The Washington times., 1917-02-27
Modern David Proposes to SIay
Monster With Vacant Lot
Slingshot.
COMMANDERS THE LAND
Mid-city Citizens Head Seizes
Property to Raise
Vegetables.

Hot upon the trail of the high cost
Of living monster and determined to
slay it with a slingshot in the form
OF vacant lots with onions, potatoes
and other vegetables as missiles, n ].
Driscoll, OF 2119 NJ street northwest,
is as busy as q one-armed paper
hanger today.
Driscoll enjoys the unique distinc-
tion of being the first man, and the
only man thus far, to boom the sug-
gestion made by Carl vrooman, As
sistant Secretary Of the Department
OF Agriculture, that vacant lots in the
District be cultivated and made to
yield garden truck with which to
reduce the cost OF living.
Fox Hunters Privilege.
Being first on the ground, ngura.
lively speaking, he intends being first
literally. The fact that the ground
Is not his gives him no concern. He
has the fox hunters attitude which
he claims privileges him to trespass
upon everybody's land in quest OF the
quarry.
For, be II known A. J. DriscolI has
high cost of living monster which he
calls "the ogre OF starvation wrapped
in transparent mantle of verbiage"
and Is in full cry and pursuit.
Mr.. Driscoll is more than a resi-
dent of NJ street, and the title of
clerk" given him by the city direc-
tory does not adequately describe him.
Even President OF the Mid-City Citi-
zens' Association" fails to do him
full justice.
Czar Of HIS Domain.
From one end of Seventh street
northwest to the other and through
out the entire territorial area em-
braced by the Mid-City Citizens Asso-
citation. this mild-mannered,, soft
voiced. oily-tongued man is known
and respected as "The Gar"
Following his conference with Mr..
Vrooman, "The Car" today calmly
announced to the members of the
citizens association who own vacant
property that he had commandeered
every inch of 1t.
He needed IL in his business, he
said. to wage his fight against the
high cost OF living monster. The fact
that the owners of the property had
not been consulted about the con-
fiscatlon and that no indemnity, rem
tai or other emolument was pledged
made no difference.
just q Time-saver.
Gear Drisooll" said he wanted the
use of the land and he thought it
would save a lot of time by simply
Communicating 1t rather than hag-
Cling over terms or dickering over
negotiations with the owners
The proposition was entirely new
to the title holders in fee simple
and all that other kind OF legal stun,
but those who couldn't see it. THE
Cars" way were told that this little
circumstance made'no difference be-
cause Driscoll was satisfied he had
a great scheme.
with or without your permission
will proceed as 1 started" seemed
to be what "The Cars" manner said
more eloquently than words could
have expressed it.
Wouldn't Even Feel Better.
He didn't even say 1t would make
him feel better to have the permits
coll say his strongest card is his sim
cerity. aside from his gluttony for work
and his ALFRED interest in everything
that makes for conservation of the
veal and welfare of the District and
its Inhabitants.
Being a sincere person and know
ing perfectly well that IL made no diff
ference to him whether or not the
owners gave their consent, "the Gar"
refrained from the use of any rhetor-
ical hypocrisy or hypocritical rhet-
oric about how he would feel IL per-
were given.
81 want the land. have taken the
land"
None Says Him Nay.
Such was his ultimatum and thus II
stands today with no owner of a va
cant lot in the territorial confines of
the City Citizens Association say
ing "the Gar" nay.