Stationery from the White House Hotel, Gainesville, FL.

Margin note: Cashed a check for $50 at Gainesville. Townsend is sending last salary check here for endorsement & will return it to bank with deposit slip. W.E.D.

Jan. 24. Sun. A.M.

My dear Sweetheart,

My stay here has been of uncertain duration and it has not been possible for me to determine just when I could return home. Strong and Gaddis were here last Tues. PM & Wednesday. Strong was not in a good humor but had no criticism on the program itself. He questioned some purchases of stores by Bruce & McGehee and purchasing of materials for the screened hospital without bids, and told me that he was not through with it when he left. I had already decided that it was best to combine the offices and place Bruce in charge, and had told McG of this plan to which he agreed.

January 24, 1937

Since then, I called in the district men and with Yeomans we quizzed on every man here, obtained lists in order of efficiency in each district, got facts on the weak ones and requested two resignations from county men. When Mr. Strong was informed of this he wired that he would return Tuesday noon and wished Townsend to be present for the discussion. Will meet Townsend Lake City Monday P.M. at 4 o’clock.

Yeomans returned to Georgia Sat. AM & expects to have his appointment confirmed at Atlanta on Monday. It has been announced by the Governor. It seems pretty certain that he is now out of the Bureau though his resignation has not been received.

Strong is definitely set against a program for next year and I think this is the basis for his actions. He has no criticism of the one this year except he is taking exception to any purchases and he is looking for what he can find. Needless to say I have been looking for what I could find and I am in the middle of the road. I am not trying to shield anyone but will let the evidence be the deciding factor. As you know I have been bearing down on McG & through Bruce. This has not been brought out yet, but probably will on Tuesday. McG feels badly and says he did the best he could. Expect to see you the latter part of next week, and will wire. Bruce’s are having me to dinner today. I can’t refuse but I am in the middle of the road.

With lots & lots of love,
Walter.