The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-11-07
WILLING TO KEEP ON GIVING
But Ask Release From Con-
characterization at Stores.
Inaugurate Budget Themselves
If Community Does Not.

II the charities of Topeka and their
sponsors do not, in the near future,
formulate a community charity budget,
the Topeka Merchants association will
formulate such budget and fund of
its own, and charity solicitors will be
referred to the committee in charge of
it when they visit members of the as
ISOLATION.
The ultimatum has been served by
the merchants. They assert that there
have been nineteen drives for money
staged in Topeka in less than a year,
and that the amount of money which
is, in the aggregate, being asked for
this year, is larger than it has ever
been before.
The merchants do not deny nor dis
cuss the WOrthiness of the causes to
which they are asked to contribute,
nor do they object to contributing and
contributing generously. But their OBJ
lection is based on the continual repe-
tition Of the demands for money which
are made on them. 1T has got so
when a person enters my place of bust
ness it is toss-up whether he wants
to buy something or ask for money"
one of the merchants said today.
Favor Community Charity.
The merchants heartily favor a COM
munity charity budget-all the money
for charity to be raised in one cam
mtttee with no heavy overhead cost for
collection. This plan has been fol-
lowed in several other cities with
marked success, and it is the plan
which Topeka merchants prefer.
II this plan is not arranged. the
merchants who are members of the as
ISOLATION plan to make their own
budget set aside the sums which they
+hink they should give to each agency
applying to them, and collect the
IL NJ
ties then will be referred 20 the charity
budget committee. and will find a
check waiting for them, for their
share of the budget as it is seen by
the merchants.
No Solicitors Need Apply.
IF such a plan is put into effect It
will be useless for any solicitor to
approach any member of the Mer-
chants association.
Topeka merchants give from so per
cent to so per cent of the money which
is dc=ated to charity in this town.
They are willing to do this and to
keep on doing it. but they want it
done systematically, and with the
abolition of the nuisance of continued
solicitation" Milton Tabor, secretary
Of the association, stated today.
The amount of money asked for !
this year is greater than it has ever
been before, and business has been |
pretty bad. In spite of this. the mer- |
chants will give, and will give cheer |
fully, Systematically. They have been |
driven to desperation. They are re- |
viTing the litany to read From battle |
murder, sudden death, and any more |
drives, deliver us
Is Not New Attempt
The drive committee which gets
past the donation committee of the as |
socistion after the first of next year |
IS going to need an awfully good ex-
cuse for driving"
An attempt was made, more than |
a year ago. to organize such a COM
munIty charity fund as is now pro- |
posed by the merchants, but the at |
tempt failed. There is a strong pro- |
liability that it will be revived under
the stimulus which has been applied |
TO the merchants in the form of /
drives.