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that the longshoremen aren't even organized. A general strike takes profound organization, long-time organization, a war chest, a strike fund. It takes a lot of preparation. It isn't anything you do just on the spur of the moment.”

“Well,” he said, “I've been talking to the Attorney General, and we think it's very serious. We think that we should do something. I am, after all, Acting President, and I think I should take some very severe and drastic steps immediately.”

Well, my brain went around in a whirl, as I thought “what are the drastic steps?” After all, the Army was all there was that the President or Acting President could use in a situation like that. There isn't anything else between ordinary mediation and force of arms. That's all there is.

I said, “I think perhaps I better come over and confer with you and the Attorney General, and give you at first hand some of our reports, Mr. Secretary.”

He said, “Very well, if you wish to. I'd be very glad to have you come. I'm in the Attorney General's office now. We are in the law library looking up some things.”