The Coral Gables Times

Susan & Lester Brush Up on Their Ideology

60 Anti-Red Groups Alive Here By JOE MORRIS Correspondent Lester and Susan Johnson — he's an insurance executive and she's an attractive, red-headed housewife — have just completed their do-it-yourself kit. With seven other couples — all friends or neighbors — they learned the ins and outs of communism. It was an anti-Communist course, really. The Johnsons are typical of hundreds of Gableites attending these study groups. It may surprise you to learn there are more than 60 such above units in our town of 35,000 people. Authority for the figure is attorney Stewart Allen, 3841 Battersea Rd. He helped foster many of the groups, which contain eight to 15 people, and meet at members' houses weekly for 13 weeks. Taking time off on Father's Day from making mango chutney and the chores connected with being president of his Johnson Insurance Co., Lester Johnson sat in the living room of his home at 3715 Harlano St. He said: "We found out we didn't know as much about communism as we thought we did when we started. And we are more aware of other people who do not comprehend communism and what it may mean to all of us." He laughed as he remembered his service hitch in Japan. "I went to work one day," he said, "and passed a large procession of Japanese, all dressed like dragons, dancing and strutting in the street. Later I was told it was a Communist demonstration. It proves to me the Communists can operate right under our nose sometimes and we may not recognize them." Susan said that she too faced the big question "What can I do?" and found that the movies, slides and tape recordings furnished by the Anti-Communism School in Los Angeles had awakened her to the need to know what legislation is being considered at state and national levels before it becomes law. Her interest in world affairs has been sharpened. She looks more closely at those in public office who have her destiny in their hands. Lester is enthusiastic for the study course's tape-recorded speeches of Congressman Walter Judd, J. Edgar Hoover and Senate Hearing testimonies. He said, "I think every citizen should try to get his head out of the sand by finding the facts and change to positive thinking during election periods . . . instead of saying, 'My vote won't count.'"

Coral Gables TIMES

Vol. 36, No. 19 20 Pages Thursday, June 22, 1961 Phone HI 3-1661 Price 10c

Local Quandary What Good's Pool If Law's Against Your Using It?

Thinking of buying a portable swimming pool — better look before you leap. The Coral Gables Building Department has issued two notices of disapproval to local residents who recently purchased pools exceeding the legal limit. One of the recipients, Barnet Bashaway, of 419 Camilo Ave., had paid more than $500 for a deluxe version of the portable plastic pools. Louise R. Schmitz, 1461 Urbino Ave., received the second notice, which precedes prosecution for violation of the building code. According to Building Director Monty Marshall, the South Florida Building Code, which was adopted by the city, forbids the use of portable pools greater than 250 square feet and 18 inches deep. A Gables pool seller told the Times yesterday (Wednesday) that a group of Miami area merchants plan to appear before the Metro Commission to ask that the code be changed. He called the restrictions discriminatory and "unreasonable, and affecting "90% of the plastic pools sold." He said that when a case was taken to court in Houston, Texas, the ordinance was overturned. Apparently, the ordinance here has lain quietly on the books and no one's paid any attention to it until these two complaints.

Shoplifting Increasing; Merchants Take Action Plans Made For Stopping Store Thefts

By MAURICE LABELLE Times Staffer Business may be off, but shoplifting is better than ever in Coral Gables. The situation is getting so bad, merchants say, that they are going to do something about it. What they will do will depend on the outcome of a study to be made by a special committee of the Retail Merchants Division of the Chamber of Commerce. Members are Elmer Ayers, Mark Davenport and Alvin Magolnick. Special anti-shoplifting techniques used by Sears and Roebuck and Co. stores will be studied and an attorney obtained to advise the group of legal procedures, Albert H. Friedman, RMD president, said Tuesday. The study is the upshot of last week's meeting of the RMD in which member merchants revealed the seriousness of shoplifting in Coral Gables. Stealing by juveniles has become especially bad, merchants said. Lee Smith, manager of the Chamber of Commerce, said no figures are available on losses, but merchants gave an inkling (See Shoplifting Page 2)

THIS UNUSUAL PHOTO was taken by Raymond Lang of our staff at Venetian Pools. About 1,000 swimmers a day are expected at the pools, 2701 De Soto Blvd., this summer. Raymond achieved that water sparkle by deliberately taking the picture slightly out of focus.

Bank Pays $100,000 For Four Lots

City National Bank here has exercised its option to purchase the four parcels of land comprising its parking lot. Bank President Ira Willard declined to quote a price this week but tax stamps showed the transaction to be $100,000. The land is paved and has been used for parking since the bank opened in its new quarters at 2701 Le Jeune Rd. The addition increased the bank's holdings by 100 feet on Le Jeune Road and 140 feet bordering Avenues Sevilla and Almeria. The bank now owns a 200 x 265-foot portion of the block.

Real Estate Sales Still Lagging Here

Real estate transactions — a guide post of the economy — show a sharp drop over a comparable period last year in Coral Gables. Figures compiled by the Coral Gables Board of Realtors indicate a drop of $1.97 million for the five-month total ending in May. The 1961 total through May is $6,361,945 compared to $7,632,375 for the same five-month period last year. The total for May was $1,252,250 which represented an increase over the same month last year — $1,163,450, but a drop from the previous month of April, $1,684,525. Of the May total, 38 transactions were single family homes, $733,100; six multiple family, $161,250, five commercial, $197,900 and 19 lots, $160,000.

Inside For You

Tucked in your paper this week is a list of locations and the procedure to be followed to use any of the city's 50 new emergency phones. The pamphlet is being distributed as a public service by The Times in connection with the City Publicity Department, originator of the pamphlet.

Professional packers and

wrappers for shipping or mailing. "The Barefoot Mailman", 234 Valencia Ave., C. Gables-adv

Pool owners hdqtrs. Chemicals.

Patio items. Sun n' Fun Pool n' Patio. CE 5-7333. -Adv.

New Office Space $3.75 sq. ft.

with all services or $75 mo. see 100 Madiera. -Adv.