The Coral Gables Times

Thursday, March 1, 1962, page 4 (of 43)

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THE Coral Gables TIMES

CORAL GABLES TIMES Thursday, March 1, 1962 Established Jan. 15, 1926 Second Class Postage Paid at Miami, Fla. | Offices at 364 Sevilla Ave. JOHN T. WATTERS | President ROLFE NEILL | Editor & Publisher

Hang With Us, Mrs. G

"You are talking about faults of the tenants-not of the landlord," says a letter writer elsewhere on this page today as she scolds us for our series by Maurice Labelle on Negro housing in Coral Gables. "The poor stupid people of whom Labelle writes need to use old-fashioned elbow grease," she sums up neatly. Ah, were it that simple, Madam. As for stupidity — to use a word introduced by Mrs. Griffeth — we would be guilty of that, plus neglect, if we ignored such a basic problem in our town. The Times does not intend to hold anybody's hand, white or black man. We shall not propose any Socialist scheme as a remedy. What, then, are we going to do? In the articles today and those that follow, we shall show conclusively that the City's rehabilitation laws are inadequate, that they merely perpetrate what they were designed to correct. We shall show that the Negro can buy better housing with the rent he pays now if only housing were made available here — not given to him but sold to him. Finally, we shall show that it's economically feasible to build such housing in place of the present slums which indict The City Beautiful. Hang with us, Mrs. Griffeth, for the real ride is yet to come.

Time to Back Away From the Public Trough

There is no lack of work for the new Gables Chamber of Commerce administration which will take office in a couple months. The Times hopes priority will be given to self-respect. It is unreasonable, logically unsupportable and unnecessary for the chamber of commerce in a town of 25,000 with retail sales well above $50 million dollars a year to play the part of the beggar at City Hall. This week it asked for a by-your-leave on a $5,500 debt. On top of this it was subsidized directly $6,600 by the City this year, as in past years. This newspaper is a chamber member and supporter. We believe in its capacities and its mission. The City of Coral Gables owes it nothing and we hope the City Commission will serve notice that it's time to back away from the public trough.

Let Us Mistake Not The Golden Goose

On a recent noon, we sat and listened across lunch to a denunciation of the City Commission. The denouncer was a prominent local realtor. The reason for his pointed feelings was that he felt the present commission is unsympathetic to business growth in the city. Least ways, in his emphatic opinion, its actions are thwarting commercial growth. With this man we are concerned about the direction of the city's growth. And we have our differences with the City Commission over its foot-dragging and shuffling on high-rise buildings; in particular we're unhappy with the secrecy and backwardness in approach surrounding the Rader Report, a yet-to-be-seen (publicly at least) document recommending our future course on land use here. But we disagree with our luncheon companion on two scores. He implied that the commissioners are blind; we don't think they are. Secondly, and what concerned us more, was the strong implication that commercial development should be given its head here, with real estate promoters and developers' plans treated with thanksgiving, deference and approval. Differences with the town fathers we have mentioned. But The Times believes the citizenry of the Gables can sleep nights knowing that its commissioners are committed to the basic idea that this a city of homes, that the fine residential character of the Gables is what has made it a desirable place to live and that because of this business finds it worthwhile to locate here. Let us not mistake the golden goose. It is our insistence on residential standards and strict commercial zoning that makes us distinctive. It is to this we owe our allegiance and not to willy-nilly business development.

About God, Metro, Slums & Sundry MAILBOX

EDITOR: I hold no brief for the bus drivers' union, but I do support any effort to negate the shameful Metro-Pawley deal. The flimsy excuse of a unified bus system for Dade County is ridiculous. All the lines were already owned by one man and therefore could easily be consolidated by action of granting of franchises. The statement that the deal cannot cost the taxpayers anything is just not true. At least 70 per cent of the tax-free income to Pawley would normally have been paid in taxes to City, County and State Government. This is the cost to the taxpayers. I do not know if this petition for election is the best way to try to stop this deal, but I do know that I support any effort to publicly register my disapproval and I think thousands of Dade Countians feel the same way. Therefore if anyone wishes to sign this petition they may at my address. WM. WYATT NOLTING 241 Romano Ave. EDITOR: I have been a visitor in the Gables for a month and have enjoyed my stay even more this year than last. I have enjoyed reading The Times. I return today to Philadelphia with regret of having to leave such a beautiful city and wonderful climate. I carry with me on my return trip your editorial on "Would Jesus Have Done as Max Morris?" plus Elva Charlton's article headed, "God May Not Be in the Right Places." These two articles will be used by me in my next sermon scheduled March 11. I recognize the real problem of the hundreds of people who would like to receive the comfort of becoming members of the Church, and the Church's problem of presenting religion to them in such a manner that it will not "scare them off." I would appreciate any further material you may print on the subject to be sent to me. REV. WILLIAM C. NEY Pastor Emeritus, Temple Lutheran Church Havertown, Penna. EDITOR: I have just finished reading the Maurice Labelle article on your slums. I am sick of such writing. I am an elderly fourth generation woman from Washington, D.C. For years the "do-gooders" have done as your Labelle. They would take a picture of a messed-up yard and say, "Think of it—slums like these in the shadow of the Capitol dome." What kind of a housekeeper in the loveliest home in Coral Gables — or the worst — would leave fish heads on the sink? If Jackie Kennedy left fish heads in the White House kitchen and had cobwebs hanging from the White House (and I have seen cobwebs in the White House) and the floors covered with trash, would you think the White House should be torn down and rebuilt? You are talking about faults of the tenant — not of the landlord. I personally know of a beautiful home in Washington where a judge lived (in the days when a judge was a learned gentleman, not a politician). This house was sold and a promoter bought it thinking to build an apartment there. When the neighbors refused to permit such a building in a good old residential area, he was furious and to avenge himself, rented to an ignorant Negro family — who were not too dumb. They took in their kith and kin—cutting every one's rent to very little. But at the end of the year the landlord had to pay more to put the house in a rentable condition than he had taken in. The garbage man and the trash man come to rich and poor alike as well as to the neat and the trashy. The house that my grandfather bought in 1895 for $4,500 has just been sold for $45,000; two more baths have been added, I'll admit, but when I was a child, 10 tooth brushes hung around that basin. The house was always clean. Nationally and internationally known people were entertained there then, and still are. They have no thought that they are "slumming" there. What this country needs—from the White House down — is good hard common sense. And the poor stupid people of whom Labelle writes need to use old fashioned elbow grease. In Georgetown, D.C., Negro shacks of 5, 10, up to 20-30 years ago, are being cleaned up and sold for $35,000 and more, and it is stylish to live in them. HILDA GRIFFETH Washington, D.C. (Editor's note: For a reply, see today's editorial column.

FACES IN OUR TOWN by INK

RUTH FOREMAN OWNER DIR-ECTOR OF STUDIO M, BEGAN HER THEATRICAL CAREER AT THE AGE OF FIVE. SHE WAS ONE OF 10 CHILDREN ALLOWED TO STUDY AT THE EASTMAN SCHOOL OF THEATRE AND MUSIC. THE FIRST PLAY RUTH WAS IN WAS "STREET SCENE" WITH SYLVIA SYDNEY. RUTH TOOK OVER STUDIO M ALMOST 4 YEARS AGO. SHE IS MARRIED TO A DRUGGIST, HAROLD WHOM SHE MET IN MIAMI IN 1942.

She Stirred a Tower of Babel

By ELVA CHARLTON Correspondent If I had written "I can't find God in the right places" for the reaction it would bring, my wildest dreams would have been realized. I didn't. But all columnists like to know their work is being read. I am more than glad to know that my article is being discussed and considered in religious groups and by pastors, for the purpose for which it was written. One minister said: "We pastors never know as we stand before our congregation preaching our sermon, if we are reaching our people. Which word, phrase or lesson can we repeat which will be the right one to have the desired effect on our listeners? How can we make them see God?" Recently, it was brought to my attention by a member of the University Baptist Church that teachers of the gospel would really like to know what goes on in the minds of the people they can't seem to reach, religionwise. I merely told what goes on in mine. I was surprised to hear others say they felt the same. How many groping people are there? Beulah Rhodes: "Your article was being discussed in my church circle. They wondered whether the writer was busy visiting the different churches. Answer: Yes. Another minister: "There was an interesting article on 'Going to Church' in The Coral Gables Times." When told I wrote it, he added: "I knew you must know a minister, else how would you know that if we bury an unknown person we reach into a file and pull out a service." Answer: I know the ministry, let's say. Q. Is the writer male or female? Answer: Well! Mrs. Thos. Rutter, Woodbury, N.J.: "You sound like you are afraid to die. Don't be." Answer: I am. Col. D. A. Singe, neurological surgeon, U.S. Army, West Palm Beach and Cape Canaveral: "I chose you this book out of my library about how one man found God. I hope it will be of some help." Answer: I am reading it. Mary Simpson: "You could write for religious magazines. They pay well." Answer: What is pay, money? Dorothy Weber: "You should handle the reactions in your column. Your editor would like that." To those churches who are too anxious to gather me into their fold: My soul is not a scalp to be hung as a trophy of success around the waist of some gospel teacher. I know that if you plant a seed and expect it to grow, you must have fertile ground. I know the fault does not always lie in the church, it lies within ourselves. The remedy is not so plain to see. Who are we, neither saints nor sinners who walk the earth, always searching for the peace which passeth all understanding?

Heraldry Book Has The Answers

Have you ever wondered about the history and use of a coat-of-arms? Has heraldry been a bit of a mystery to you? If so, these questions and many more are answered in the book "Heraldry and You; MODERN Heraldic Usage in America,". by Dr. J. A. Reynolds, a resident of Coral Gables and a professor at the University of Miami. This beautiful book, with more than 200 coats-of-arms pictured in color, gives the clearest and most practical information we have seen on the subject for Americans. If you do not have a coat-of-arms you will want one before you finish reading this book. The author tells you how to proceed. He has included a list of names and addresses, by countries, of official organizations and approved societies where you can write for information. This book is available at your Coral Gables Public Library. —Helen D. O'Neill.

BOOK DONORS

The Coral Gables Public Library has received gifts of books from: Mrs. Leon Cheek, 704 Aledo Ave.; James Litwin, 3315 SW 106th Ave.; Mrs. James I. MacPherson, Kendall; Richard F. Wolfson, 630 University Dr.