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Erie, Pa., 
Tuesday, Oct. 24, 1939.
Had a rather significant experience today. At lunch Perk and I ate with Stibbe and his new assistant, Smith. Talk turned to "selling" locomotives by individuals and also by coordinated effort of many people in the organization. I made the bright remark that there was only one individual in the Company who sold locomotives single handed – Jake. I knew I shouldn't take that dig at Jake but couldn't resist the opening to make a wise crack. This afternoon, a wire came in saying we had received an order for 5 – 1000 HP diesel-electric locomotives for the Panama Railroad, the job Jake spent 6 weeks in Panama on recently and from all reports had pretty tough going. Now, there is a case where Jake unquestionably deserves a lot of credit for persistence and salesmanship, as they were all set to buy all steam from Alco. I thought when I heard it, "Well, if that doesn't make you out an ass!" Every time I run down someone else, I have a pang of conscience later and know in my heart the best policy is to "speak ill of no man – speak the best you know every man." It's damned hard to follow sometimes but it is the best policy and thereafter I want to follow it wherever possible. Sometimes it is impossible but not frequently.

An exception came today when Whitey inquired if I had a "run-in" with Shapter recently (who told him, I don't know) and I had to tell him the story of the New York Central – Porter incident. Whitey said, "Well, we'll have to put a stop to that!" Talked to Jay Walker today and he says things look good for that job.