The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1951-08-03
THIS
ROCK
OF
OURS
BY BILL GLIB

AAAN AAdo
found it necessary to re-explain
their recommendation of May
sth-that maintenance of Mon
roe General Hospital be given
over TO charitable, (religious),
organization. II is logical and
sensible suggestion and has been
endorsed by several doctors as
well as the County Commission.
So what happens?
Immediately, rumors and false
statements are circulated around
town. The idea evidently being
to cause confusion and misunder-
standing amongst the public.
When this is accomplished, it's
an easy enough matter to get the
whole idea dropped.
Why is it that every time
wholesome, constructive plan is
presented for the betterment of
Monroe County, the public will
not grasp hold and push it to a.
successful conclusion?
When this column begged the
people TO get out and fight for
our Airport, pleaded with them
to make the politicians hold Mea-
cham Field at least until a new
airport is an accomplished fact
what happened?
Exactly the same thing that has
happened to the Auxiliary's sug-
gestion-rumor, Interpretations,
confusing statements were spread
abroad. The result was that quite
a few people thought the column
was urging the city to condemn
do away with"--Meacham.
Let's gat in back OF the Hospital
Auxiliary and see If their plan
can be accomplished, There is
certainly no future for the hospit-
al while its maintenance depends
on the unstable handouts of po-
litical body that is being buffeted
from all sides for more money.
The County Commissioners are
to be admired for their honest
stand in admitting there are 9TH
er and better means of operating
the hospital.
None of this is to be construed
as being derogatory criticism of
past or present hospital admins
trations. I don't believe Florence
Nightingale herself could have
done much good amidst all the
unhappy pickering and QUARREL
ing that has surrounded the hos
pital since its inception.
We have no other more impor-
tant or humanitarian project in
Monroe County than our, hospital.
We have no group better quail
fled to act as an advisory board
than the Auxiliary. Why then, do
we not place our full trust 4 Id
confidence in both?
DEBTS
While we're on the subject, let's
take time to discuss the outstand-
ing debts of the hospital, or of any
other organization within the
county or city for that matter.
We brag that we are experience
ing boom. That this part of
the country is going through one
of its most prosperous stages in
history. Yet we permit bills to go
unpaid. Honest, legitimate bills
for service and suppliesl
Seems to me that we should
hang our heads and hide in shame
The situation is something like
an individual presenting a false
front--wearing new clothes, driv-
ing a shiny car, and pretending
10 be a big-shot in front of every.
one except his creditors :
fDebts. are ctedft, And credit has
made this ,cpiIntry -wfsatEit- is.tosl
day. ] personally, have little use
for an Individual who will mis-
place the confidence bestowed
upon him through credit And
county or city debts are simply
the collective debts of all OF us as
individuals. Before we brag too
much on our improved courthouse,
streets. raises in pay, etc, suppose
we try to clear up our legitimate
bills that are too long past due?