Florida Today from Cocoa, Florida • Page 4B

iA wiffw i iwipitiiipppffippiipwpIW Florida PJlgKl From TCMMY 'flireaus In Tallahassee, Stuart Ft. Pierce Vero Beach and New Smyrna Beach And Wires of the Associated Press 4B TODAY, Tuesday, August 27, 1174 mm Wayne Ezell TODAY Tallahassee Bureau Griffin Built Large Empire FROSTPROOF When Ben Hill Griffin refefsufcihlmself as "the main rooster" In (his area, it is somewhat of an understatement. His operations include a couple of banks, 17,000 acres of ranchland, 13,000 acres of citrus groves, several citrus processing plants, a fertilizer factory, a car dealership and mining activities. He is a multimillionaire presiding over an empire which he built only after he was graduated from college in 1933 and took his first job pushing a fruit cart in a warehouse for IS cents an hour. Griffin later came to own the warehouse.

He and those close to him had been talk ing about Griffin running for governor for yean when he suddenly made his move at 63. And now, his private success story is slipping into the campaign as he tries to sell the state on the idea of putting a businessman In the governor's office in place of Reubln Askew, an attorney. Griffin likes to recount the success story himself, and concludes with the observation that "all this has given me experience that Reubin hasn't got." Political Start Griffin the politician planted his roots in another era of Florida politics. He began his 12 year career in the Legislature in 1956 and soon was saying that racial segregation separate but equal facilities was the desirable approach to an issue that used to dominate state politics. His opposition to integration was followed by opposition to busing for racial balance.

Griffin now calls busing "the most horrendous thing ever perpetrated on people, black or white." He says he will do everything within his power to eliminate busing If he Is elected. And Hill Griff inr even nowr some tlmes uses the term "nigger" when he is talking about a black man. Griffin wishes more people would remember, for example, that it was he, not Reubin Askew, who first proposed and fought for the corporate profits tax which Askew used as the big Issue to get elected governor in 1970. Griffin's approach to the campaign like the other Democrats has been to attack Askew. He describes the governor as "a man not experienced in business that has allowed the state to really run wild." And he says of Sen.

Jim Williams, As kew's running mate, "Jim is a nice fellow, a good fellow, but he thinks just like Reubin." "Jim is Reubin's puppet and Reubin is the puppet of that law firm in Pensacola," Griffin says in reference to the now controversialcontroversial law firm which Askew left when he entered the governor's office. No Charges Made Griffin has not leveled or documented any specific charges against the firm. When questioned, he says the law firm obviously has prospered greatly since Askew was elected. "Really, Reubin hasn't done a damn thing that I know of in the four years he's been in," Griffin said. "All he's done is hire more people and spend more money and try to run for vice president," Griffin said.

Askew has answered Griffin on the last charge by saying he has no plans to be a national candidate. The Griffin campaign involves flying and driving throughout the state, renewing contacts with businessmen and politicians he has known over the years, and attending the traditional meet the candidate rallies. Karl: Utility Cost Could Stampede Public TALLAHASSEE (AP) Acting public counsel Fred Karl warned on Monday that "vast numbers of people out there are ready to be stampeded" over rising utility rates. He urged the Joint Legislative Auditing Committee to select a permanent public counsel who has the "emotional maturity" to represent Irate consumers without stirring their passions to a higher pitch. A subcommittee Inter viewed seven of the 13 applicants for the position, which will pay at least (30,000 annually.

Six other applicants failed to appear Sen. George Firestone, Miaml, committee chairman, said more applications would be taken tor the post because at least 15 people inquired about the Job after the original July 10 deadline. "That does not mean the people we interviewed are not qualified," he said "They are still under consideration." Firestone said the committee will advertise for public counsel applicants In Florida Bar publications and six Florida newspapers. "The No. 1 priority should be a person who Is mature and dedicated," Karl said.

"At this particular time In the history of the state the position holds the possibility of being turned into a political In strumentaility or a forum for a demagogue." He noted that there are $191 million in rate hike requests pending before the PSC. Florida Power Light Co. has requested a $143.3 million boost, Gulf Power Is seeking an $18.8 million hike and Florida Power Corp. has requested a $14 4 million Increase. You need someone who can communicate with the public," Karl said.

"There is great public feeling today on the matter of utility rates." He said he was swamped with complaints about rates when he attended a recent hearing at St. Petersburg. Karl said he gets five to 10 letters day from consumers complaining about the high cost of utilities. A former state senator, Karl accepted the position of acting public counsel three weeks ago. He said he would serve until the committee names a permanent counsel.

Karl said the counsel, required by law to be an attorney, should call on outside consultants to testify on the public interest In rate cases. Interviewed by the subcommittee were attorneys Klngdrel Ayers. John Barley. Marion Christ, John Hog genmuller and Ben Thompson, all of Tallahassee, William Frieder of Miami and Milton Starkman of North Miami Beach KbBbBbBbb sjKiJL VF BBaVt BbV BIBbbVtBbBm BBBBBBBK aHBBBBBwVr JOaBw BBaV' BM bBbm v'XrBaBavaBv BbBbBBE BbBBe BM BBBBViBBBBBBBLBBBBVtBBY4V4 BbBBbb tf ATaTaTaTaTjil jB Bar i. sW "1 Wf iJBT Wi flti afl WW bBbBE aw BJ jbbb a Vk tF VaW BBVBr 4t BbBbS i C.

BbBbbt i JV BBSBSikSil BbBbH iBBBBBTrBBBBpWllBBBBBBHH? Companies Gripe Air Control Tied To Power Rates Southern Delegation Southern girls representing their states in the Miss America Teenager contest at Miami Beach take a break Monday, as events get underway. They are, from TOOAYUPI TOwMM left, Kim Pindarvls, 17, Tucker, Oretha Pope, 17, St. Petersburg; Eunice Belew, 17, Chattanooga, and Mary Anne Bekken, 17, Huntsvllle, Ala. O'Malley's Record Attacked By Foes Shreve, Powell FORT MYERS Two Democrats opposing State Treasurer Tom O'Malley's reelection bid attacked O'Malley's record during a heated debate Monday In Fort Myers, but the 40 year old Cabinet member withstood the assault and traded verbal punches with his foes. O'Malley, Jacksonville insurance agent Fltzhugh Powell and State Rep Jack Shreve squared off in the second of a series of debates.

Shreve hit reports that O'Malley has taken cash donations from insurance agents he regulates. "I do not think that an officeholder should accept gifts, personal cash gifts, from the people he regulates," Shreve said. "I promise you that I will accept no personal gifts from the people I regulate If I am elected." Powell, an Insurance agent for 23 years, said he was the only candidate In the race who understopd how to deal' with businessmen operating the insurance and banking industries. "These two young lawyers," Powell said, pointing to Shreve and O'Malley, "will have to face those wheeling and dealing bankers and insurance companies And they can take advantage of these two young lawyers. But I've been dealing with them tor 25 years, sticking up for my policyholders He also ridiculed Shreve's endorsement from the Florida Times Union, a Jacksonville paper Shreve served four years in the legislature from Brevard County.

O'Malley Is an attorney who was a Dade County commissioner for seven years before he was elected to the Cabinet in 1970. And as O'Malley and Shreve swapped charges and counter charges, Powell sat back and said, "I agree with both of them." O'Malley accused Shreve of being slipped into the treasurer's race by Gov. Askew and said Shreve, a Merritt Island attorney, lacks qualifications for the Cabinet post He also accused Shreve of using deceptive campaign material, a letterhead and envelope which are no longer in use. Shreve said the material has been reprinted to say "Elect Jack Shreve Treasurer" TALLAHASSEE (AP) Florida's power companies took their campaign for weaker air pollution standards to the Pollution Control Department Monday, saying the strict rules cause unnecessary hikes In electric bills. But Terry Cole, department enforcement chief who conducted a workshop Monday, said the firms need to provide more facts to back up their claims.

The firms took part in a workshop called to gather information on proposed changes in air and water pollution rules. Workshops will also be held Wednesday in Tampa and Thursday In Miami It was the second round In the dispute between the Florida Public Service Commission and the department over air pollution standards for electric generating plants At a seminar last week In Orlando, the PSC contended that the air pollution rules are too strict and are adding to already hlgheleetricity bHIs; Joe Jenkins of the PSC said Monday that requirements for burning low sulfur fuel In generating plants were responsible for 21 percent of Florida Power Light Increase In fuel costs and 42 percent of the fuel costs of the St. Petersburg based Florida Power Corp. Jenkins said that if power companies were allowed to burn fuel oil containing a higher amount of sulfur the costs of producing electricity could go down. Dick Jones of FPL said low sulfur fuel cost his company $81 million more per year than high sulfur fuel Florida's pollution control rules on low sulfur fuel oil, which are stricter than the federal government requires, account for about $2 40 on the monthly bill of an FPL customer who uses 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity, Jenkins said That will double in 197S to $4 80 on the monthly bill of a Florida Power Corp user who consumes 1,000 kilowatt hours, he said.

Bill Weeks, PSC general counsel, said he didn't want to breath polluted air any mora than anyone else, but the department ought to review Its strict rules because "the public Is about at the point where it cannot afford much more protection Jones said that by 1983 the cost of meeting federal and state environmental control standards will exceed $1 billion per year for Florida firms. Cole and Dr. P. Sub ramanl of the department asked Jones how he arrived at that figure. Jones, who read the figure from a speech given by Curtis Stanton at the PSC seminar, said he didn't know but would try to find out Stanton is chairman of the Florida Electric Power Coordinating Group 21, bbBbBbBbBbBbBbBbBbBbBbHbh bBbBbHaK JbKJbV bH BbBbBbBbBBTM e3l'VBT IbBBBbV BbBbBbHbBbbMbBbTV BbM BbBbBbBbBbBbBbBbVXbBbBbBbBbBbBbBbBbI TODAY AF Wirthta He Passed Gov.

Askew prepared to take the eye examination for renewal of his drivers license Monday in Tallahassee. He went through the procedure with no problems and received his new license. Ull 'T' Suffragette: I Could Hit ERA Foes ST. PETERSBURG (AP) Jessie Adler, 96, a suffragette who fought for womens' rights more than half a century ago, says she can't tolerate women today who are Indifferent or opposed to the Equal Rights Amendment, "I could slap those women in the; face who oppose it," says the widow, still fiery although confined Jo a wheelchair much of the time. Name Removal Opinion Asked TOO Wirt WfkM TALLAHASSEE Secretary of State Dorothy Gllsson asked Atty.

Gen, Robert Shevin Monday for an opinion on whether or not she has authority to take two candidates off the ballot for refusing to disclose their finances. The Florida Ethics Commission voted unanimously Saturday to ask Mrs. Gllsson to remove candidates Jim Fair and Earl Varnes from the ballot. Fair, a candidate for the state Senate from Tampa, has said he will file suit if he is removed from the ballot. Varnes is a candidate for the Florida House from White Springs.

Mrs. Glissort has questioned whether she has authority to enforce the 1974 financial disclosure law which calls for candidates to reveal their financesor be rerrVed from the ballot. rara satra j5n fininior.aafr i kr iff I li.TSt, l'4i Lightning Kills Youth OCALA One youth was killed and five others injured Sunday when a bolt of lightning struck them as they stood on a dock near Lake Bryant, police said Monday. Killed was Robert MaGamoll, 17, of Ocala. Pickets Walk TAMPA About 75 workers refused to cross a picket line at Jmpa Electric Company's operations center Monday in what a management spokesman called "a question about using non union contractors." The TECO spokesman said' the pickets were members of the InternationalInternational Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 108, 'and the company "considers this to be an illegal work stoppage." Tax Repeal Sought TALLAHASSEE Sen.

Russell Sykes, West Palm Beach, filed a bill Monday to repeal the 10 percent municipal utility tax. He said the bill, which requires the state to replace revenue 4 cities would lose by levying tax, would save the average taxpayy about $50 annually. "They are financially supported by their husbands," she said. "They have no Idea what It's like for a single woman or a divorced woman with children who have to work for a living." As a young woman In 1916, Mrs. Adler scandalized Cincinnati, Ohio, society by smoking In restaurants and other public places.

"My men' friends cringed and managers asked me to put out the cigarets," she says. "I walked out Instead." At that time, the only other woman she knew who smoked in public was Alice Roosevelt Longworth, daughter of former President Theodore Roosevelt. From the time Mrs. Adler was 18 in 1896 until women finally got the vote on Aug. 26, 1920, she was embroiled In controversy over her activities in the suffrage movement.

She marched In protest parades in New York and Washington, made street cornet speeches and burned President Woodrow Wilson's statements in front of the White House. A "Wilson was always writing beautiful words about labor unions, but he was against women's suffrage," shesays. It all began for her while sitting on a.curb as youngs ter watching her older brother BBBBBBBBBBBBbLBBHt ifl bBbVPTSbbbI JESSIE ADLER still fights march In a victory celebration for an earlier president, "I suddenly realized that my brother could vote when he was 21, but I couldn't. It made me mad," she says. "The men said a woman's place was in the home, that the hand that rocked the era romtirir die ruled the world and all that nonsense.

Why, we didn't have a say in anything," says Mrs. Adler. Mrs. Adler became Cincinnati's first woman assistant prosecuting attorney In 1922 at time where there were few women lawyers. Some of her male colleagues snubbed her at first.

"They said I was taking a job away from men who needed it." She married Charles Adler, a business executive who supportedsupported the feminist movement while most other men were unsympathetic, and moved to St. Petersburg to live with her daughter after he died In 1943. Mrs. Adler taught philosophy at a local college before suffering a hip Injury and needing the aid of a wheelchair, she teaches at home once a week. Trick Ends in Death TAMPA (AP) Police said they were searching Monday for a teenager who tried to shoot a toy airplane from a companion's head but missed and killed the youth, Police said Michael David 12, was shot in the head with a .25 cahber pistol Sunday night and died within an hour at a local hospital.

Witnesses told officers that the unidentified older boy. was trying to shoot, the small model plane off Gonzalez' head, missed and ran fromfcthe scene, a spokesman dfcac.