Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-25
RELIEF CAMPAIGN
PROBE THREATENED
Senator Says Intimidation in
Drive viii Not Be
Tolerated.
continued From First Page.)

a check on those who do not contribute,
and consequently of holding that fact
against them when they might seek
changes in their classification.
Copies for Auditor.
It was SAID by Commissioner Reich
elderfer that the two extra copies of
the roll are for the auditors Office and
for the Chest itself, in order that proper
check may be had.
1t happens that Daniel j. Donovan.
District auditor, heads the District Per-
sonnet Board, and this fact is consid-
cred to have brought about this m1Sun-
derStanding.
The dispute between the American
Legion and the Community Chest was
brought to a head last night when the
Executive Committee. meeting in the
District Building. instructed F. c..
Fraser, department commander, and a
group of associates to meet officials of
the Chest at o'clock Friday afternoon
and inform them that unless they
agreed to allow the Legion to conduct
its welfare work as in the past the
veteran organization would quit the
Chest and put on its own relief fund
campaign.
Situation Is Outlined.
w. D. Rogers member of the Exec
utive Committee, who acted as FraSer's
spokesman, outlined the situations this
morning in the following statement:
Heretofore we have received GER
tain amount every year from the Com
munity Chest to be expended for well
fare work among the ex-service men.
That money has been expended by
director and case worker appointed
with the approval of Community Chest
officials. This year the Chest has said
to the Legion that participation must
be on the terms of the Chest, which.
are substantially that the money is to
be expended by the Chest force and
that the service bureau the Legion has
maintained must be abandoned.
Fraser appointed a subcommittee
from the Executive Committee, headed
by DIR. William G. Fowler health off,
Ger, to study the Chest proposal, and
this subcommittee last night recon-
mended to the Executive Committee
that We continue on the same basis as
heretofore or pull out of the Chest.
Will Confer Friday.
1.-THE Executive Committee authorized
Comdr. Fraser to meet with Chest Of
ficials on Friday afternoon, accompa-
gion and all living past department
submit this recommendation.
"If the recommendation is not adopt
ed by the Chest, we pull out and put on
our own drive"
The Executive Committee, represent
ing the District department, includes III
Its membership Mai Gen Amos A.
Fries, retired, former head OF the Chem
ical Warfare Service; John Lewis
Smith and Harlan G. Wood Of the local
bar; Paul McGahan, William c. Nc
Grath and others.
In connection with the trouble, the
Executive Committee adopted resolu
ton adopted earlier in the evening by
Victory Post condemning "high-hand
ed methods of some Government Of
flcials in obtaining contributions by
coercion and compulsion" and asking
all veterans to withhold their Subscrip-
tons until after the meeting Friday.
Campbell Issues Statement.
In recognizing the dissatisfaction over
the campaign, Chairman Campbell this
morning issued the following statement
to divisional chairmen:
my attention has been called to
statements appearing in the press and
on poster recently distributed, to the
effect that Federal employees are being
coerced to subscribe. to the present
request for voluntary contributions to
relieve unemployment and dependency
in the District of Columbia this Winter
and during the calendar year 1882.
81 wish to emphasize. again the state
ments made by representatives of the
authority of the President, that this is
an opportunity for voluntary contribu-
tons, and that under no circumstances
Is there to be any form OF coercion
used to secure subscriptions. The
President, in his letter creating the
committee, stated that it was for the
purpose of considering Recommended
tons which have been made for CO.
operation among Government employees
in unemployment problems
Coercion and cooperation are
sure you will understand that If an
employe does not feel able to subscribe,
or Is unwilling to subscribe, he is act
ing within his rights"
The appointment of SO "key persons"
who VIII undertake to collect three
days pay from every public school sys-
tenn employe marked the meeting late
yesterday Of DR.. Frank w. Ballou,
superintendent Of schools and vice
chairman of the Commissioners Unem-
ployment Fund Committee, and his
supervisory and administrative stats.
Must Be Voluntary.
In announcing the "key persons" DR..
Ballou declared that except in the case
OF the three first assistant Superin-
tendents. each person designated as a
key person will be responsible for car
rylng the plan into effect in his or her
particular school, division or depart
ment covering all officers. teachers,
clerks and janitors under his or her
supervision"
In computing the contributions ex-
pected of school employees, DR.. Ballou
advised his staff the three days pay
would be computed on the basis of
800 days per year.
DR.. Ballou stressed the fact the dona-
tons made by teachers and other
school system workers are to be entirely
voluntary. He said he knew there were
many people in the system who could
not afford to give l cent and they were
not under any circumstances to be
penalized to comply with the request
for the three days pay. Their refusal
to donate, he said, is a matter for their
conscience to dictate.
Group Is Named.
The So key persons and the person.
mel groups they are TO solicit follow:
First Assistant Superintendent Steph-
en- E. Kramer, heads of departments,
assistant superintendent outside the
Franklin Building, and directors Of
kindergartens in the white schools;
Garnet c. Wilkerson. same field in the
colored schools; j. ]. Crane, all en-