Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1920-06-01
ABOUT FINANCIAL DRIVES


simple eXpedient of raising the price ot
gasoline a cent Ii gallon. which was the
same thing as levymg n small tax on
all tie people, simple ana etiertiNe
way 10 raise funds. Social ana welfare
ov. mzatiCns. national In the scope OF
their plans and work found out during
the war that they could levy small
tlx on the American people and get
hy" with IL In the name of patriotism
and n,ssesS themselves Of fabulous
wealth. During the war great deal
II this money was wasted, because oil
the weaknesses inherent In the or
carnations and the added strain oil
wa expansion. Everyone is willing To
-lt the war aud forgive the waste
lint the late war organizations have
learned the Rockefeller trick ana are
makiug their drives now just as Wig
,lu,, as when American soldiers
wee engaged in driving the Huns out
Of fr nee and BelgiumS. The soldiers
we Had Ia quit. but whoever Is Ill
rectlng the war" organizations still
lends a body Of devoted Job holders
who are still quite keen about the n
nancal drives which their generals
plan.
As a matter Of fact, the late war or
gam lions are not the only ones 10
learn the trick Of shaking down the
American people; other ORGANIZATIONS
that had no war record and newcomers
In the field. have adopted the drive
idea Of raising finances and swarms OF
their mid organizers cover the coun-
o., from coast 10 coast, ana literally as
fine locusts consume the substance OF
the IcnDlS OF course. they all have Il
glowing nlan Of social service 10 offer
which is worldwide or nationwide in
its scope. The Graphic really believes
that many people connected with these
sooieties are earnest and unSelfiSh, nut
II believes also that they are sur
rounded and misled by swarms Of self
ish Shnrpsters who find the new sys'
TEN easier than pe,ldliDg gold bricks.
Giving the great leaders of these
social movements credit for honesty,
the Graphic repeats that they are ad-
yo,4ting vicious principles that rob the
American people, not only OF money
hut II the social service which every
community owes 10 itself. Not u cent
should leave any community to buy
social service which II can much better
supply for itself: it is the sort of mail
order trading that saps the vitality ana
mikes us dependent on others In lis
tnnt centers who offer an attractive
picture Of worldwide service but VINO
do not supply the everyday vital needs
of the neople. What could Deming do
for Il elf with the money IL has sept
AWAY following the drives that have
been staged since the signing OF the
aunistice? II Is Il business PROPOSE
ton: the people are being film
nnmmel' and the Graphic for one Is
not afraid to point out the social pow
erty Ato which the community Is slip
ping. The Graphic editor has taken
part in several Of these drives, but
right now serves notice that he viii
never again ask for cent for any IN
-timtion that does not show that the
money to be raised Is TO remain here
and be snent here under the direction
of Deming citizens. Also IL is pointed
out that the money raised should go
into q common fund that can be used
for any social need that may exist now
or arise at any future time without
consulting persons or organizations IN
distant cities. This does not mean, W
course. that our charitable and mission
AIRY efforts should cease-nOt at all
hut It does mean that Deming citizens
be- allowed 10 contribute as before to
the causes they deem worthy. free OF
e.. mpulsion OF the local drive" that
uIlly forces us to rob ourselves by
using our own citizens as the sand
haggers'
Vow is good time TO say that we
VIII support our charities, local and
foreign through our own organizations
hurches. schools. benevolent guilds,
L l~es. societies. that are the real life
of the community and which are being
Impoverished socially and financially
b. the Email order" organizations
which we support to the destruction OF
orr own interests. our own organiza-
tons are atroDhied and will soon die
what does the Red Cross, the y. NJ.
&. A.. the Knights Of Columbus, the
Salvation Army. Jewish Welfare the
Interchurch World Movement. and the
h ist of others. offer In place OF themf
on. YES. they do offer something, to
b. Maid for by us 10 the last farthing
and supervised by swivel chair" col
onels who had to he reminded that
their relative" rank and uniforms
must no longer be- used. But they offer
nothing that we cannot better supply
for ourselves. thereby maintaining our
own initiative. Finally. what have
they done for MS IN the Dasti
The war record of any Of the or
gnnizations named Is unreliable and
built ON unsubstantial circumstances.
Only one was really organized on
proper economic basis TO last out the
war had Is gone forward as expected,
and that organization did the greater
part Of the work during the war, but
came out with the least reputation.
what the Graphic wants to point out,
without arousing a feeling OF contro-
verslal character. Is that none OF them
have anvthing coming on their war
record. Only those who fought have
ANYTHING coming and there are
plenty Of people right here In Daming