Evening star., 1932-11-27

Metropolitan .............. 9U.O3
Group Solicitation ......... 1898
Governmental .......... 5I.50
SCHOOLS .,...--... ....'.. JUL
The campaign as a whole has pro-
duced about s1,s36,o00, or 1888 per
cent of the total sought. There have
been some 1o6,164 givers, as against
the 10000 who gave last year. The
deficit for the whole campaign now is
approximately s5s3,Ooo, and the deficit
for the Governmental Unit is approx
mately s47O,422, but it has been esti-
mated that should the Governmental
Unit reach its assigned quota. the cam
paign will go "over the top" with the
help expected from continuing efforts OF
othe- units.
There are several factors which in
dicate that the Governmental Unit Will
90 far, in the next few weeks, to wipe
out the deficit now existing in its as
signed quota. One of these is that the
campaign began at a time when many
of the Government establishments were
busy with their estimates for final sub
mission to the Budget Bureau, thus de-
laying solicitation. Last year the spe-
cial campaign within the Government
departments lasted nearly month, as
compared with the ten days given over
to this years campaign. The work
within the governmental establishments
is being pushed, and those In charge
say that it will not cease until every
worker has been given direct opportu-
nifty to contribute Some of the Gov
ernment employees, it is understood,
have not yet been solicited.
The success Of the campaign depends
largely upon the ability of the Govern
mental Unit to meet its quota. 1t goes
without saying that everybody hopes
this will be the case. The Government
workers constitute large proportion OF
the local community and the problems
of the community are their own, more
so, perhaps, than those of anybody else
In the past the Government workers
have never fallen short of meeting any
responsibilities, and If they fail this
year it must be because Of reasons that
are not apparent.
There has been considerable talk, it
is true, concerning the difficulties faced
by the Community Chest in the de-
partments this year and there Is no
reason why it should not be discussed
frankly. Most people have heard the
story, in some version, that Government
workers were given to understand last
year that If they contributed to the
Community Chest they would escape
a pay cut. If any such preposterous
proposition, or bargain. was made at the
time its author is unknown. Certainly
1t was advanced from no responsible
source, and certainly 1t could not have
been accepted in good faith by any In
telligent Government worker, familiar
enough with the undisputed authority
of Congress. The Star, which en-
deavored fully to report the progress of
the Government campaign, has searched
its files in vain for clue to the origin
of this story. The campaign in the
Government departments was held in
advance Of the regular campaign last
year to raise money to meet very
serious crisis in caring for the unem-
ployed, at time when the District
Unemployment Committee was, with its
increasing needs, placed under the
Community Chest. The President was
being bombarded with demands that
the Government inaugurate the stagger
system in the departments, in view Of
the wide unemployment, and the charge
was being made by members of Con-
gress that the Government employe was
enjoying relative prosperity while every
body else was suffering from the de-
preston. The answer to that charge
was the decision for an early cam
paign among Government workers as
their direct contribution toward re.
lieving distress elsewhere.
In addition, overzealousness of some
! Of the key men" in the departments
brought up the charge Of coercion and
forced giving, and despite the offel
by Chest officials to return money OF
cancel pledge from any employe who
felt that he had been coerced, ant
to keep the transaction secret, the
methods Of solicitation in some Offices
left a sting. There is, moreover, tht
fact that pay of workers has been cu
and many of them are hard pressed tt
make both ends meet, condition tina
is not confined to the Government
workers.
That is the substance of some o
the talk that is generally familiar. Blu
the Chest appeal is not to unwilling
givers. The appeal is made in tn
name of charity and in behalf Of mel
and women and children who neet
help. There are few. indeed, as th
final report from the Government de
partments will show, who can remain
deaf to that plea and true to them
selves.
The insult crash may prove on fur
ther Investigation to be one of thos