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Frances PerkinsFrances Perkins
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to thinking that this is okay. Don't tell Early. Don't tell anybody. Really, this is very important. Lewis hears everything and he's very difficult if he thinks anybody's moving around him. But I didn't want to start on this unless it was okay with you. Just forget I talked to you.” He did.

I went up to my office and got on my private telephone and got Lewis, who was then in New York - I don't know why he was in New York, but he was in New York. I told him I had a private wire and nobody could listen. He was always afraid that his conversations were being monitored. I assured him that this was not the case, and he knew that I had this one telephone in my private office that couldn't be tapped.

I said to him, “What would you think of this? Now, keep still about it. For heaven's sake don't talk to anybody. But so you think that would be a good idea?” Of course, I didn't tell him I had spoken to the President. I said, “Otherwise, you know the War Labor Board is breathing fury. They're at the President every minute to take over the mines. So far he hasn't because he realized the hazard and he's well- disposed to the miners. But we're getting to a situation where it can't be held much longer. Something will happen. I dread to think of anything like the army walking in.”

He said, “Dread! You have reason to dread, Madam





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