The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-12-20
Observations
Stettinius Not
Pleasing Choice
in Washington
BY HELEN ESSARY
BY HELEN EssARY

There's a curious undercurrent
OF talk in Washington today against
the new Secretary OF State Edward
Stettinius, Jr.
the eapital-and heavens knows
the wartime social groups here are
more plentiful than measles in the
spring somebody will say in a low
c0ufding tone:
DO you think Stettinius is,really
the man for the job?
Certainly Why not?"
Well, it seems to me that he Is
just a rich mans son after all,
and he ought not to have talked
as he did to Mr.. Churchill"
Although aware of the compiled
tions Of Anglo-Amcrican diploma.
cy, am still not prepared to in
trrpret the attacks on Stettinius N
the manner of certain consul re-
Gently returned from South Africa.
says this suspicious fellow:
Don't forget that old British
custom of trying to confuse the
foreign officials whom they wish 20
control. This is a brand new L. :.
state Department, you know. II It
is adroitly disturbed, we may have
a repetition of the Cordell Hull.
Sumner Welles feuding. And then
what will happen to our diplomacy
road? II may find itself tax
ing orders from the mother coun
try"
TO CURE those ghoulish charac.
ters OF the illness that is setting
them to talk about the next war
I've this dose OF medicine;
Guarantee the lot chance to
serve "in the next war Don't
limit the participation in madness
TO the young and the strong. The
young and the strong aren't inter.
ested in war until somebody puts
guns in their hands and says kill
or be killed.
There are many useful jobs for
the physically unfit and those who
are above the age limit Give the
swivel-Chair patriots tasks like par
ing potatoes, scrubbing Of cleaning
lTtrines.
1t doesn't take Physical perfec-
ton for such chores as these,
ON THE LIGHTER SIDE of life,
q letter from a young Wife:
"Since most of the men are in
uniform and. according to regula-
tons not permitted TO carry bund.
le-, and since most Of the stores
refuse to deliver purchases. how
long do you suppose | can keep
from looking like an Indian squaw
as l lug packages that would break
the back Of Mrs. Hercules?"
ANOTHER COMMUNICATION,
from a grandmother:
Thank goodness | was never
smoker. The way the cigaret low
err carry on without their smokes
makes me wonder how people can
have got themselves into such slay'
cry. | know two young couples
who have grown so bad-tempered
and quarrelsome from having to
90 without cigarets that they are
on the verge of divorce"
An INCREASE in the salaries Of
diplomats. Of members of Congress
and officers. of the armed forces
must be a part Of postwar plan
ming. This is the belief OF many
thoughtful Americans.
II such an increase Is not ar
ranged by this over rich country,
then the men to whom 1t is en-
trusting its government will be re-
duced TO taking what they describe
In the Far East as "kumshaw'
"Kumshaw is that extra little
bit in the hand. that greasing of
palm, which most Eastern, Far
Eastern and South American gov
ernmeuts expect their officials to
acquire. not too honestly, in order TO
supplement inadequate salaries.
With mounting taxes and rising
living costs. few men who have no
or:side incomes viii dare risk pub
lie Office.
Another thing, the United States
government does not give its heads
OF missions abroad the helm OF an
expense account for entertainment.
Many other governments are more
generous in this particular than
our own. II Is a dreadful strain on
the six or seven thousand dollars
a year income which many military
heads receive to have to receive
Hospitality the visiting fremen who
pour in and out OF such places as
Cairo and Chunsking.
II would be tragedy IL the Unit
ed States. which is so generous
with its lend-lease. should drive
fits own people to corruption by a
niggardly payroll route.