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North Adams, Mass.
Wednesday, Nov. 6, 1940.
I awakened at Utica, got up, bought a New York paper but the news wasn't any more up-to-date than what I heard over the radio near midnight. Then a woman came into the diner, a portable radio set with her, and set it up on the table. Soon she announced Roosevelt was only 3,500,000 votes ahead and there was still a chance for Willkie. My hopes rose but at Albany I got some later papers and it was pretty obvious Roosevelt was in definitely. On every side, people were talking of the election, - already declaiming the people should now "get together" again. But it was a close election. About one million more votes for Willkie, properly distributed would have made him win. Now all of us must get behind the government, regardless of the result and drive for security and peace and hope for the future, now dark and uncertain.

I virtually had a private car from Albany to Boston and marched into the office about 3 PM to find the gang assembled. Had a long talk with Roy, who is disturbed about the probability of being called for army duty in January and missing the biggest business year in their history over there. Under Roy's questioning I almost had to tell him of the impending move in Erie to industrial locomotive work - I simply told him that probably he would find out soon why I am again interested in industrial locomotives. We had a lot of good laughs over reminiscences and it was good to be over there again with the wild Irish. Neil Donovan was there to drive Ernie Bloss and me to North Adams this evening. He, Roy and I retired to the Swifter for a couple of reunion scotches before Neil and I departed to pick up Ernie. There leaning against a hospitable bar with these two friendly, warm hearted, hot tempered, humorous Irishmen, I felt very content - the cares of the world