an advance from the Dept. & to get other advances from the Governor of Alaska. I am enclosing the telegram. Bish thinks that it is a wonderful opportunity for his division to get in and establish itself on the parasites. He thinks that about 20% can be added to my salary to take care of increased expense. The trip would begin from Seattle about June 7-10th and we would be up there until about the middle of October. The same for next year. We would be in Dallas when we returned from up there.

The problem is of vital importance and it is an opportunity to accomplish something of lasting value to the reindeer industry. I believe I can do something which they have not been able to do in the cattle grub problem. I have confidence enough in my ability and curiosity enough in Alaska to want to go up there. Bish is figuring that I am going. If you have a serious objection to it, wire me at Bureau Tuesday.

I asked Bish if he considered Mr. Laake for the place. That I did not want to get any hard feelings with him. Bish said that Laake’s physical condition was not good and that he could not possibly be considered on that account.

If possible I’ll leave Washington Thursday night for Dallas. It may be Friday night. We would have only a limited time to get things in shape to leave, but I think we would have sufficient time after I get to Dallas. I wish we could take Claudelle with us, but I cannot see how we could do it this summer. We’ll see what they offer for expenses etc. We will probably go this summer and next. I’d like to take Jimmie too, but it does not look favorable. Bish wants him to go to Southern California in Aug. Too, he needs a summer course at SMU. We do not know about his exam yet. They are grading mighty close. In another lot 10 passed & 8 failed. I hope we can get Jimmie over the dead line. Bish will do what he can but there are three others to grade the papers too and two of them are firm in their convictions of the values of answers.

The written exam yesterday lasted for about six hours. 10 long questions out of 12 in the forenoon and about 200 short, rather catch questions, in the PM. Think I passed but I did not make a wonderful grade. The exam was fair but directed for the younger ones who are leaving this year.

I’ll have lunch with the Corts tomorrow (Sun) evening. Will see how the exam took with him.

With all my love, Dear, and with hopes of seeing you about this time next week,

Your
Walter.

February 22, 1927

I have decided not to transcribe the next few work letters, as they’re lengthy and already typed. Instead, I’ll post the scans and simply add a few comments. Click the image to get the full-size version.

February 22, 1927

February 22, 1927

It seems little has changed in research politics.

September 29, 1925 (Walter)

Tuesday Night 9/29

My Dear Sweetheart,

Last night I had to go down town so I mailed your letter at that time. I am going to post this one early too. Am writing it before I go to supper. I do not know whether they reach you any quicker this way or not.

It is raining slowly now and it has been since about 3 o’clock. It is now about 6. I have had plenty to do today and I think I made pretty good headway.

September 29, 1925 (Walter)

September 29, 1925 (Walter)

Yesterday, I shipped Dr. White some of the experimental animals. Before he left he wanted them, and after he went back he wrote that it would be just as well to ship them in about six weeks. They are infected with the parasite we were working with when he was here, and as I am on an entirely different lead I am anxious to let him have them. So I shipped them yesterday. I still have a bunch, but it makes quite a difference whether one is working with six or twelve at one time. I expect to use most of mine in the near future so that I can give all my time to the new lead. I can’t help but believe that I am on the right track, but it takes a lot of work to prove it. If this is the right track it is where I slip one over on Dr. White, and I don’t intend to tell him about it until it is worked up with proof. He was so “dog gone” domineering when we first started at the beach, that I intend to leave him out as much as possible from now until we finish. If my new lead is the one, then he will only get a mention in the paper. If the other had been it, he of course would have been a joint author. He wants to make a joint report at Dallas on the work we have done and wants me to write it up. He has his nerve all right. I am going to write him that in as much as our work this summer has been negative as far as we have worked that I do not believe we have data that should be published at this time. I am going to suggest that he can publish on the parasite we worked with in some Journal of Parasitology if he cares to do so. He likes the idea of having some one else do the work and then put his name on the paper as a co-author. He feels that he has an advantage in that every paper presented which deals with disease has to be referred to him for an opinion. Last fall, it was not submitted through channels and I can get by with it again. If I have the right thing, that is what I intend to do this time. I hope that I can give a positive report at Dallas. I’ll present it and then send him a manuscript copy afterwards. He can’t possibly hold it up then until he follows up the work or for any other excuse. If it is positive, I only need to have the diagnosis confirmed, and that is easy.

I guess this is about enough of my “crabbing” as you may call it, but I just wanted you to know what was on my mind.

I love you, Dear, and I want to tell you everything. It is time to eat and I am hungry so I’ll go while it is not raining.

With a sweet goodnight, and with all my love,

Your,
Walter.

September 25, 1925 (Ina)

Friday Night
Sept. 25, 1925.

My dearest Walter:

I did get it – the “sleepy” letter, you know. I was mighty glad to have it too, because I hadn’t “heard your voice” in two days. ‘Twas music to my ears again.

I know you were thoroughly tired out and sleepy when you wrote Monday, and I can imagine the sweet sleep you enjoyed that night. Your account of the trip was interesting, and I would consider myself quite a fisherman if I could catch as many fish as you did. One is all that I have caught in my whole life, and it was such a small perch that it would really be cruel to even use it for bait. There is quite an art in fishing and I hope I can learn it sometime, but I will have to start with my A B C’s. Dr. K.S. certainly seems to have it down to perfection. It just seems natural with some people. You promised to teach me, didn’t you?

September 25, 1925 (Ina)

September 25, 1925 (Ina)

It was too bad about Dr. Ransom’s death. Yes, you told me of him when you were here. Dr. White is a very faithful correspondent. You seem to have made a mighty good friend of him, and I think it’s nice, especially as he tried your patience so much during his stay with you. It speaks well for your disposition and tact to be able to retain his friendship during such trying circumstances. Besides the pleasure and satisfaction of knowing that you still have him as a friend, you may derive a material benefit from it. No doubt he will use his influence in helping you when he has an opportunity to speak a good word. We hope he does, don’t we? Every little bit counts, you know.

I love you an awful lot tonight, Dear. I never love you less, and it seems like I love you more all the time. Here’s looking forward to the time when I can be with you always. My! but that will be fine.

Lovingly, your
Ina.