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Erie, Pa.,
Friday, Aug. 23, '40.

As I have said many times before, when one feels low about something, it is frequently just the time when that particular thing is about to take a turn for the better. I have been stewing all week more or less about hitting a "dead spot" in my program and today came the turn - one I can't say I look forward to with a lot of pleasure for the time being at least, but one I can see definitely has latent advantages for me. Whitey announced this morning that he had come to the end of his rope with Jake and Shapter and didn't propose to put up any longer with their "management" of the Industrial Loco. Section - furthermore he has concluded something I have felt all along - that Jack Hause won't be able to take over the section for a year or so if someone else doesn't straighten it out first. So apparently I am elected! Whitey assures me it will be only a year until Hause can take over and that he will lay the law down to Shap on cooperating - he will cooperate or else get out. This has certain definite advantages:

1.) The move from this to Henry's job is a more logical one and less liable to meet with opposition from higher up than from my present position.

2.) It will provide valuable experience in management to fit me better for Henry's job (which Whitey says there's no rush about.)

3.) If I can make a go of this, I ought to qualify for anything because of the two mavericks involved. Shap is unquestionably one of the most difficult personalities in Erie Works - I know of no one who can approach him.