developing thru our encouragement, or exploitation and hatred for a race that vaunts 
its superiority? We white men go around over the world, freely admitting our 
superiority. If we really are, we will keep the idea deeply within our own minds and 
use the wind power saved for proving by action that we are. 
The followers of Hitler proclaimed themselves a superior race. They built up the 
mightiest army and the greatest force the world had ever seen. What did it get them? 
The Allied Nations had greater resources in man power, in wealth and greater 
productive capacity. But China alone has 450,000,000 people. My guess is that the 
resources of Asia and near by Islands, exceed those at the command of the white man. 
But I am not a statesman, a philosopher or even a wise man. But the common 
people need to do more independent thinking instead of leaving it all to the politicians. 
The two presidential conventions revealed clearly the politician’s attitude in all 
affairs. One was a seething turmoil of strife, the other put on a great “show.” 
Unfortunately the showman, tho a great and honored statesman, was out of his 
element. The ‘stunts’ were all too obvious. Their opponents have the greater 
showman. Acceptance of the nomination from a Marine base was subtle, but second- 
hand. Not quite as good as when used the first time. 
I liked most of the speeches on both sides. The Keynoters were masterly. The 
Democrats have.now learned that the world is run by men in their 60’s and 70’s, as 
some of us have long observed, but they had not found it out in 1932 nor later when 
they “purged” the Supreme Court of its old men. The Republican Convention was 
the more harmonious and even more inclined to sacrifice their party if necessary because 
they would rather be right than to elect the president or even to acknowledge the 
prestige of a former candidate who polled a greater popular vote than his successful 
opponent. So far as the convention was concerned he was persona non grata. 
Let us all vote. It is a privilege and a duty. 
This is a hectic life. We have about half enough help. Therefore Mrs. Houdyshel 
and I work overtime. Decoration Day was our worst time. We cut and I delivered 
flowers for the Los Angeles market. We kept enough at the ranch for our local sales. 
On the night before Decoration Day, the work was all done. I was too tired to 
sleep well, but finally fell into a nightmarish dream. 
I dreamed that Pres. Roosevelt, after all our flowers were picked, announced by 
radio that he had postponed Decoration Day for one week. So deep were my groans 
that my wife awakened me. But it helped only briefly because I fell asleep once more 
and dreamed that he sent his wife to La Verne to take over our bulb business. 
Flowers In War Time. Few wholly realize the very special need for flowers at 
this time. Many, many soldiers request our catalogs because, they say, if they can’t 
have a garden and flowers they would at least like to read about them. 
A number of them have ordered bulbs to be sent to mother, wife or others, 
“because we want her to be happy and not to forget to cultivate a few flowers.” Some 
have ordered, even from the South West Pacific, flowers for loved ones here at home; 
there have been long letters that I valued highly from boys determined to do their part 
but longing for peace and the opportunity to grow flowers; a couple who would like 
to work for me among flowers when it’s all over. 
The Soldiers aren‘t forgetting about flowers. Several have come to visit our 
Rancho de las Flores when in So. California. Mothers are not forgetting flowers. Just 
yesterday I received a mother’s letter. She had three sons in service. She had to have 
the consolation of flowers in her window this winter, she said. 
These acts are a greater promotion for flowers than words of mine could be. 
Some way, I think that flowers are going to make this world a better place. 
Lin Yutang has said: “Our problem is one of moral decay and regeneration. There 
is more hope in a heather rose than in all the tons of Teutonic philosophy.” 
Americans, let us make ourselves strong in our bodies, our minds and in our moral 
and spiritual natures. Recently, we have been trying to burden ourselves with a good 
many handicaps in our living habits. Is it wise to carry a heavy load while running 
a race? 
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