The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-11-12
Nation Wide Campaign Il
Opened In New York.
To Stop the Giving of Useless
Christmas Presents.
WITH MEMBERSHIP Of 5000
The Organization Opens Its
Rolls to All People.
Mrs. August Belmont Outlines
the Work to Be Done.

New York, Nov. IA country
wide appeal for the abolition of the
useless Christmas gift and a plea for
intelligent and thoughtful giving in
stead were voiced by Mrs. August
Belmont. president Of the spuss. at
the opening meeting of the 1913 cam
paign to be waged by that organiza-
ton against insincerity. compulsion
and waste in Christmas giving.
At this meeting the membership
rolls Of the Spugs, the Society for the
Prevention OF Useless Giving. were
thrown open to all residents of the
United States who might want to en-
roll against the foolish Christmas
gift. Having grown from handful
to more than 5000 within a few
weeks during tho last Christmas sea-
son. tho SpugS have outlined for this
year a national campaign and hope
to establish societies in all cities and
towns throughout the country.
Mrs J. Borden Hartman presided
at the meeting. District Attorney
Der. and Francis Crowninshield de-
uvored addresses. Mrs. Belmont was
the orator Of the evening. The orig
inal purpose OF the society. she said.
was to prevent compulsory giving by
girls In stores and factories to their
employers. the custom OF collective
giving which the girls felt they could
not afford but which they could not
avoid without embarrassment and
possible loss OF their positions. This
was one of the chief objects OF the
society. she added. but not the only
one. Another prime attainment
sought. she said. was a general Gull
tivation. by all classes of givers. of
more thoughtfulnesa and oppression
OF personality in making Christmas
gifts.
For tho Man Lower Down.
I'VE do not disapprove OF collective
giving when II is done on the SPUR Of
the moment" she said, ''or for some
particular cause. because then it
Of human fellowship Of which the
money collected is but an expression.
We do approve of 1t when 1t is for the
man lower down instead Of for the
man higher up.
s'Some persons think that we oppose
giving. Far from 1t; we do not oppose
giving, but we advocate intelligent
giving-giving that is done with the
Christmas spirit of good will as dis
tinguisheds from giving that il COM
obtaining reward-whether that re-
ward be the favor of the man higher
up or advancement. The world at
large should put more Of the Christ
mas spirit into giving. Christmas
should be time for every person to
do his or her share.
Some folks say to us. OF course.
you want to promote useful giving
This word useful has many changes of
meaning. Usually when one thinks of
a useful present. it is a present decid-
edly middle-clasS or commonplace.
So we do not attempt to promote USE
full giving in the commonly accepted
definition Of that word. The things
we are really out to do is to abolish
something. We feel that when we
have done that there will follow good
sense in giving and that everybody
will be profited thereby.
I'VE propose to decrease the cost
Of the gift and increase the good will:
to make the heart Of Father Christ
mas rejoice by little acts of kindness.
usefulness. by putting thought into
tho gift we send our dear ones. Give
generously; but from your heart,
with all your thought. Don't make
a business of giving. make it an art.
Don't waste what should be q season
of good will freely given"
~ hate graft. detest the CRATER
and I abhor grating" District At
torney Whitman said.
Mr.. Whitman said that while his
work was concerned chiefly with the
unwise takers. he was inclined to be-
lieve that unwise givers were also q
harm to society. In this connection
tho district attorney attacked the tip
ping system, which he declared was
pauperizfng "our most willing work.
ers" and running the democracy Of
which we so proudly boast to the
older nations" .--