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Erie, Pa.
Wednesday, Feb. 21, 1940.

George Wakeley here today to okay New York Central operating position and again my style cramped but had time to get in a conference in St. L's office on the tank invitation and I thought St. L. seemed awfully preoccupied about something. It was obvious his mind was far from the business in hand most of the time. When I got back to the office, saw Whitey and he told me Emmet had been in talking to him for two hours ("wasting my time") and had told him he was taking St. L. off the government work; Whitey thought it was for certain political reasons with regard to allocation of time. So I guess my load will go up if I have to take on everything St. L. has been doing. And it explained, I think, St. L's preoccupation as I don't think he likes it. Personally I'm sorry, for I have enjoyed working with St.L. on this stuff. My first "definite assignment" according to Whitey is to get us out of our hold on late shipment of the 75mm pack howitzers where we stand to lose some $15000 to $20,000 in penalties through no fault of ours -- simply because at the urging of the Govt. we accepted the contract beyond our 60 days after bid and couldn't get the rifling and honing machines in time on account of war breaking out. Col. Gillespie promised us he could fix it up so there would be no penalty but he flopped on his promise -- found he had no way to legally let us out. Now I've got to get us out of the hole! A good assignment!

Hoddy called up and wants me in Cleveland tomorrow so I'm going. Turned over the B&M Fitchbury Division and White River to Berlin studies to Alco via Rudy who's in New York today.

Absorbed Frank's usual ribbing about going on another "vacation."