Coral Gables Riviera

CORAL GABLES RIVIERA

PAGE 6 THE CORAL GABLES RIVIERA FRIDAY, DEC. 26, 1941 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 4-1634 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.

The Slate Is Clean

In a few brief hours, the Year 1941 will be history. It was an eventful, exciting year. Centuries from now students will read of it in the pages of their history books. It was a black year. It saw the tinder box of the world ignited into war by the spark from the saber. Thousands died as demolition bombs screamed from the heavens. Hatred was intense and distrust strode the highways and by-ways. Into this maelstrom of passion must come 1942; a new year, with all the woes and misfortunes of the old one cast right into its lap. But it is a new year—a new page in the history of the world. Who knows what the future holds in store for us. Perhaps in 1942 we will see the beginning of a new way of living—a world-wide return to the principles of the Golden Rule. Perhaps the new year will bring the beginning of the end of the principles of conquest by the sword and the worship of the Black Faith. The inclination lies within the heart of every decent human being—we know that it can be accomplished. When the midnight bells ring out the Old Year and acclaim the New, the slate is wiped clean. The world has its chance to start all over again. So looking forward to 1942 with hope rather than apprehension, The Riviera takes this opportunity to wish each and every one of you a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

A Job Well Done

Coral Gables' Christmas Festival is now a thing of the past, but pleasant memories will linger for many months to come. This is the first year that the community has attempted a Yuletide celebration, but its success insures the fact that the Festival will become an annual event. Special credit should go to City Commissioner Wallace A. Bell, under whose guiding hand the musical events attendant to the celebration were nurtured and blossomed. Commissioner Bell also arranged for the memorable reading of the "Christmas Carol" by Fred Koch, Jr., and the colorful pageant, "Holy Night" at the Elementary School. The untiring efforts of City Manager A. B. Curry were also responsible for the success of the project, for it was Curry, together with Bill Fuller and Doug Fairbanks of the Florida Power and Light Company, who conceived and planned the beautiful street decorations, that added so much to the Festival atmosphere. Any mention of the decoration would be incomplete without a word about the job done by Police Officer C. W. Hecht and Fireman C. T. Wallace. These two city employees worked many hours overtime, doing the actual labor of putting up two miles of lights and laurel and getting the loud speaker system into operation. They were two tired men when the last light started twinkling and the strains of Christmas music poured forth over the city, but they have the satisfaction of knowing they did their job—and did it well. The musical organizations who took part in the festival contributed immeasurably to the success of the event and Coral Gables will long remember the beautiful music that made Christmas seem so real. To the Merchants' Bureau of the Chamber of Commerce, sponsor of the Festival, and to all those who had a part in it, The Riviera extends congratulations. It was appreciated by every resident and visitor in Coral Gables.

Paper for Defense

Coral Gables residents should appreciate the city's efforts in the "Save Paper for Defense" campaign. By acting as a clearing house, the city is saving the housewife the bother of bundling paper and carrying it to a collection point. It is not necessary to go to any extra trouble at all. Just deposit the paper in the trash can and the city will do the rest. When the wagons arrive at the incinerator, they are carefully gone over and all paper salvaged. This is baled and sold. It is then made over into containers for shipping defense materials. Not only is the city helping residents to aid the defense effort, but by the added income from the paper sales, it is helping keep taxes to a minimum.

QUIRE and QUIBBLE By Jim Moore

We're a little worried about the white tile roof on our new house. A gentleman dropped into the office the other day to inform us that everybody in Coral Gables that has a white roof would immediately paint it red or black. "Those white roofs will gleam like new dimes to enemy aviators overhead," he stated emphatically. "The city ought to make every owner paint his red or black." This upset us, no end. We like our white roof, and we have a sad vision of red or black paint dripping on the nice white walls. We're glad to report,, however, that after checking up with various officials, we don't think this redecorating job will be necessary. If it does come to pass, we think we'll just cover the whole darn thing with pine boughs in preference to the more permanent paint. At any rate, the gentleman's visit gives you an inkling of some of the suggestions, rumors and tips that come to a newspaper office during war time. Some of them are wild—many screwy and some have some merit to them. When the F. B. I. started its round-up of aliens, our phone was kept busy as people called to tell us of different Gableites that had been arrested. You'd be surprised to learn how many "enemy agents" are in business in Coral Gables. In a few day's time we had a list of more prominent men who had been picked up. In every instance the rumor was a phony. We heard stories of secret mid-night bund meetings; of attempted sabotage to the water tower, University of Miami and the city library. It got so that we were looking under our desk for Gestapo agents and Japanese fifth columnists. What makes it so hard on the newspaper is that separating out of those "tips" most be investigated. Buried somewhere in the flood of wild rumors might be a real news story. So we carefully check out all persons that's dropped with each new "exclusive bit of inside information". Just to show you how facts get distorted as they make the rounds, let's recount a little incident that happened last week. The F. B. I. requested that the city give Sergt. William Kimbrough an indefinite leave of absence so that they might use him as a G-man during the war. Bill has been trained at the National Police School in Washington, an F. B. I. project, and is well-qualified for duty as a federal agent. Just a few hours after the arrangements had been made for Bill to leave the local police force for government service, we were stopped on the Boulevard by a fellow Gableite. "Say," he said breathlessly, "did you hear about them discovering a Fifth Columnist in the police department?" Somewhat amazed, we confessed our ignorance and asked for the gory details. "Why, the F. B. I. agents just swooped down on the police station and arrested Bill Kimbrough. They have him down in the Federal Building grilling him." Our informant acted as if he was actually disappointed when we carefully explained to him that Bill was now a F. B. government agent and not a member of the Nazi Gestapo. This may sound ridiculous to you, but it just goes to show what lengths rumors can go. In this instance, it was not silly to do any harm, but we know of several instances where unfounded stories have already caused harm. There are three or four business places that have lost customers because someone started the word going that they were Nazi hotbeds. In each instance the information was absolutely unfounded. The tongue is a dangerous weapon when improperly used. War always brings a flood of false stories, many of which hurt innocent victims. Before this is all over, some scandal-mongers are going to find themselves facing slander suits, and personally we hope they get rapped plenty hard. We are getting ready to start on a new year—a year that may mean a lot to the future of all of us. It would be a good thing if we put at the top of our New Year's resolutions, "We firmly resolve to keep our heads during 1942". We're going to be an important factor in winning the war. The enemy loves the teller of false information. The tounge-waggers spreads confusion and distrust in our neighbors, and by so doing, plays right into the Axis' hands. So let's be sure of our facts before telling Joe what Sam told us, and adding a few more details to spice up the story. Thumbs up and Happy New Year.

But for the to-be-expected losses because of the war situation, the University of Miami would have looked for a sensational football season next fall. Of the team which won 8 of its 10 games, only five are seniors—Joe Krutulis, regular end; Capt. Tom Kearns, regular tackle; William Wunder, reserve tackle; Dutch Trobliger, regular quarterback and John Tobin, regular halfback. Sophomores alternated with Kearns, Trobliger, and Tobin this season and would have been fully qualified to move up as regulars next fall and one of three pretty fair right ends would have been moved over to try to place Krutulis—hardest of the graduates to replace. The not-too-good frosh eleven nevertheless had 8 or 10 likely prospects.

Happy New Year 1942

THE RIVIERA STAFF

Too Late to Classify

BY RUSSELL KAY The most interesting mail reaching my desk this morning came from my personal friend Van Dusen of the Pan-American Airways. While news dispatches have given us some of this information, details were lacking and Van's letter tells thrilling story of sufficient interest to justify publication. Here it is: "At 10:30 A. M. (8:00 o'clock Hawaii time) the Sunday watch at Pan-Am's Pacific Division Headquarters at San Francisco had just filed their mid-morning report. The Anzac Clipper, Hawaii bound, was an hour and a half out of Honolulu; the Pacific Clipper was en route from Noumea to Auckland; the Philippine Clipper just out of Wake on the way to Guam; the Hong Kong Clipper ready to leave Manila for Kowloon. "At 10:30 the incredible word was flashed from Honolulu. Pan-Am's staff went into action. In less than five minutes every ship and every ground station on the whole 20,000-mile network of our trans-Pacific routes had been contacted and switched from peacetime flying to the long trained and well rehearsed 'Plan A.' "When the Japs flew over Diamond Head on their way to Pearl Harbor, one word was flashed simultaneously telling our ships and stations all they needed to know. Radios were silenced, ship lights blacked out, headings changed to pre-determined courses. Every pilot, every ship crew and every ground station knew exactly what to do and did it. "Swinging from her regular course, the Anzac Clipper avoided the zone of attack and landed safely. Passengers got the news after landing. The big ship was refueled and was soon on her way to San Francisco. "In the south seas, the Pacific Clipper altered her course and landed safely at Auckland. "The Philippine Clipper had just departed from Wake, enroute to Guam and Singapore. Swinging about, she returned to Wake and landed safely just as the first Jap bombers swept the island. Capt. Hamilton took cover near the dock and watched the attack. Eighteen enemy planes, in 'V' formations of nine each, dropped their deadly cargo. The hotel was set afire; buildings, docks and fuel installations bombed; the construction camp machine gunned. The attack lasted only five minutes. "His gallant Clipper, riding at anchor, miraculously escaped; the only damage being a few bullet holes in her fuselage. Returning to their ship, the crew and passengers took off for Midway. Forty miles from their destination, they sighted a light cruiser and a destroyer heading on a course toward Wake, and this information was flashed to the Naval Commandant. (Subsequent reports tell of the sinking of these ships by American fire.) "Midway was completely blacked out as was the Clipper, but Hamilton landed safely in the lagoon to learn that the island had been shelled by surface craft, undoubtedly the ships he had sighted on the way in. Ground crews quickly serviced and refueled the Clipper and again it was under way headed for Hawaii where she came to anchor with all hands safe. "Further out in the Pacific, Capt. Fred S. Ralph was winging his Hong Kong Clipper toward Kowloon, arriving there a scant five minutes ahead of the Japs, but that was long enough to discharge passengers and mail and run for cover. The air was black with enemy planes and bombs dropped like hail. Wave after wave they came, but it was not until the twelfth attack that the Clipper was hit and Ralph saw his beloved 'Myrtle'

Dollars and Sense

By ROMEYN W. SMITH Investment Consultant Should statistical organizations stick to statistics? These organizations are only "the tipster sheet" or "magazine" class. They have performed years of faithful service in the compilation of statistics. But they have disappointing in their efforts to become investment managers. Their first handicap, it would seem, is that they were designed for, and operated for years and years solely in the compilation of statistics. Statistics is the recording of what has happened. Investment management, while it uses statistics, largely is the attempt to foresee what will happen. On the whole, statistical organizations give far too much weight to the experience of the past. "History repeats itself" only to a limited degree. Our experience has been that about the only thing you can be sure of is the certainty of change. It sounds easy to "add another department" for the giving of investment advice, but many a business man has found that the parent business fails unless he gets a manager of the very finest calibre. A physician might easily, one would think, add dentistry to his practice and employ a dentist to do the work. But we imagine the calibre of dentist he would want, would prefer to base his own practice instead of operating under the wing of the other profession. Businesses and professions become saturated with the lore, the customs, the temperament and the atmosphere of their backgrounds. It is hard to break away into a new department which is so radically different from the parent business or profession, as is foreseeing the future, compared with recording the past. The next handicap is the vast amount of unnecessary ground which must be covered by a statistical organization. The very nature of the business requires data to be compiled on over 30,000 corporations. No great amount of time can be devoted to each one. Skilful investment managers limit their intensive studies to about 150 corporations. They also make intensive studies of economic and industrial trends. For these and other reasons the expert and unbiased investment manager has been able to achieve far superior results. If you have ever been through one of the mammoth statistical organizations, the general effect is that of a boiler factory. Hundreds of typewriters clicking and banging and ringing, messengers rushing from office to office. The reports must be out on time, regardless of what is in them. They must get out the weekly letter on "Friday night or bust." Thousands of subscribers expect it! They demand it. It must get to them whether there is anything to say or not. After watching the investment advice of statistical organizations for a number of years, it is our firm conviction that they are primarily sales organizations catering to the untutored demands of unskilled investors. Methods of statistical organizations have the appearance of supplying some kind of answer to the popular demand, rather than a sincere effort to correct the misconceptions of a public born in investment error. Another pathetic picture is the crowd you see in the "statistical rooms" of brokerage and investment offices and in "business libraries". We have watched hundreds of these investment-information-hungry souls and always they are pouring over balance sheets and income reports, comparing the "five year earnings" of this company with that, or scanning the "weekly letter", hoping to "pick a winner". To us the pathetic part is that these people are ignoring the two most important steps of investment management; first, type, and then, industry selections. Our belief is that the sooner the statistical organizations follow the lead of the banks and confine themselves to the business for which they were designed—just that much sooner shall the business of investment begin to get on a better foundation.

this ONE'S ON You

WRONG ADDRESS? WRONG PARTY?—The other day George B. Caster received a Christmas card at his home, 1254 Coral Way, extending holiday felicitations to "George and all the boys". Mr. Caster was puzzled but his bewilderment didn't last long. It seems' that when Mr. Caster first became a resident of Coral Way, he was visited by an elderly gentleman who asked for Mr. Clique. Upon being advised that there was no "Mr. Clique at that address the elderly gentleman said: "That's strange, there's supposed to be a Mr. Bar Clique living here." If you haven't figured it out yet there's a Clique Bar, listed as the Bar Clique, at 1254 Coral Way, Miami. Mr. Caster wonders how much of his mail "George" at the Clique Bar has gotten. BLITZ BIRTHDAY— A young lady we know celebrated her birthday last Sunday. Along with the presents, came this bit of verse from her father-in-law, which we think is worth repeating: With a war that now encircles Nearly all the entire world, And in which our flag of battle Has been recently unfurled With our sailors and our soldiers Scanning blue Pacific skies With our friends, the Reds of Russia Knowing no such word as fear Hurling lead along with insults Into Hitler's fleeing rear— With the British down at Tobruk Doing quite a finished job At making Mussolini Just a fat Italian slob; With the chimps down in China Adding glory to their name And fighting like the Polacks do For good old Notre Dame; With our many sons enlisting, Some to offer up their lives And some to leave behind them Weeping, tear-stained little wives. It might seem a bit facetious In such tense and troubled times, To be fitting words together Into silly birthday rhymes. But the day is too important To permit it just to lapse Because of any trouble With the Nazis and the Japs; And so while we are mindful Of the leathernecks at Wake We salute you with the candles That you'll find upon the cake; And while we hope the very hell Will rain upon the Jap, We hope that much good fortune Will be dumped right in your lap So, with these hopes and wishes That are all sincere and true We extend our warmest greetings Again this year to you. * * * WHY? Endorsement of one hundred per cent Save one poor soul who gave dissent Did Congress at the last endorse Roosevelt's hand, that shapes our course In this greatest war, in history To all save GOD a mystery So many questions, Why? Why? Why? Were all these errors to make man die? We liked the tricks of one Houdini But why a Hitler? Or Mussolini? Why this history of blunders To pave the way for Hitler's plunders Why that spirit of hesitation To take a stand? In every nation! Well never look; it's God's plan sir Until in time he gives the answer When the smoke of sin around men curled Christ was sent to save the world Iscariot made Gethsemane Yet, he was not Christ's enemy In every scene of world upheaval The fight goes on twixt good and evil How Hitler, is Mephistopheles While Roosevelt is Demesthenes We're stepping back ten thousand years In this great war of blood and tears Yet who dare doubt, that in the end The hand of GOD will make amend? When Flander's fields were filled with gore The boys who died in that great war Did not exactly die in vain The world pattern will show but gain That war was needed to diminish What the present war will finish To end disputes with fear and hate And lay down guns to arbitrate We Americans must bear the brunt And back the man we have in front When Franklin D. just gives the nod We'll fight for him, "So help us GOD" Louis Mc Davit