Lunch at the Staplers lovely house in Rizal (next door to the Huie home). He is Capt. Jack Stapler’s brother, and in Marsman & Co. He says the outlook for foreign firms in the Philippines is pretty dim, chiefly because they are the only ones which pay 100% taxes. Stapler also spoke of the crowd of American swindlers and carpetbaggers who came to Manila after the war, and gave the American community a black eye. He also mentioned the scandalous sale of US Army and surplus stores by American officers and men; and said that US Army people are even today selling supplies stolen from Clark Field. Dinner here with Foster Knight and a man named Fuller, who is going to Formosa for E.C.A. He told of the 4 brides who compared notes after a month of marriage and discussed, in political terms, their wedding night experiences. No. 1 said it was a case of Roosevelt, — over and over again. No. 2 said she could quote Churchill: blood, sweat and tears. No. 3 mentioned Dewey, who tried to get in twice but failed both times; No. 4 said it was like Truman: he got in twice but didn’t know what to do after he got in.
Where to place a statue of Quirino in Washington. Not near Washington, who couldn’t tell a lie. Not near Honest Abe Lincoln. Put it next to Christopher Columbus, who didn’t know where he was going when he started, didn’t know where he was when he got there, and did it all on borrowed money.