Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-06
Contributions to Campaign in
Capital Received in Graft
flying Numbers.
FIGHT TO BE WAGED HERE
LATTER PART OF APRIL
Chairman Shows How Explanation
to Leading Merchant Brought
Results

Contributions to the fund with which
to finance the 1916 clean up and paint
up campaign, to be conducted by the
Master House Painters and Decorators
Association, are being received In
gratifying numbers, according to
statement yesterday of A. H. McGhan.
chairman of the committee in charge of
the campaign. No definite date has as
yet been fixed for the spring cam
paign, though it is the intention to
wage the fight against dirt, insanitary
conditions and untidiness the latter
part Of April.
Mr.. McGhan is to go to Cincinnati at
the end of the week to attend the an
nual convention of the International
Association of Master House Painters
and Decorators of the United States
and Canada. At the convention he pur-
poses to present to the delegates an
outline of some of his experiences in
planning and conducting a clean up
and paint up campaign. He is also
chairman of the clean up and paint up
committee of the international asso-
citation.
To Present Exhibit.
An exhibit" which Mr.. McGhan
calls 1.-The indictment, the argument
and the verdict" is to be presented at
the convention. this exhibit consisting
of two letters received by him from the
proprietor of one of this city's big de-
partment stores and his own letter in
reply. The first letter. written in re-
ply to request for a contribution to
the campaign fund, was as follows:
your letter soliciting subscriptions
to the clean up and paint up is re-
ceived. l cannot see why you ask me to
donate. In a measure you are COM
petitor. So much money is spent each
month by the communicative dollars
that you painters get are the dollars l
might get Would it not be as logical
for myself and few brother depart
ment store proprietors to solicit sub
order to pay expenses of our advertis-
ing?"
I'm reference to our request that you
contribute to the clean up and paint
up fund, you will permit me to take
exception to your statement that in a
measure you are a competitor On
the contrary, we are a help to such
large establishments as yours. We,
are endeavoring to stimulate the use
of the latent dollar-to accelerate ac-
ton.
You say so much money is spent
each month by the community Per-
nit me to say, yes: but it is caused
to be spent by effort, energy and de-
termination such as we show. to wake
up that dormant dollar. Your estab-
lishment is SO large, your brother de-
partment stores are so much a part
of our community, that you cannot but
be the recipient of results. CONNER
cially. of such efforts as ours The
latent dollar Is of no USE The turn
over produces results; therein is our
effort.
Trade Employs 1900.
The painting trade of Washington
employs over 1900 workmen The en-
tire industry, dealers, etc, employs
many more. running into the thou
sands. 1 would not hazard a guess at
the amount of money passing in this
industry. We are stimulating the
trade of that industry. 1t cannot but
return to you.
I'VE are in the market. on the
streets, in the moving picture houses,
in the newspapers. on the buttons
$1,000 of them-all to clean up and
paint up at time when you are mar
keting wares for a similar purpose
Set aside the commercial end: we are
citizens of Washington, and so are
you. Then, from a civic standpoint,
forward a check as evidence of CO.
operation.
Asking again your pardon. I sin
cerely trust that you will be with u.s.
The reply to this, received in the
following mornings mail. was brief and
to the point 1t read merely:
we are inclosing our check for con-
tribution to the clean up and paint up
fund"
A check for a substantial sum was