New-York tribune., 1919-08-11
Cuggggenl'eim Offers
Fund TO Promote
Social Centre Plan
Copper Magnate Would Be
One of Five Men to
Underwater an Extension
of the Community Plan

Extension of community centres in
cities throughout the country to solve
local social problems and to promote
public recreation is planned by Daniel
Guggcnheim, the copper magnatc. Mr..
Guggcnheim, from the headquarters Of
tho National Social Unit Organization,
Madison Avenue, yesterday made pub
lie a letter he nao written to Secretary
of the Interior Franklin X. Lane. Of
fering to be one of four or five men
who will undertake to undcrwrite a
$4,000 tund to promote the plan.
Mr.. Guggenheim said he was con-
vinced by experiments conducted for
the last two years at Cincinnati that
the community idea offers an effective
means Of promoting education, Ameri-
cani2ation and interest in public af-
fairs. Mr. Lane is honorary chairman
OF tho national organization.
Mr.. Guggcnheim in his letter said:
"l have felt the deepest interest in
the social unit idea ever since it was
first presented TO ME three years ago
by Mr.. and Mrs. Wilbur c. Phillips. |
have watched the demonstration OF the
idea as it has been worked out during
the last months n Cincinnati, and my
first faith in the philosophy of the
plan has been supported by the re-
suits.
"No social enterprise with which l
am familiar seems to me to offer Z
more significant answer to the ques-
ton Of how we can develop our Ameri-
can democracy along sane, constructive
lines, as opposed to methods of force
and violence, than the social unit plan.
believe that the time has come when
the desire of men and women for fur
ther self-cXpression and larger meas
ure Of control over their own lives
must be met by a definite, practical
programme.
''In order to make such a campaign
the social unit idea presented to tho
membership Of the organization and
conducting q more extended demonstra-
tion in the near future.
~ order to make such a campaign
Of education possible it has been sug-
gested that | should join with four or
five others in underwriting fund of
100000 to be used in an endeavor to
secure a large number OF supporting
memberships. This | have agreed to
do. | should feel much disappointed if
others cannot be found in the country
who are willing to join me in arrang-
ing this loan, especially as it is under
stood that the amounts Will be repaid,
provided sufficient funds for the pur-,
pose are raised through memberships.
"Mr. Phillips has described to me the
decision of the National Social Unit
Organization to have The work in Gin
cnnati ovaluated shortly hy the most
competent corps OF experts that can be
brought together from every part Of
the United States, as basis for a
future programme. This plan meets
with my warm approval, and I have
agreed to review a report Of the work
from the standpoint Of business ad-
ministration and offer whatever advice
am able to give along these lines
twenty-five writer's. editors and pub
licists have been appointed members Of
national publicity committee. Among
them are Mark Sullivan, of "Collier's
Weekly Arthur T. Vance, editor OF
The Pictorial RcView;' Mrs Marie
Maloney editor Of The Woman's Mag
azine;" Herbert Croly, editor of The
New Republic;' George Crecl, Ernest
Poole, Robert Bruero and Walter
Prichard Eaton