The Coral Gables Times

Thursday, July 13, 1961, page 4 (of 44)

← 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

Is There a Doctor In the House?

There are 230 doctors and dentists who practice in Coral Gables. There are but 15 of them who are members of the Chamber of Commerce here. Something wrong? Figure it for yourself. Who benefits more from the population attracted to our area by the business activity focussed through the chamber? What group in America today more needs to find its place in the community beyond the mere exercise of its profession? Through the generosity of four of the medical men who do support the Chamber, a dinner was given Tuesday night to acquaint their professional brethren with the facts of life. Our Chamber wants the dentists' and doctors' dollars AND their personal participation. There are the obvious pragmatic reasons of business which alone are sufficient to propel a thinking medical man into supporting his local chamber of commerce. If he prefers, he can search beyond. By reason of education and of social status, the medical doctor and dentist have a greater capacity for influence in their community. There is dereliction if those capabilities are not exercised. There is no better place to contribute to the general welfare than through the Chamber of Commerce. The Times believes there are many men who hadn't given it any thought. Now is the hour.

Leave Uncle Sam Out of the Lord's Work

Do you think that your tax dollars should go to support the Riviera Day School? Or help pay the expenses of the Ransom School in Coconut Grove? Neither does this newspaper. (And, of course, neither of those institutions has suggested they should be tax supported; we cite them only to bring the case home forcefully.) But bills before Congress on Federal aid to education would establish the principle that in time such schools could feed at the public trough. We refer specifically to the provision that church schools-clamored for notably by the Catholic Church-receive tax aid. This is preposterous. Preposterous as it is, it nevertheless seems to attract considerable voting strength in the Congress. If you believe that the church has no right to receive anything from the state except the protection of its rights of assembly and opinion, then let your Congressman know. We are dedicatedly opposed to giving one penny to any school system except the public school system.

Elva Takes It on the Chin -- And Fights Back

By ELVA CHARLTON | Times Staffer | "Your last column on household help is lousy," the man said. "You sound like a snob." His lips curled as the roast beef he was eating had an unpleasant smell. "How long has it been since you've had household help?" "Too long," I laughed. He's kidding, of course. I looked up from my plate of roast beef. His face was serious. "I'm writing to the people in the Gables, like myself who employ regular days work, you know." I began to get alarmed that our hostess would be insulted at this turn to the conversation. She was busy putting the final touches to this delicious meal. "I live in the Gables," he continued, "few people around me have household help. You are writing to a small minority. "Besides, you give the impression of sitting in the rocking chair, fanning yourself and reminiscing while Cuba burns. "Other people are worried about communism, segregation, unemployment, atom bomb. You're worried about household help. It's trifling. I looked at his wife to see if she shared his opinion. "Nancy, didn't you tell me you were going to lose your cleaning woman?" "I've already lost her." "What are you going to do?" "I don't know, they've all raised their prices to $1.25 per hour." "Tom, do you still feel that all men are alike, no matter what their color?" I asked. I know he does, but I don't. Several years ago, I organized and worked on a big welfare project for Lend a Hand. More than 25 Gables women worked with me. We dressed 200 dolls for children of needy families for Christmas. The work was fine and delicate, all done by hand. I followed the project through and worked on the giveaway part of it. Most of the people who crowded the building to receive the donations were colored. Nobody thanked me or seemed to appreciate the work that was done. My co-workers said, "If there's one in the crowd who is grateful, the work is worthwhile." "Yes," I said and stood on the other foot. I employ household help, fix their lunch, give them clothing, take them to the doctors. I keep them until their babies are born. An unborn child has no sin. One colored girl, stole 40 dollars one day in crisp 10 dollar bills. The police could do nothing about it, even though they knew where she was the next day. Another stole liquor. Other people who employed her said she thought it was "par for the course." My son says the unemployed men swarm around his car when he stops on Dixie Highway to pick them up for construction work. They won't work unless he promises them a certain amount. If they carry their lunch, it is better than my son's. If they don't, I give it to them. My yardman didn't come this week. He received a check last time which was an overpayment for his work. While I'm writing this, the program is being organized to feed the unemployed. I will be asked to help. The only way I will be able to help, is if my own colored worker arrives to leave me free to go. The pacifier which women like myself will be fed is this. "Colored people get hungry just as white people do. "It is your civic duty." There is nothing so poignant as a bunch of starving people no matter how fat they loo White or black, they are Americans.

Remember The Times

25 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK | Ralph Flanagan, a Coral Gables resident and international swimming star, sailed from New York enroute to compete in the Olympics. Dr. Arnold Volpe, conductor of the University of Miami Symphony Orchestra, appeared in New York as the guest conductor of the New York Philaharmonic Orchestra. The Hollis Reinhart home at 725 North Greenway Drive was sold to West Virginia coal magnate John L. Tierney. | 10 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK | City Attorney Edward L. Semple was scheduled to appear in court for violating a recent parking meter regulation which he sponsored into law himself. Lee Gehart and Jack Kivett were adrift all night in their fishing boat on Biscayne Bay, after developing motor trouble. Mr. and Mrs. David F. Conover of 1265 Aquila Ave. celebrated their first wedding anniversary. Mr. and Mrs. Charles L. Whitehurst have returned to live in Coral Gables after a years' absence. They are residing at 3811 Segovia St. | ONE YEAR AGO THIS WEEK | Thieves broke into the Tau Epsilon Phi fraternity house at the University of Miami and stole an estimated $700 in food, furniture, silverware and other items. One of the largest audiences ever to attend a City Commission meeting was present this week due to the controversy over the increase in golf fees at the municipal golf courses and the raising of city employees salaries. The J. E. Banks family of 6811 Capilla Street was looking for homes for 10 of their 12 cats. A threatened walkout of the Public Service Department was averted when the commission granted them a 5 per cent raise.

EVERYBODY'S Business By Rolfe Neill

| Old Glory | Civic clubs tired of done-to-death programs should contact Rotarian Warren Blackmon. He had a simple, highly effective (because it was simple) presentation last week before Gables Rotarians. The subject was Americanism. Warren put it across with emphasis and finesse. | National Note | Jill Finsten of our town had a letter in Life magazine the other day about the Freedom Riders. Here's a pertinent paragraph: "While we Americans are agonizing over the losses of Cuba and Laos we would do well to realize that unless we start having an honest-to-goodness working democracy we cannot hope to convince our neighbors (especially in Africa and Asia) that our Constitution is not just so many pretty words." | Coats Off, Sir | Why is it that a civilized society, living in the sub tropics, insists on men wearing their coats through the torrid summer heat? Sanity may some day prevail but for the short haul it looks as if we are welded to senseless conformity. | What's Inside | Beginning next June, all soft drinks such as Coca-Cola, Pepsi et all will be require to bear a label listing their ingredients. Seven-Up is perhaps the only major drink that presently lists its contents. The industry has resisted such efforts for the last two decades while expecting to be forced to label. The Federal Food and Drug Administration says, "There have been a number of consumer complaints" because of the failure to list contents. | Fashion Note | Why is it that women insist on aping fashion? On my desk is a photograph from a New York publicity outfit that shows a woman and small child who are tolerable likenesses of Jackie Kennedy and daughter Caroline. What's a disgrace is that the pair worked to make themselves resemble the First Lady and her daughter. It is the smart woman who sets her own style and who stands out because of it. Bah to these colorless slaves who ruin their individuality while thinking they are making themselves glamorous. | Landless | Hear this interpretation: "The restlessness of an increasing number of families without land was one of the factors that led to the American Revolution. "'The colonies had inherite the land laws of the mother country. Large holdings passed from father to first son, and vast estates were kept intact by entailment. "'The manorial system persisted until the colonies won their independence. Individual colonists of poor or moderate means found it hard to buy land. "Among the first results of the revolution was the confiscation of large Royalist estates. "'Feudalistic quit-rents were abolished, and laws that protected large estates were repealed. This sharp break with the past enabled the nation to create a new legal framework for land ownership.'" The lessons implicit in this for Latin America are obvious to any schoolboy history reader.

INK SPOTS by INK

| LIMITED ROOM RENTING IN CORAL GABLES WAS PROHIBITED BY A CIRCUIT COURT RULING LAST WEEK. | ROOM FOR RENT | MI UNIVERSE NTEST | THE GIRLS IN THIS GREAT CONTEST PUT ON QUITE A SHOW BUT THE HOME GROWN VARIETY BEATS THEM ALL, YOU KNOW | SSHH-MAYBE WERE BREAKING A LAW! | WHOSE IDEA WAS THIS, ANYWAY? | 81 THINGS YOU CAN'T DO IN CORAL GABLES | ON JULY 10, 11, 12, THE CORAL GABLES CITY COMMISSION READ WRITTEN TAX COMPLAINTS... AFTER THE 12TH THEY'LL LISTEN TO ORAL COMPLAINTS. | LAST SATURDAY, HOURLY BUS SERVICE WAS INITIATED BETWEEN CORAL GABLES AND MATHESON HAMMOCK | MATHESON HAMMOCK