The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-05-12
DIPLONEVOLENCE.
A Department OF Business That Labor
With Those VINO Cry, "GIve, Givei'

in New York lave evolved q department
of which little Is ever heard. but which Is
designed to save thousands OF dollars an
nually and evidently does so.
This department operates 80 as to main
tain an exact record Of the firms 'diplo-
nevolence' affairs and that am~algamated
word has beer coined becaus It fits the
department precisely. Diplomacy and be-
nevolence are the two qualities that guide
the operations OF the department.
There Is no clearing house to determine
the aggregate amount given away annu-
ally by Manhattan firms and the total sum
is mere guess work. But the separate
accounts record the last dollar expended
for charity and to extract a donation from
a metropolitan business house requires a
meritorious case with all it's good qualities
on the surface.
In the first place. neither money nor
goods are given away by firms until an
investigation has been made. The sppli-
cant for a donation. after talking with the
FIRMS d~iplonevolence man, is dismissed
with the promise that his case will be looked
into speedily.
When the asker for aid has departed,
a clerk from the diplonevolenoe depart
ment is put at work. He searches through
an elaborate card index system to discover
whether the concern has ever contributed
to the applicant before, and II 30, what
amount was given and upon what date.
The general rule is never to makea donation
to the same cause twice within twelve
months.
IL the request is found worthy the matter
Is brought back Il the diplonevolence
man and he writes hat his company will
gladly grant it. Sometimes a check is sent
TO the applicant. but never II it "a be
avoided. In the case OF manufacturers
and merchants money is rarely contributed
TO any cause unless the applicant insists
upon it and refuses to take goods.
Department stores receive daily dozens
Of requests, simply because they are de-
part stores and because Of a legend
t hat they are always willing to give.
Organized charities stand highest in the
estimation OF the men whose duty 1t lie to
handle the business Of gifts. They are
usually worthy and merchants and manu-
facturers give freely.
But there are other demands made which
are not so worthy and which must be re-
ceived with diplomacy. Customers fire.
quently ask aid for charities in which they
are interested. There is little to be done
except to grant such requests, however
absurd, for the most gracious refusal to do
so would in all probability offend the
customer.
Colleges and schools OF all sorts solicit
adve rising for the publications they are
interested in. The boys who do the solicit
ing are generally willing to take anything
offered, and as advertising rates in school
publications huctuate widely, the diplonev-
olence man manages to get on lightly.
Programmes for little social affairs, con-
tests and meetings are also candidates
for advertising and the appeal for help is
usually based on the not strictly business
ground Of Jaw, o come on, help a Teller
out" These young folks will take goods
instead Of the coveted check, n they gen.
orally do so when the donation department
can arrange 1t.
circles, rafles, charity festivals, benevo-
lent orders, hospitals. homes, secret socie-
ties, churches, sanitariums. whist clubs.
dancing societies and other organization
form part Of the long list upon the diplonev-
olence department card index system.
Sometimes their request is for cash. Some
times IL is for old or shelfworn goods. AL
wavs the same strict routine Is followed
10 determine whethe- the applicant has been
helped out within the year.
i 1bIB i dlb bIdl DCI INV RCApDhho
looking for easy money who try their skill
upon business concerns with continued fail
ure. The system OF finding out the merit
Of a case and the absence OF indiscrimi-
nate giving will partly explain their lack
of success.
One person we'll known to the various
diplonevolence departments Ia. a minister
who has made a specially OF building up
defunct or unsuccessful churches. he has
changed churches six times within two years
- l. --IA- o. ntI 80 hnl~ N atrt~-
Cling parish TO prosperity, IL is generally
from a different address and upon the sta
tionery of a different church. The depart
ments nave followed his career with mild
curiosity, but they have long ceased to mani
fest a helpful interest in his behalf;
Many a worthy case comes up in the course
Of business. Not long g a woman asked
help for a young friend. He was a divinity
student who had struggled hard at his work
and had succeeded in writing a treatise
which was to be read before an assemblage
Of students n instructors. He was wor-
ried over his prospective appearance be-
cause his clothes had been worn thread
bare and he was without means Of buying
others.
The business concern appealed to an
swered the request by sending the student
a suit in tw~enty-four hours. and IL is 10 be
presumed he read his treatise in honor and
good looks.
who had come TO New YORK from up the
State and had found difficulty in obtain
ing employment as a stenographer. She
wandered about until her clothes had lost
their freshness and prospective employers
looked upon her with a disfavor that al
ways resulted in refusal. The case was
sent to a downtown diplonevolenoe depart
ment and the girl was logged out in a suit
that must nave cheered her young heart.
A destitute family In Harlem is being
supplied with food by a firm, and a number
Of children in Brooklyn receive shoes free
whenever the old ones are worn out. A few
weeks ago a orutch manufacturer heard
of an old chap whose limbs had passed into
disuse, and forthwith he sent TO the home
Of the disabled one six pairs Of crutches.
enough TO last him the remainder OF his
life.
Several weeks ago a canned goods con-
Germ received a letter from a man at Port
land, Ore. saving that his family was with
out means Of subsistence and requesting
the company to send him several cases OF
I sNgoods. This was one Of the requests
which we're refused. because while New
York is willing 70 take care OF its own. IL
draws the line at Oregon.