Coral Gables Historical Archive
Coral Gables Riviera
Friday, October 24, 1941, page 6 (of 8)
The page
The text of this pageRead by computer from the scan, so some words may be wrong. The page picture is the original.
CORAL GABLES RIVIERA
AN INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER Published every Friday by the Miami Riviera Publishing Co., 306 Coral Way, Coral Gables, Fla. Established January, 1926 Combined with the Dade County and Coconut Grove Times, 1929. ALBERT E. HARUM — President and Publisher JAMES B. MOORE — Managing Editor Mailing Address, P. O. Box 704 Telephone 4-1604 Member, Florida Press Association National Editorial Association Represented in the National Advertising Field by the American Press Association, New York City SUBSCRIPTION RATES One Year by Carrier, Coral Gables and Six Months | $1.25 One Year | $2.00 Entered as second class matter May 21, 1926, at the Postoffice at Miami, Florida, under Act of March 3, 1879.
Silent Soldiers
The four horsemen have ridden hard this year. They have brought War, Famine, Pestilence, and Death to a large part of the world. It will take every last ounce of strength and knowledge possessed by mankind to halt their sweeping horror. Before many weeks pass, the great annual Christmas Seal campaign will be on in earnest. The funds from these little seals are used to fight one of the most powerful of the horsemen's allies—Tuberculosis. Through the ages tuberculosis has been known as the great white plague. For centuries it was the number one killer. In times of distress it literally destroyed whole populations. The fact that this is not true today is due solely to the achievements resulting from the continuous sacrifices of medical scientists. C. L. Newcomb, Christmas Seal sale director for the National Tuberculosis Association, recently said: "In the 34 years of Christmas Seal sales, the tuberculosis death rate has been cut by three-fourths, but the disease last year took over 1,000 more American lives than were killed in died from wounds in the American Expeditionary Force in the first World War." Tuberculosis is still a major problem. With the world again facing conditions that will make a fertile field for a new outbreak of the disease, it behooves the individual to look with new significance this year on the cheery seals adorning his greeting cards. They are silent soldiers in a gigantic battle, a crucial battle between humanity—and the four horsemen.
Birthday of U. S. Navy
One hundred and sixty-six years ago a committee of three men, John Adams, Silas Dean and John Langdon purchased the merchant ship Black Prince of Philadelphia. Renamed the Alfred, this vessel had the distinction of being the first ship in the United States Navy. These men were appointed by Congress, through the efforts of George Washington, as a Naval Committee responsible for the purchase of two vessels. An original appropriation of $100,000 was increased several days later, making possible the purchase of four ships in all—the latter three named the Columbus, Cabot and Andrew Doria. The date October 27, on which Congress in 1775 acted to establish our Navy, is celebrated annually as Navy Day. The purpose of Navy Day are to pay a deserved tribute to the splendid service the men in the Navy have rendered in making and keeping us a nation and to better inform the American people of what our Navy is and does for them. When originally chosen, October 27 marked not only one of the most important dates in U. S. Naval history, but also the birth date of Theodore Roosevelt whose life was devoted to furthering a sound naval policy for the United States. In its early days, the history of our Navy was a turbulent one. During the revolutionary period 73 vessels of all descriptions were used, but through sale, capture and destruction only one was left in 1785 and during that year Congress abolished the Navy, leaving the burden of the protection of our country in the hands of an army of only 80 men. In 1794 our Navy was revived by a Congressional Act authorizing the construction of several frigates to deal with the Algerine pirates and the first U. S. Navy Department was established four years later. One of these new frigates purchased as a result of this act of 1794 was the Constitution—with the Constellation, United States, President, Congress and Chesapeake making up a Navy which, through successful encounters with French cruisers and privateers, established an enviable reputation for itself. In 1801 a series of engagements with the Barbary states and the ensuing treaties rendered commerce in the Mediterranean safe from attack and ended the payment of tribute by Americans. The outstanding performance of our Navy and privateers during the War of 1812 insured freedom of the seas for our commerce and further increased our national prestige abroad. The effective work of the Navy during the World War is still fresh in the minds of most of us. The astonishing fact that no American soldier escorted by the U. S. Navy lost his life in transit across the Atlantic created even those in the highest positions of authority. All American foreign relations, all American participation in the life of the community of nations must find its expression through traffic on the seas. Ships, both commercial and naval, are the means of giving effective outlet to America's right to participation in international trade and politics.
Optimists Chartered
A new civic club, "The Optimists" came officially into being last night as the charter was presented to the local group by a representative of the international organization. Headed by John Hardeman, the new club looks like it will be a valuable adjunct to the civic life of the community. Particularly in times like these, every community is in need of "optimists", whether they belong to a club of that name or not. We're certain that the other civic clubs in the city join with us in welcoming the new group and pledging complete cooperation.
Thanks, Pat Cannon!
In response to a Riviera article followed by scores of appeals from Gables residents, Congressman Pat Cannon swung into action this week to aid this community in get a Coral Gables cancellation on all outgoing mail. The congressman, agreeing with the residents of our city, can see no reason why the name of our city should not appear on the mail leaving for other communities in the North. Coral Gables appreciates Pat Cannon's prompt action, knowing that if it's possible to achieve the desired result, Pat can do it.
OUR TOWN
by Jim Moore JIM MOORE Yesterday a new radio program went on the air for the second time. Conceived, written and conducted by Mrs. Ralph McCracken of Coral Gables, the program is directed at the mothers of men drafted into the armed forces of the United States. Entitled "Calling Draft Mothers", the program discusses the problems created by the sudden transition of thousands of boys from life at home to life in the army and other branches of the service. Mothers write in about the problems of their sons and by comparison of cases and notes, solutions are suggested. It even has a broader scope. The sudden change from a nation at peace to a nation virtually at war brings many general problems. There is the question of labor and unions, vitally important in our defense preparations. Naturally, the mothers of boys in uniform, paid $21 a month in the army cannot help but feel angry and puzzled at labor unions striking for higher wages and better hours. There is also the all-important question of jobs for their boys when this business of war is ended. Will their old positions be waiting for them or will they be forced to tramp the streets looking for new work? Mrs. McCracken believes that not only are these problems of concern to the nation's mothers, but that as an organization they have the right, ability and power to suggest solutions and right certain wrongs. While the program is still local, those who have heard it are very much impressed with its possibilities. Not only do radio men see its possibilities for a national hook-up, but they feel, as does Mrs. McCracken, that it can serve as the inspiration for the organizing of the drafted mothers of the nation. That's a big problem, but we agree that it's something worth thinking about. To give you an inkling of what a force for good such an organization could become, we have only to point to Parent-Teacher Associations throughout the country. These too are organizations of parents, banded together to keep in contact with those who are moulding the minds and character of their children. Everyone is familiar with the work of the P.-T.A. and how it is a national force for betterment. The Drafted Mothers would also be interested in closer communication with the men who are officering their sons and providing for their physical, spiritual and moral warfare. War is a serious business and morale is a vital factor in keeping our armed forces in top-notch condition. It's even more important than cannons, guns and equipment. With an organization such as the "Drafted Mothers", or going even a bit farther, "The Drafted Fathers and Mothers" army officials would have a valuable ally in keeping this morale at an extremely high point. We could dwell on the possibilities of such an organization through reams of copy paper and still only skim the surface. The important fact is that such an organization must have a beginning. Mrs. McCracken is not an organizer. She is doing her part and has all her time occupied with writing and conducting the program, reading through hundreds of letters from mothers and planning future programs. But considering the fact that the program is of Coral Gables origin, we feel that it is particularly appropriate that the nucleus for a national organization of "Draft Mothers" be in this community. At the beginning, the club would be local of necessity. But we are certain that if one was started in Coral Gables, that it wouldn't be long before mothers in other communities would be forming similar groups It wouldn't take many weeks before they would be scattered all over the state—and from there a national organization would be a matter of time. It would be quite an honor for our city to have the founding of the "Draft Mothers" in Coral Gables. We are certain that there are women in our town, with sons in the service, who will be happy to belong to a group where they can discuss their mutual problems and exchange stories about their boys in camp. Because it might take an organized group to launch such a project, perhaps the American Legion Auxiliary might be interested in acting as sponsoring body for the group until it got under way. It's an opportunity that the "draft mothers" of this community should not overlook.
The Oldtimer
(WNU Service) THEY SURE DO MAKE IT EASY FOR THE CHILDREN TO GET TO SCHOOL NOWADAYS SHUCKS, I HAD TO WALK SIX MILES TO SCHOOL AND BACK AGAIN, IN ALL KINDS OF WEATHER, SUMMER AND WINTER SCHOOL BUS
Dollars and Sense
By ROMEYN W. SMITH Investment Consultant Mr. Smith Success in managing an investment fund requires, among other things, ready marketability of the investments owned. A house, a farm or a business building is not readily marketable. Weeks or months might be required to find a buyer. In a period of falling prices, it is practically impossible to find a buyer willing to pay a fair price. Farm and city mortgages have a greater degree of marketability than the actual property. Prior to the F.H.A., practically the only market for mortgages was the insurance companies. Now the Federal Savings and Loan Associations have created a good source for local mortgage money. But they do not deal or trade in mortgages as a matter of policy. Private investors, on the whole, should leave mortgages alone as investment mediums. The bond and stock originations of investment bankers furnish a degree of marketability. An "over-the-counter" market is maintained by the originating house and/or by the selling syndicate. To a great extent, the security dealers who maintain "over-the-counter" markets in unlisted securities, control both the volume and the price of the securities. Owners of stocks and bonds really need a market that does not fade away when economic and business conditions are changing. Listing securities on a security exchange materially improves marketability. But it makes a great difference on what exchange the security is listed. "Exchange" is just another word for "market place." Many security exchanges are little more than advertised markets for securities which are sponsored by local security dealers. In this country the New York Stock Exchange and the New York Curb Exchange are far superior to any others. But even listing on these exchanges does not imply a high degree of marketability. There are a number of listed bonds and stocks which are seldom traded. Activity is what makes marketability. Professional traders buy and sell largely in the most active issues. Unfortunately, market activity has been tied into gambling and speculation. And the activities of the Securities and Exchange Commission have resulted in reducing former active markets to inactive markets. We do not intend to argue here the merits of this condition—we merely are reporting a fact. The larger corporations in this country, their bonds and their stocks, are owned by the investing public. In order to exchange ownership of these securities, a market is necessary—a market to which a seller can go to find a buyer, and vice versa. Also a market where prices do not fluctuate too rapidly between sales. The United States Government, for a number of years, has been "guiding" the biggest security market in this country. We refer to the market for government bonds, treasury certificates, etc. For years this market has been "pegged", or supported by government funds appropriated for this purpose. It has enabled our government to borrow billions at low interest rates—which is smart financing. But it also has meant pyramiding debt upon debt! How long can they keep it up? Elementary market considerations include the size of the bond or stock issue and the proportion owned by the general public. For example, General Motors has approximately 45,000,000 shares outstanding, 10,000,000 of which are owned by the E. I. DuPont de Nemours and Company. The Chrysler Corporation has around 4,500,000 shares outstanding. Although both stocks have relatively active markets, it requires more volume to "move" General Motors stock up or down than is the case with Chrysler. Marketability is not available now as it was 10 or 15 year ago. Trading restrictions and high taxes have discouraged many traders and investors. A "what-is-the-use" attitude has been developed in recent years. We believe this attitude to be wrong. Many people who tried to get rich quickly, and lost, blame the market places and the brokers for their own mistakes. They have no one to blame but themselves. They gave the orders—the broker merely executed the orders as an agent.
Too Late to Classify
By RUSSELL KAY You would think that a fellow who was instructor in mathematics, coach of a high school football team, and president of a Kiwanis Club would be so blamed busy that he wouldn't have any "spare time", but the Eustis Lake Region tells an interesting story of a chap named Memory Martin who does all that and indulges in a little inventing on the side. Keenly interested in developing a crack football team for his school, Martin wasn't a bit satisfied with the equipment and old methods employed in teaching the boys how to block, so he set his mathematical mind to work on the problem. Substituting "ideas" in the place of "figures" he worked it out after numerous experiments to finally develop what he terms the Martin Blocking Machine. It has proved so practical and effective that other football coaches, after seeing it work, have ordered one or more for their use. As a result the novel machine is now being employed in the training of high school teams in Winter Haven, Tavares, St. Petersburg, Winter Park, Lakeland and other towns and it begins to look as though the product of Martin's "spare time" is going to require his full time from a manufacturing and sales standpoint. The type of equipment in standard use for training football teams in blocking was decidedly rough on the player and at the same time failed to provide the natural action that takes place when human bodies come in contact. There was no spring or give and as far as experience went a player could get the same effect by heaving himself at a brick wall. Martin watched his boys beat themselves into a pulp, often sustaining painful injuries, and decided that there must be some better means of teaching them the fine art of tackling and blocking. Instead of fighting against a rigid blocking machine, he reasoned that they should have some sort of a device that would give them the same action and reflex that they would actually encounter with another human body. Trying one method after another and studying the problem seriously, he finally found his answer in the automobile spring. Constructing his own tackling dummies, he attached them to standard type automobile springs which were in turn fastened securely to heavy wooden blocks supported by heavy framework to withstand plenty of push and shove, but with sufficient give to practically duplicate the action that takes place when two determined muscled meet on the football field. As a result the players dashing in to block found that the device provided all that could be asked for from the standpoint of resistance and in the same time possessed enough give to absorb the blow from the player, simply giving a severe jolt. It practically eliminated the danger of injury and enabled the boys to go through their training period with less fatigue. Not satisfied to simply watch operations, Emmet Jeter, Jr., editor of the "Lake Region", figured he could get a better idea of the performance of the machine by tackling it himself. With a snarl and a growl, he let himself go at one of the dummies, and he describes his experience as follows: "The Martin Machine is really a marvel of training efficiency. Of course to one who hasn't tackled anything stronger than an occasional Martini for more years than we would care to mention, the machine provided a rather rough workout. But it was easy to visualize how effective the Martin equipment is in training young bodies in the art of blocking and tackling. The Martin machine sells for only $30 and reportedly does the same work as equipment now in general use costing as much as $150. The schools in the state that have purchased the machines pronounce them far superior to anything else on the market and while to date Martin has made no plans for manufacturing and marketing the device, making them more as an accommodation than anything else, if the demand for them continues to grow it will probably mean a new industry for Eustis and Lake county. When one stops to consider the number of football teams in training throughout the country, nothing of grade schools and other organizations, represented by high schools and colleges, to say nothing of the numerous professional teams, and, being seasonal, the manufacturing could be done in the summer for delivery in the fall.
This ONE'S ON You
HAWKSHAW STUFF—Members of the Annanias Club, a Gables organization of questionable purpose, no constitution, and no Parlimentary procedure (which means no holds are barred) this week were in receipt of a rather unusual invitation from one of the members. The invitation was designed first to invite the members to a special meeting and, secondly, to check on the snooping propensities of the club members' wives. The invitations arrived via mail to the members' homes, addressed in decidedly feminine script, marked "Personal", "Confidential", and "Private". Inside were printed letters of invitation, advising members to use the service entrance of the host's home; detailing precautions as to the removal of precious and semi-precious articles from the host's home in preparation for the meeting. Then there was the following "P. S.": "For permanent club records each member will be required to report as to whether or not he received this communication sealed or opened." * * * KNOWS ALL—Coach Dana McLendon tells about a student of his who went through a period of avid reading of mystery stories. The lad read every mystery book in the local library and spent all his money on the "Whodunits". He read them during every spare minute and far into the wee hours. Then suddenly, he announced one day, "I believe I know the plot to every mystery yarn that has been written or ever will be written." From that day hence he has never opened another such novel. * * * NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH—This tale concerns a mother of five children, who because of her offspring, had difficulty in renting a house. Every time a prospective landlord would learn of the children, he would shake his head and say "sorry". Finally, in desperation, she hired a maid and instructed her to take the children down to Woodlawn Park and let them play for several hours while she continued house hunting. She found one she liked and was discussing terms when the agent asked, "Have you any children?" A sad expression came over her face and she said mournfully, "I have five, but they're all in the cemetery." The agent clucked something sympathetically, the lease was signed, and the children returned from their "playground". * * * ONE PRIZE SURE—The gals who participate in the women's golf tourney on the Granada Course next week will be assured of a bit of refreshment during their round. A golf-loving stranger has posted cokes for each contestant who makes a par on any hole except the two short ones. * * * ELEMENTARY PREFERRED—Abigail Gilday at the Elementary School should feel right proud of this one. It concerns Mr. and Mrs. Antonio J. Artola of Havana, who were in the area last week looking for a school in which to place their daughter, Leticia. They visited quite a few of the exclusive private institutions in the area and then at the suggestion of Mrs. Royce Powell, they looked in at the Coral Gables Elementary School. They were sold immediately and are now making plans for Leticia to enter the Gables public institution.
It's a Fact---
WILD FOXES, ORIGINALLY IMPORTED FROM THE NORTH, ROAM ABOUT CERTAIN SECTIONS OF CORAL GABLES. NO HUNTING Plizz Signed A. Fox MOORE Back in 1926 a "hunt club" was organized, and because no native foxes lived here, they were imported from the North. Quite a few eluded the hunters and escaped into the wilds west of the city. They have multiplied and can be glimpsed every now and then in the vicinity of the old Riviera golf course.