Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-15
A Joint Effort.

The decision of the Community Chest
authorities and local Red Cross officials
to make single campaign for the funds
which must be raised in Washington
in the immediate future is to be APP
plauded.
The needs to be met by the respec-
tive organizations are separate and dis
tinct. The local Red Cross, playing its
part in response to the presidential APP
peal for $4,000, 900 for national drought
and unemployment relief, is charged
with the responsible Y of raising $780,
600 as its proration of this sum. The
quota is fair, the need to which it will
be applied is imperative and the duty of
Washington is clear. The sum will be
forthcoming.
Yet there should be no misunder-
standing as to the purposes for which
this sum Is to be expended. 1t will
go to performance of the essential and
laudable task Of alleviating acute dis
tresS and need in centers of the country
outside the National Capital Not a
dollar of 1t win be expended locally. For
the President and those in charge Of
the Red Cross can have wisely deter
mined that local relief, here and in
al other communities equipped to face
their own problems, must be handled
by the community and State, rather
than through a joint national fund.
This accounts for the relative small
ness of the Red Cross budget.
The local needs Of washington,
whether they be the normal charitable
and welfare activities of the city, or
the emergency demands arising from
this years unemployment, must and
should and viii be met locally by WASH
tngton's support OF its Community
Chest. The quota to be raised. after
the most careful pruning on the part
Of the Chests Budget Committee.
stands at close to 81, 900 900. The COM
bined goal Of Red Gross and Chest will
therefore be $1,000 900.
This b a large amount. The effort
and work incidental TO its subscription
by the Washington public is vast. Seven
thousand Of our citizens win devote
themselves as q volunteer army to the
accomplishment Of the task. Il Is well
to bear in mind, on the eve Of their
effort, that they are working not for
themselves, nor the Red Cross, nor the
Chest or its constituent members, but
for the city as q whole and each citizen
thereof. They are entitled to the
thanks and support of every Washing
tonian.
That the support to which they are
entitled viii be forthcoming is conf
IDENTIFY to be anticipated. Relief, both
In the national and the local field, must
be promptly and fully afforded. These
are critical hours In America. More is
at stake than our reputation for gen.
erosity and compassion. Vice, crime
and disease are the children Of hunger
and despair. Men and women grow
desperate under a prolongation of suf-
fering. Fantastic and ruinous rene
dies are advocated. The fundamentals
Of our established principles for demo-
cratic security and progress are in jeop-
ardy.
Washington will meet these facts
squarely. discharging its obligations 70
the Nation and to its own. There is no
man or woman or child within the city
who has the means whereby to crafty
anything more than the basic necessities
Of life who should not own to q re-
sponsibility for those who are today less
fortunate. With that responsibility rec
ognized and the hearts of each Of US
searched as to how great our contribu-
ton can be, the goal of the forthcom-
ing campaign will be achieved.