The Coral Gables Times

Thursday, September 14, 1961, page 1 (of 20)

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Adults Accuse and Gables Youth Fights Back

By BECKY DOYLE-QUINN Times Reporter Once fancy-free members of seven Coral Gables High fraternities are concerned with only one thing right now: survival. Some of their elders, in official places, want the fraternities abolished. The groups, it is charged, are illegal and in some instances breeders of crime and delinquency. What are the kids themselves saying about it, and, beyond that, what are they doing about it? It's the main topic of conversation in the halls and gathering spots at the school this week. And last night (Wednesday), a meeting of the leaders of all seven of the fraternities was to have been held at one of the boy's homes to outline an approach to survival. Here are comments gathered at Gables High: A girl, the steady of a Ching Tang member: "They're over-exaggerating the situation and they can't do anything about the clubs anyway. Why don't they ever say anything about any of the service clubs. They do a lot of the same things." Two boys, graduated members of Phi Delta Pi and Ching Tang, said the charges basically are untrue. "All this?" asked one. "We've been missing out on something. Booze, yes; dope, no." A girl who dates club members: "Some of these things are true, the liquor and the sex part of it especially. "But I've never heard of homosexuality or dope being involved. It is true though that some of the clubs do beat the new members during initiation." A teacher: "It's not my affair if Johnny's parents don't care enough to check on his friends or activities. But if it interferes with my classes, then it becomes my affair. "And the kids do spend a (See Fraternities, page 2)"The School Board has been dilly dallying around with this thing for years. If they give us the legal backing we need we can try to correct the situation. I gave them lists of the club members long ago and nothing was ever followed up on it." — Principal Harry Rath.

THE Coral Gables TIMES

THE CITY BEAUTIFUL Vol. 36, No. 31 20 Pages Thursday, September 14, 1961 Phone HI 3-1661 Price 10c

HARRY RATH

'It's a Problem... 'Let's Get Tough'

Harry N. Rath, principal of Coral Gables High School, has this to say about the situation. "One of the biggest mistakes we can make is to allow these kids to openly defy the law. And that's what we're doing. If we don't agree with the law banning these fraternities we should try to have it taken off the books, but as long as it is in effect, we should do our best to see that it is strictly enforced. "They tell us to teach citizenship in the schools — and then we allow these kids to participate in illegal activities. What kind of a beginning is that? Later on, there will be other laws they don't like either, but they'll have to obey them — or end up in jail. "This is one of the broadest problems we have in education today. I have been quoted (in the Miami News) as putting most of the blame for the beginnings of the fraternities on the junior highs. This is not true. It is not confined to any one area. It's a big problem and we have to face the fact it exists and do something about it. "You can't blame the parents — they're a disorganized group and they don't know the score. They look to the school officials to keep the students in hand. They expect us to tell them what their son or daughter should or shouldn't do. "I propose we get tough with these boys. The School (See Rath, page 2)

JOHN BIRCH TALK

Dr. T. P. Hardeman, professor of philosophy at Tampa University, will discuss "What Is the John Birch Society?" tonight (Thursday) at 8 o'clock in the Wesley Foundation Hall on the University of Miami campus.

We Altered Tickets, Women Say; Blame City Hall Pressure

By MAURICE LABELLE Times Reporter One thing became immediately evident early the night of Sept. 7 as the defense and prosecution squared off in the trial of meter girls Shirley Searle and Norweida Barrow — it was not going to be a kangaroo procedure. Not that any-one was trying to make it one. But William Pruitt, attorney for the girls, was there to see that they got a fair hearing in their attempt to get back the jobs they were fired from five months earlier on charges of falsifying parking tickets and insubordination. The strain between Pruitt, who had not seen the inside of the City Commission Room since he successfully defended Tax Assessor Tommy Blount seven years ago, and the city's attorneys, William Burton and Ted Semple, was great. INTERRUPTED Burton interrupted Pruitt to warn him that he would not toleraate browbeating of the city's witnesses as the girl's attorney pounded away at the charges. And Pruitt indicated that he would defend the girls as he saw fit. But there was little browbeating. A bit of humor was injected in the proceedings when Metro Judge Frederick N. Barad, called Pruitt "Mrs. Flowers." Pruitt, placing his eyeglasses to his lips and eyeing the judge, told him, "I'm Bill Pruitt." Not too greatly nonplussed by the incident and not knowing the details of the case, Barad sought to give an (See Meter, page 11)

What It's All About

Old Smoky To Puff For Record

Miami's Coconut Grove incinerator is going to be put to the test. And if it fails, the contractor will be required to make amends. This was the gist of City Manager L. W. Robinson Jr.'s report on smoke and fallout to the City Commission Tuesday. Bids are to be returned to the City of Miami Friday, Robinson said, on air polution tests which will determine if the city can force the contractors to make amends.

CHESS PLAYER?

Check-mate. That is the only sound that can be heard in room 201 at the Coral Gables Youth Center, 400 Anastasia Ave. The Chess Club meets there every Monday and Friday from 7 to 10 p.m. Membership is open to adults with a special chess membership of $5 per year. Murray Cohen is chairman of the club.

New for You

Coral Gables Youth Center Fall Adult Program is now available at the Youth Center office. A schedule also is running in today's Times. Some classes started Sept. 5 but registration is still being taken. The Youth Center office phone is HI 8-2567.

I OBJECT! Attorney William J. Pruitt registers a protest during last week's trial of his clients, Mrs. Norweida Barrow (to his left) and Mrs. Shirley Searle (to Mrs. Barrow's left). The women were fired from their auto ticket jobs by the City. Seated at the defense table is Pruitt's assistant, Robert G. Faircloth. (Staff photo by Maurice Labelle).

JIMMY'S LOUNGE 737 SW 109th Ave. Package goods Sun. noon 'til 5 a.m.; Daily 8 a.m. 'til 5 a.m. Y'all Come!! —Adv.

Larry Larimore, Realtor, Coral Gables' only accredited property management organization 150 Andalusia HI 8-1563 —Adv.

Garage Doors opened or closed. From your car. Push a button. Joe Burton MO 1-1456.

WANTED

Real Estate Salespeople to staff new South Miami-Coral Gables office. Walter M. Freeman, Realtor FR 4-5111—Adv.