The Coral Gables Times

Not on the Right Rails

By PHILIP RUSSELL Correspondent A movie actor says people don't take to the faultless sort of hero any more; they prefer the mixed-up individual, like themselves. In short, the George Washingtons are out; the Huck Finns, the sinners, the stumblers, and the faulty are in. A mixed-up world gives rise to mixed-up people. There's evidence of that on every hand. Presidents don't command any more respect for their opinions and decisions than bus-boys or street sweepers, and pronouncements from any source are likely to be greeted with skepticism or indifference. One nation after another has vainly looked for the leader who is always right. The Germans had their Hitler and prostrated themselves before him every time he rode down a street. But Hitler put them in a boat and ran them over a kind of Niagara Falls. The Russians were sure their Stalin was a motionless center in a whirling world. But he was barely in his coffin before his subjects began to look for another hero built of stainless steel. America is probably the only big country which has never had to repudiate its great men or apologize for their conduct. Washington, Franklin, Jefferson — their image has stood untarnished throughout the years. Yet it must be admitted that they are no longer read, quoted, and admired as they once were. The world has moved on, meantime producing individuals who act more like the central characters in a novel by Dostievsky than a Washington. We have somehow derailed ourselves and are off the track that was supposed to lead us out of the wilderness. Who, or what, will put us back on the rails?

Misspending a man's time is a sort of self-homicide. — Sir George Saville. I shall endeavor to enliven morality with wit, and to temper wit with morality. — Joseph Addison.

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OFF BEAT By MAURICE LABELLE

A call from a former classmate, an article in a professional journalism magazine and a couple of newspaper articles all combined last week to jell some thinking. The call sought to establish the writer's motivation in criticizing a recent high rise building proposal. Who or what was behind the article? the caller wanted to know. Hadn't the plan been approved by the city? There hadn't been any objections, had there? So why the column? The explanation that the criticism was strictly my own opinion, not supported by anyone else I knew of, and motivated by the fact that I did not think the plan was to the best interest of Coral Gables, probably did not convince my friend. This leads to article in the July Quill magazine by Emmett Peter Jr., editor of the Leesburg, Florida, Daily Commercial, which few non-journalists are likely to see. Peter, a crusading journalist and award winner for his expose of conditions in that orange grove country, had this, among other things, to say about his experiences: "I'll concede my outlook is ynical. People, by and large, aren't capable of objective thinking. They'll read of skullduggery or shameful tax waste or injustice and ask: " 'What's that editor's angle now?" This is especially true of businessmen who can't bring themselves to accept any news story or editorial on its merits or demerits. "Behind it there must be a shadow of self-interest — reward of a friend, punishment of an enemy or, if no other explanation is available, 'just politics.' " But it was James Riddle Hoffa, in his recent remarks to his Teamsters, who put the binder in the fast-congealing thinking process. "We believe that the courts of America are the last resort of those who decide justice, not the newspapers, not the magazines and not the commentators who would have you believe that they are all important and all smart, possess the wisdom of world, and yet work for wages less than a truck driver," Hoffa said. Which is another way of saying: "If you're so smart — why ain't you rich." This materialistic philosophy, which dominates world thinking today, is very dismaying to those who have dedicated their lives — not to making money — but hoping in their own limited way they have made this planet a slightly better place to live in. Hoffa's boast, "We've got the best lawyers money can buy in this country," is also a sad commentary. Mr. Hoffa, and those who think like him, probably will never understand what makes a man devote his life to education, to religion, or to the many professions and jobs that offer rewards not measurable in hard currency. —ML— Ever notice how people often drive the way they speak? CARL LIBBY, of Tropical Typewriter, speaks in short, clipped sentences and phrases. His foot beats a staccato on the accelerator that must make him a transmission man's dream. Carl is a very safe driver, however. The speedometer on his 11-year-old Hudson is heading for the second round up. —ML— Amid all the hub-bub about the recent assets and liabilities of joint voter registration between Coral Gables and Dade County emerged the little known fact that th only guy who was ever given a hard time about voting in Gables elections was — the late GEORGE MERRICK. Merrick, the founder of Coral Gables, once lived down in the Keys temporarily and his vote was challenged, according to City Attorney TED SEMPLE. —ML—

THE MAILBOX

EDITOR: Phillips Russell's column on The Rocking Chair in Society is beautiful. Recently I was surprised to learn that several pediatricians are recommending new babies be rocked to sleep. This I believe is as beneficial to the young mother as it is to a collicky baby. The serenity your column suggests is so refreshing in a world of chaos. It's like the cool hand of a friend on a fevered brow. JOY C. HUNTER ★ ★ ★ EDITOR: Architect Haley, as reported in The Times, says wall-to-wall building to property lines and little or no gardens or grounds is inevitable in Coral Gables. Isn't there some way to get this pessimist off the Coral Gables Architectural Board. A Miracle Mile merchant is reported in The Times as saying his shoplifting loss has amounted to as much as $2,800 in a month. That averages about $100 per day. Wouldn't it pay him to keep an armed and uniformed policeman on duty in his store all the time? ROBERT H. THRONE 417 Santander

Their Vacation

Got business to present before the City Commission? Better make it by August 1 — Commissioners are going on a six-week vacation and won't be back until Sept. 12. This means only three more Commission meetings before they adjourn. To get on the agenda, you must contact City Manager L. W. Robinson Jr. on Friday of each week before the Commission meets on the following Tuesday at 3 p.m.

FLORIDA NATIONAL BANK AT CORAL GABLES STATEMENT OF CONDITION JUNE 30, 1961

RESOURCES Loans and Discounts | $ 5,999,105.21 Banking House, Furniture & Fixtures | 138,121.27 Prepaid Expenses | 4,999.28 Accrued Interest and Income Receivable | $ 78,642.79 U.S. Government Securities | 8,878,070.86 Fla. County & Municipal Bonds | 1,423,126.42 Other State & Municipal Bonds | 269,160.30 Federal Reserve Bank Stock | 36,000.00 Cash on Hand & Due from Banks | 4,477,118.03 15,162,118.40 Total Resources | 21,304,344.16 LIABILITIES Capital Stock | $ 500,000.00 Surplus | 700,000.00 Undivided Profits | 74,560.10 Reserve for Contingencies | 232,725.08 1,507,285.18 Reserve for Taxes, Interest, Etc. | 78,995.10 Interest & Income Collected, Not Earned | 91,886.55 Deposits | 19,626,177.33 Total Liabilities | $21,304,344.16 OFFICERS GEO. A. CHATFIELD President E. W. RIPPLE Vice Pres. and Cashier WM. C. SWAIN Vice President EDW. J. LUCKE Asst. Vice Pres. PHIL W. CONDER Asst. Vice Pres. J. B. JACKSON Asst. Cashier HENRY J. ZARNIK Asst. Cashier DONALD M. DANIELS Asst. Cashier DIRECTORS DEAN S. CAMPBELL Vice Pres., Florida National Bank and Trust Company of Miami JODEAN P. CASH Pres. Holsum Bakers of Puerto Rico, Inc. GEO. A. CHATFIELD President of the Bank ALFRED T. ELDREDGE Secretary, Langford and Ledbetter, Inc. CHARLES F. MILLER Retired HOWE E. MOREDOCK, SR. Chairman of the Board Howe E. Moredock Co. E. W. RIPPLE Vice Pres. and Cashier of the Bank FLORIDA NATIONAL Bank at Coral Gables MEMBER: FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION, FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM, FLORIDA NATIONAL GROUP