Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-11-24

Parents from all parts OF Philadelphia
and vicinity today congratulated NJ. d.
Gr!fith, head OF the Charities Bureau Of the
Chamber OF Commerce. for his crusade
against the street-corner Santa-the pseudo
St, Nick with horsehar whlskers who
takes his place on the business thorough
fares during the Christmas shopping season.
Convinced that he has the backing OF all
Intelligent parents of the community, Mr..
Griffith said today that he would keep on
the trail Of all organizations which have
not agreed to abandon the fake Santa.
Colonel Christopher c. Heron, head Of
the Philadelphia branch OF the Volunteers
Of America has already agreed to CO.
operate with the Charities Bureau and for
ever Danish the street-corner st. Nick. but
an organization known as the American
Rescue Workers. which establishes fake
Santns on the streets every Yuletide, Is still
''hoiding out"
PRESERVING swEET9LEGEND
One OF Mr.. Grlfflth's principal reasons
FOR banshlng the fake Santa is that the
man with the false whiskers and cheap
cheesecloth suit destroys one of the sweet
est legends OF childhood. He said:
zone parent in conEratulatlng the Chari-
ties Bureau for Its stand against the fake
Santa told me that for three four years
he had not taken his children into the shop
ping district during the holiday season be-
cause he was afraid that the sight of the
man with the false whskers would destroy
the Santa Claus Illusion OF his little ones.
80, because of the fake Santa, the chill
dren of this man had to forgo the pleasure
OF visiting the toy departments OF the
stores.
when we know OF the Joy which the
Santa Claus legend brings to childhood we
should spare no effort in safeguarding that
II thaf tha
set by Colonel Christopher c. Heron. OF
the Volunteers of America. in cooperating
with the bureau will cause other organiza-
lions to get into line.
STREET GIVING OF LITTLE USE
"I received n letter today from Colonel
Richard c. Holz of the Salvation Army. In
which he stated that he was also opposed
TO the Santa Claus idea. He pointed out
that his street collectors during the Christ
mas shopping season were officers of the
salvation Army. He said that this system
was carried out in cities all over the coun-
Try, and that great amount OF money
svas received in this manner He said this
money was used 10 pay for the Christmas
dinner and for winter relief work.
but the Charities Bureau is opposed to
street solicitation OF any sort and we shall
work toward its entire elimination. We
have innumerable records to show that even
when large sums are gathered I'm by street
solicitation only relatively small proper.
tion of the sum contributed by the public
ever reaches the real bcnehciaries. We do
not mean to imply by this that there was
any dishonesty In the administration of the
funds, but the expenses OF collecting were
80 great that there was very little left to
apply 10 the purIu for which 1t was in
tended.
THE Charities Bureau finds that both the
Volunteers of America and the Salvation
Army are doing splendid work in their re-
apective fields There is no question that
In cases of fallen men and women the
psychology OF religion can be employed
with remarkable results in restoring self
respect ito such persons"