The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1943-07-10
Pedestrians in
Washington Have
Difficult Time
By Charles p. Stewart

the queerest suggestions anG a.
guments. II is characterized ~
conditions that could not exist any
where else In the country n con
tradicts itself in every imaginable
way
Doubtless. its oddities are d.
largely TO the fact that It has not
any government OF its own bur
is regulated locally by Congress.
which smuses itself to great "a
tent, by prescribing rules for i's
own membership entertainment
and changes them so fast that nobo-
DIV knows. from day 10 day jul
what they are
The diplomatic corps is a comP.!-
eating element. too.
These foreign plenipotentiaries
, are numerous and conspicuous ana
their behayloristic ideas are IN.
ported into our capital by them
from every conceivable Out-of-the-
way place on earth
For instance they are entirely
out of sympathy with our automc-
tive traffic requirements. paying
no attention 10 our speed limita
tions lights at street intersections
or parking specifications. Seeing
them disregard every safety precau-
ton tempts our native drivers 20
do likewise. with the result that
Washington thoroughfares noto,-
iously are the most dangerous in
the land. alike for pedestrians and
for folk in our multiplicity OF cars.
Gas is not very readily obtain
able for our domestic citiZenry just
now. which is a mercy from the
standpoint Of those OF US who travel
atoot The diplomatic contingent.
however. being privileged charac-
tiers. can get all the fuel they want,
and the shortage for Others simply
gives them treer hand.
But why. you ask do not the po-
lice take a hand in this siutuatior >
All. that is a second eccentricitv
OF lie in the District OF Columbia.
An accredited diplomat, in our
midst from abroad is not subject
70 any American law He can COM
nit. not only a misdemesnor, bat
a crime, up to and including mlr-
der. and We cannot call him TO
account for II We can demand his
recall by his home government,
but that is all II is a worldwide
custom from which there are 10
exceptions
Well. a diplomat does not often
commit a murder, but he makes
4 decided business OF disregard
ing our auto regulations Then,
when he IS pinched he claims
diplomatic immunity, and it is not
really worth while 10 make an in
ternational incident out Of such a
case
Speaking of gas, for automobiles,
calls TO mind the dispute over the
legitimacy OF poison gas employ
~ment in actual warfare.
II is supposed 10 be an exceed
ingly dirty trick. Even those who
are accused Of 1t holly deny their
guilt. Yet they are perfectly will
ing to admit that they fight with
guns and bombs Nevertheless,
Washington is greatly agog over
the poison gas issue. There are
military authorities who reason
that. II the Axis powers are going
to use the suff. We must use il like
wise. Others say move should
not do anything so atrocious any.
how
What an argument,
II killing an enemy IS according
TO Hoyle. what difference does il
make to him how il is done, pro-
vided It Is made as painless as pos
sible? Torturing him ought to he
banned. OF course. A nice. lethal
gas is painless. though. II may hurt
less than a slug through the giz-
zard
II is wrangle that seems 10 me-
a waste OF time
Next. there arises the problem nf
preserving peace after this wars
end.
How? BY force, is the generally
accepted answer
The notion is to effect so formid-
able a United National police force
as infsllibly TO lick the tar out
Of any future would.be disturbers.
In other words: Another war IS
10 be prevented by war so speed
" declared as TO PREVENT il
It is sound military strategy, Of
course
I wouldn't call II pacifstic,
though.
That is TO say The next war Is
10 be a war between police force
and a bunch of uprising outlaws
Peace is TO be preserved by a war
to prevent II.
Personally. J do not want 10 ne
robbed by st!ck-up men or TO have
my house burglarized As a pre-
caution keep a AS Colt availab bic,
10 protect myself II possible. But
I don't consider II a peace policy.