The Coral Gables Times

Thursday, May 25, 1961, page 4 (of 24)

← Earlier issue Later issue → Download this page

The page

You can also pinch or scroll to zoom, and drag to move around.

The text of this pageRead by computer from the scan, so some words may be wrong. The page picture is the original.

THE Coral Gables TIMES

Established Jan. 15, 1926 Published Weekly at 244 Sevilla Ave., Coral Gables, Fla. Second Class Postage Paid at Miami, Fla. ROLFE NEILL | Editor & Publisher JOHN T. WATTERS | President Robert M. Slane | Advertising Manager John Mullin | Circulation Manager Maurice Labelle, Raymond Lang | Reporters Mrs. Irene Stoeber | Classified Manager Miss Helen Reynolds | Society Editor Mrs. Eleanor Newsholme | Office Manager Subscription: $3.00 year by mail anywhere

You Don't Catch Whales With English Worms

A story elsewhere in The Times today traces the conflict surrounding the City's newly-required non-Communist oath and the article concludes: "What do you think?" Well, we think it's needless, this oath. We are in sympathy with that minority (8 to 10) of the People to People Committee who sought to resist it. Why should any loyal American object to signing a paper saying he is one? Henry, the Office Cat, interrupted before we could answer our own question to observe: "Well, I see by this ad in The New York Times about 'Fair Play for Cuba' that professors who refuse to sign loyalty oaths don't mind putting their names to this ad." Henry misses the point. The professor is not required to sign the Times' ad; he has free choice. It is not so with these loyalty oaths. The citizen is bullied into it; if he refuses, he is forever suspected. None of us would mind signing such an attest if it really aided in the fight against the Communists. But as far as this newspaper knows, no Communist in our country was ever foiled nor any ever caught by this seemingly simple test. The only thing at all to be said for the oath is that a Communist who signs and later has it proved that he lied, can be sentenced for perjury. Better that a few Communists should go unnoticed than that the citizen's basic rights be taken away. This is still a government moving by the consent of the governed. God forbid that we should move by its consent.

A Lady Thinks

There have been a few million well chosen words delivered on the subject of Cuba and Br'er Castro's offer of human beings for tractors. However, the best suggestion we've heard came from a lady on our end of the Gables who opined: "The first contribution to that fund should be made by Batista. His property in this country should be confiscated and sold."

Bus Stop (Sans MM)

There's no reason for Coral Gables to give up its well-operated bus line. We say to Metro, Hands Off, Please. The facts are self-evident why the City should continue to operate its own system. Among the most obvious ones are: 1. Metro can't give the quality service we now enjoy, i.e., stops in the middle of the block for the patron's convenience, gas-powered motors to eliminate the sickening odor of Diesel oil, and schedules to suit the Gables' needs. 2. Citizens here expect this kind of service and subsidize it to the extent of between $40,000 and $60,000 a year. This year's estimated loss will be $60,000 on the bus system. 3. We would only downgrade ourselves by going under Metro's skirts. The Times believes in the wisdom of Metro. It is the only possible organ that can bring chaos out of the conflicts of two dozen municipalities living in the same county. However, it would be foolish to merge functions into Metro merely for the sake of centralization. We all know the bitter lessons of giving up local say-so for a more distant, bureaucratically-administered plan. There's no need for Metro to come poaching on our bus system, our firemen or any other service which we can handle better ourselves. Reasonable men, working together willingly, can easily integrate the Metro transit lines with those of the Gables.

"What'sa Matter? Don't You Think I Know How to Run This?"

WISH TO TAKE OVER CORAL GABLES BUS SYSTEM | CORAL GABLES | METRO TRANSIT AUTHORITY | NEGOTIATION SNAFU | "What'sa Matter? Don't You Think I Know How to Run This?"

Everybody's Business

By Rolfe Neill Letter, Man This came in the mail from University Federal, unsigned. Red Nelson, maybe? A man who had taken over a small town newspaper told a friend that he could be the editor of the "problem department" column. "But there's no salary to begin with," he added. "No salary?" exclaimed the friend. "Then how will I live?" "That's your first problem." Well Paid Ford If you wonder what the pay is as head of Ford Motor Co., here are a few figures: Henry Ford II, chairman, received total compensaion of $462,500 last year. That was $187,500 in salary and fees and $275,000 in bonds. That's down from his $485,00 in 1959. Second highest paid exec at the auto factory was Robert S. McNamara, now Secretary of Defense. He was paid $386,667. 18 Years Ago Gables Federal's Rodney Miller gave me an old Coral Gables Riviera newspaper the other day, dated Friday, Sept. 10, 1943. there were some interesting items in it. Ham Hayes' picture was on the front page, announcing he had been assigned to duty as a second lieutenant with the "Fighting Leathernecks." It was World War II, remember. Mrs. Zola Holliday's 5th grade at Gables Elementary was thrilled with a personal letter from a famous General, Dwight Eisenhower, thanking the students for letters sent him. And a story from Lakeland announced, in a small way, what is today Big Business: "The Florida Citrus Commission, which is thinking hard these days about ways to market fruit after the war, has come out with a new idea — frozen citrus juice concentrate." Dr. L. G. MacDowell, commission research director, was given credit for the idea. And the Bootery was advertising Buster Brown shoes for $2.95 to $4.95. Break the Bank Bableite Mert Madden (5311 Maggiore St.) says it happened like this at Curtiss National Bank where he's assistant to the president: A lady reported to police that burglars were at work inside. "I stopped to make a night deposit and heard this drill going." Officers investigating found her story to be true. 'Twas a workman installing some floor strips inside.

OFF BEAT

By Maurice Labelle Had we had all the facts and could prove them, the following would not be a column item but a front page story. Just prior to the last municipal election a couple of local wheelers and dealers approached a city commissioner and attempted to bribe him to change his vote on a controversial high rise building proposal. We wish we could name names and places, because the commissioner who turned down the bribe did this community a real service. But under present circumstances it is impossible. A trap was set up for the would be bribers, but they were as shrewd in avoiding it as in the manner they made it in the first instance. Perhaps the full story can be told later. -ML- Our new County Manager Irving McNayr is obviously a man of substance, quality and character. McNayr is seriously eyeing the Gables as a place to hang up his hat at night. A principal selling point: Coral Gables High School's national reputation as an exceptional school. McNayr is a proud poppa. -ML- Fate plays strange tricks. Either Paul School, of Irene Shops, and Albert H. Friedman, of Ro'al Apparel and Accessories, would have had the job of re-organizing the Miracle Mile Association, but a vote wound up in a tie. More nominations and another vote resulted in victory for Don Mullen. -ML- James H. Harley, new officer with the Coral Gables Police Department, is from North, South Carolina. Either or both? -ML- Sgt. Wilfred K. Kerr is taking this bomb shelter business serously. Kerr is making arrangements to have a six-foot, eight-inch by 16-foot shelter constructed at his home, 4249 SW 62nd Ct. Nothing like being prepared. Joe Mantinan, administrative assistant to City Manager L. W. Robinson Jr., had real beginner's luck recently when he took his new boat on a shakedown cruise and landed a six-foot sailfish 30 minutes after rigging up. Jerri Pucci, Panning Board member, has sure cure for virus: Take one aspirin, one Dristan tablet, wash down with orange juice. Don't quit now. Wait 2-3 minutes and have a glass of warm milk before, after, or while sipping your favorite alcoholic beverage. Guaranteed to knock out the bug, but you've got to do this before it really gets you. -ML- He'd claim he was misquoted, but one local politician slipped recently and said he was never so "humiliated" at being elected. Be it ever so humble.

Remember The Times

25 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK Dr. Bowman F. Ashe, president of the University of Miami, was appointed Social Security board director for the Southeastern region ... The Kiwanis Club condemned slot machines, marking the first attempt of any Coral Gables organization to combat the "bandits" ... Miss Mary Caldwell was named editor of the Ponce Tribune of Ponce de Leon High School ... Coral Gables merchants closed their stores every Thursday afternoon during June, July and August at 1:00 p.m. 10 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK C. Willard Morris took the chair as president-elect of the Coral Gables Junior Chamber of Commerce ... William C. Hill, board chairman of the Coral Gables First National Bank, became a great grandfather and lost a babysitting job at the same time. He promised to baby sit only if it were a girl — it wasn't ... Keith Phillips was named president of the General Alumni Association at the University of Miami ... Gables High Band was sparked by $11,000 from the Patron's Fund, making it one of the best equipped and most smartly uniformed in the South. ONE YEAR AGO THIS WEEK City Manager L. W. Robinson Jr. turned down an offer by Metro to join in a countrywide police radio network ... Gables High student, Robert Friis, was awarded the National Honor Society Certificate of Merit ... John W. Adamson gained the post of State Deputy of the Knights of Columbus.

You Remember Haley's Comet? Waiting for World to End

By ELVA CHARLTON Correspondent Many years ago, I sat with the neighborhood children on the curbstone in front of my house on Walnut Street in Philadelphia, waiting for the end of the world. The Philadelphia newspapers had foreshadowed this event for weeks before in all its gory details. A heavenly body called a comet was to appear in the sky which might become separated from its tail in passage, and in turn would sink to the earth setting it on fire. I remember grasping hands with the kids with a feeling of togetherness before I ever knew the meaning of the word. My mother, fearing my usual nightmares, thrust a dish in my hand and some money. "Elva, go down to the corner and get a quart of ice cream and a pound of pretzels. See that he piles it up this time, the skinflint." Oh, goody, I thought, a party. Then she whisked me off to bed before I ever saw the darn thing. Each one of you readers having the courage to admit being alive in 1910 will remember this event in a different way. Jim Mooney, on Segovia remembers, and furnished me with these details. A comet appearing in the sky was believed in ancient times to be an women of sudden death, war, revolutions, or other dire events in human affairs. This one was named after Edmund Haley. But if you're looking for another one you will have to stay alive until 1986. By then, you may even be riding on it yourself.