MIAMITIMES, MIAMI,FLORIDASATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1952
people -places -filingsBY LAWRENCE B. COOPER
IN ONE of our frequent mom-ents of recollection while mulling
over a can of ale our thoughts
drifted back to the late ‘2o’s andearly ’3o’s when our town was <emerging from a boom and head-ing headlong into a depression.We thought of things as they
were then and as they are now,
of the friends who have passedon; those who have sought
greener pastures, and those whohave sunk to oblivion. But ourmind kept dwelling on the younggangs that ran wild at that tune,
pugnacious gangs that were realtough guys.
One of the hardened toughies
then was “Big Torn” Gaitor, whomwe grew up with in old “MartinLane” on 10th st. and 3rd ave.Tom was a muscular, pigeon-toedboy who’d back up his loudthreats with ham-like fists andvicious kicks in the ribs of a foe.
We recalled Big Tom’s brother,
Bubber, who unlike his youngbrother, confined his roughness tothe baseball diamond, pitching forthe old Miami Giants.
WE CAN’T SAY that these
boys were morally wicked. Theywere rowdy, street ruffians whohad to be tough to survive, just
as New York’s East Side gangshad to fight if they wanted tokeep out of hospitals.
Balker Boy was a bully who
shook down movie fare from boys
who ventured on second ave. tosee Tom Mix at the Lyric. Bakerwasn’t really a tough guy butwas a big bluff with a loudmouth which was his greatestweapon.
As we started on another aie
such infamous names came tomind as: “Dandy” Handy, TheSmith Bros., the Cohens, TruckMackey of the 20th st. gang, the
Creamer twins, Marvin and Mer-vin, twins Roy and “Baby” Ray,
Snapper, Buster Scott, Peg John-son, Robert Vickers, Honey andNick Bros., Moley Higgs, BullyJohnson, “Bugle nose” Buster,“Budgie”, “Daddy” McCullough
and many others.That list of names put fear in
the hearts of many.. These ruf-fians divided the city intodistricts: Those hanging on 2ndave. were “The Second Ave.Boys”, the 14th St. Gang and the20th St. Eagles. Their weaponsfor defending their districts fromintrusion of the others gangs wereknuckles, knives and stones.
The rivalry of the gangs pro-duced many bloody battles, eventhe trigger happy, head whippingcops didn!t mix in those frays.
These boys were not thievesand gun toters as the modernyouth, nor did many of ’em drinkand smoke.
As the years went lay the gangsthinned out. Many married andbecame responsible fathers. A fewothers grew into hardened crimi-nals, lugging guns. Some are stillserving time for murder, robbery,rape and assorted assaults againstsociety.
When Daddy McCullough waskilled as the result of one ofthose gang wars that was the be-ginning of the breaking ud of
the “street boy gangs”There will be .no more “bad
boys” like those of the “roaring
twenties”. They were tough, har-dened, with plenty of guts andwould have kicked your teeth outin a minute!
LetterNAPE
WASHINGTON Officialsof the National Alliance of Pos-tal Employees were in one hun-dred per cent accord this weekwith the proposal made last weekat the 38th annual convention ofthe National Association of Let-ter Carriers with regard to a pay
raise.'
The NALC whose ranks in-
clude many NAPE members—letthe world know that it is on rec-ord for a raise in pay for postalemployees, and that it is in com-plete and full condemnation ofPostmaster General iJesse Don-aldson’s cutting of local mail de-liveries once a day. The NACLasks restoration of the twice aday delivery system.
The National Alliance of Pos-tal Employees also went on rec-ord in support of the views ofSenator Irving M. Ives, (R.N.Y.)with regard to postal policies andthe shortcomings of PostmasterGeneral Donaldson. Mr. Donald-son has steadfastly refused toreplace the recently resignedMarsden W. Cabel of West Vir-ginia with another Negro “Con-fidential Assistant to the FirstAsistant Postmaster General.”* There are whispers that thisposition was no less than that ofa glorified “stool pigeon” whoseduties were to spy on the pro-gram of Negro employees aimedat eliminating the widespreadracial discrimination in the postalservice.
Meanwhle, the NAPE execu-tive board in a sweeping statementlast week made it clear that itcould not understand.
1. Why the Post Office Depart-ment would pay back pay to oneemployee in Los Angeles sus-pended in the “postal purge” andlater reinstated with full rights
—for the time lost during hissuspension and not recognize the
I honest claims of two score otherNAPE members also suspendedand reinstated under similarcircumstances.
2. Its inability to establish andprove to the satisfaction of theFair Employment Officer of heP. O. Department that there isany discrimination in the PostalService anywhere which requiresDepartmental corrective action.
3. Its inability to establish tothe satisfaction of the PostmaserGeneral the need for appointingto the policy-making level of itsBureau of Operations employes ofthe Negro race who throughtraining and experience possess,understanding and possess thesympathetic attitude required to
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My Stepping StonesBy William Hemy Huff for ANP
I took the rodks they threw at meAnd made some useful stepping
stones,Somehow it seems they cannot seeThat none can rise on human
bones;They were not wise enough to
knowThat they were kicking me up-
stairs, -
The place which I had longe dtogo
Which was the burden of myprayers.
Join The NAACP
Carriers Join InPay Raise Fight
CUL through administrative pro-
cedures and lay bare the meansdiscriminatory practices are per-petuated.
. . .
It also belabored the adminis-trative run arounds in the upper
level of the P. O. Department andintimidations of militant Negro
postal employes.
NOTICE~
To the members and friends ofNew Providence Court No. 129:
We are having a wonderfultime with our weekly selling ofvarious foods and refreshments,on Saturday nights at the homeof Sister Johnnie M. Hill, 1143%NW First Court. The .Sir Knights
and their guests are also enjoyingthe times with us. Last Saturday
we sold out everything andeveryone had a wonderful time.You and your friends are invitedand welcome to come out andjoin the fun_with us every Satur-day night.
Sister Johnie M. Hill, MAMSister Eleanor Eady, reporter
Special Notice* I am advertising for anyone •ofthe passengers who were on busNo. 21 on . the morning of August4, 1952, when an accident occuredat the corner of NW 20th st. and7th avenue. Any passenger whowas on the bus at that time isasked to kindly contact Rose L.Johnson, 1429 NW 3rd ave, up-
stairs, Apt. No. 2, phone 9-0167.
New DevelopmentIn North, MiamiBeach
there are all types of transporta-tion, school buses and a newCarl’s Market is now being builtnot far from this location.
Andre Realty is doing a terrificjob in selling new homes and lotsin Washington Park. This devel-opment was started in 1914. Be-cause of the new Inter-AmericanCultural and Trade Center being
built there will be employmentat this center for over 10,000people. Much action is being
taken due to the building activity.
This North Miami Beachdevelopment for Negroes is onhigh and ry land. Only 20 minutesfrom downtown Miami. The lo-cation is just off Dixie Highway,N.E. to N.E. 150th st. and 14 thave.
Only a few model homes areleft. Andre Realty reports that
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