Evening star., 1931-12-06
CHEST MAL|GNED,
: STREET DECLARES
Director Says Malicious
Rumors Are Being CiTCu-
hated About Organization.

False and malicious stories have been
circulated against the Community Chest,
Elwood Street, director, said yesterday
III a caustic reply to the organizations
critics.
Street said the deliberate campaign
of defamation" appeared to b. 'foment
ed either by persons who DO not wish
to contribute and wished to cover their
lack of giving by an excuse, or by per
sens interested in organisations not
eligible to membership in the CheS.
who wish to cast reflections and doubi
on this community effort
The anti-CheSt drive, Street said, is
taking many forms, including pro-
fusion of anonymous letters TO the
Chest setting forth claims that are
absurd on the surface: letters to news
papers in which claims Of coercion IN
the collection Of funds In the campaign
in the Government departments are
made; word-of-mouth charges that Of
fcers Of the Chest receive high salaries,
and that the Chest is bringing nigh
priced man to conduct the campaign;
assertions that the Chest refuses to do
anything for certain cases which are
cited, only to be found mythical when
investigated and various other charges
generally preceded by the quotation !
have heard or understand that.
Organization Defended.
Street said the Chest is a community
organization headed by prominent
Washingtonians and responsible to those
persons. He added it is further guarded
by a board Of trustees selected from the
contributors and members OF animated
agsncies' boards.
1F the
r,le's money" Street declared, rs as
s,,red nv the fact that every penny
expended, whether for the Chest or
member organization, is carefully
checked by a Budget Committee headed
by Joshua Evans, tr, president OF tIle
District National Bank. In addition TO
all this, the operation OF the CheSt
office is under the supervision OF
Committee on ONCE Management
headed by ]. B. Wycoff. Certainly this
supervision tnsures proper handling OF
ali Community Chest funds,
There has been considerable talk
about salaries. AS matter OF TACT tLe
officers of the Chest. including the
president, John Poole; the treasurer,
Robert V. Fleming; the secretary,
Arthur HELEN; the campaign chairman,
Edward F. Colladay, and the various
vice presidents and other officials are
men and women whose time could not
be purchased, but who give 1t freely
without a penny Of compensation, to
the Chest, and in addition give sub
stantial contributions of money to the
Chest work
Salaries Below Normal.
Street added the Chest employs about
30 people throughout the year and
few more during the annual drive. He
said the general average of salaries
earned by these workers is far below
the pay received by Government en-
ployes for similar duties
The Chest director denied coercion
had been used in obtaining contribu-
tionS. He said any person who feels
that he has been forced to give un-
willingly can come to the Office of the
Chest have his pledge cancelled and
rest assured that it will be matter
between him and the Chest officials,
not to be revealed to his employer or
guperior officer.
I'VE are a public concern. supported
by the people of Washington. and are
doing public service that is always
open to investigation. Our books are
open to the public. We have nothing
TO conceal. Any one who wishes any
Information or wishes any verification
of any story he has heard regarding
the shortcomings of the Chest can
come to Chest headquarters, 223 In
vestment Building, and obtain at first
hand any information so desired