Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-12
The Community Chest.

With more than 81, SOC. 900 raised dur
ing the intensive campaign that closed
last night and with additional funds in
sight expected to bring this total to al
least sl,6l7,5l3. the Community Chest
cannot be said to have failed.
The optimistic side of the picture is
that the Chest contains about $50 0oC
more in pledges this year than last, and
that the money was obtained in spite
OF several distinct handicaps that did
not exist last year.
The peSSimistic view is that Washing
ton has failed by about $780, 900 to reach
its quota, necessary adequately to main
tain and to extend the charitable and
welfare work Of seventy-five organiza-
tons, and that hopes Of making up the
deficit are at best merely hopes.
First thought in the minds of the
loyal Washingtonians who contributed
to the fund concerns the effect of the
deficit upon the dependent beneficiaries
of the Chest. It will be recalled that
at the beginning of the campaign the
fund sought was pictured as represent
ing the pared budgets of the seventy
five member organizations. The burden
OF the shortage, therefore, must be dis
tributed as equally as possible among
the Chest members. It will mean in
some cases the curtailment of work. In
others it will represent inability to ex-
pand. In general it will mean that
Washingtons work for the unfortunate
will remain stationary, If not actually
curtailed. The cuts will be made where
the trafic can best stand them, and the
effect win show itself during the months
that follow.
Several reasons have been advanced
for Washington's failure to contribute
the full amount sought In the first
place the task this year was greater
than last, and instead of fifty-seven
member organizations calling for sup
port, there were seventy-five. At the
outset Of the general campaign an I'M
usually heavy snowstorm tied up traf-
nc and added unexpected difficulties to
the work Of canvassing the city. This
year the Government departments were
closed to Chest solicitors, although
pledge cards were distributed. Cutting
on this source to active solicitation
must have had a deterrent effect, as
Government employees and their families
make up more than third of the city's
population, and it is impossible, in any
houSe-to-house canvass, to reach more
than fraction Of the potential con-
tributors. Last year the Government
department solicitation Melted about
$4,000. This year the same source has
contributed about $4,000, although the
figure is not set down as anywhere near
complete or final.
What John Poole described last night
as "the stock market blues" revealed
itself to solicitors on every hand, In
many cases losses suffered in the stock
market actually debarred contributions
TO the Chest, but doubtless there were
other potential contributors swayed by
the psychology of the thing into bsliev-
ing that conditions did not permit them
to contribute. This is, of course, cited
as fact and not criticism. What any
body contributed or failed to contribute
Is personal affair and beyond carping
CRITICISM or complaint Added to the
stock market blues". is the fact that
unemployment has placed additional
burdens on some would-be contributors.
Their money has been needed to meet
expenses that are closer to home even
than the Community Chest.
But. whatever the causes for failure
to meet the quota set, the Community
Chest itself has not failed 1t has JUS
tified itself in the face Of adverse con-
ditions. The spirit behind it has not
diminished. As one of the city's newest
institutions it will receive the support
that its vital functions demand. The
defeat suffered this year will be turned
to victory next year.