Evening star., 1932-10-12
HOOVER ENDORSES
COMMUNITY CHEST
President Requests All U. S.
Workers to Support CON-
ing Campaign.

As President Hoover, in an open let
ter to all Government units, gave his
Endorsement to the coming campaign OF
the Community Chest and urged the
support of all Federal workers in the
drive, the needs confronting the private
relief agencies of Washington were
stressed by speakers at the opening
session yesterday of the first annual
Community Chest Speakers Institute
in the Willard Hotel.
The Presidents letter, requesting the
active aid and support Of all Govern
ment employees in the campaign, was
made public by Gov. Thomas E. Camp
bell. president of the United States
Civil Service Commission and chairman
of the governmental unit of the Com
munity Chest.
Text of Presidents Letter.
Placed in the hands Of the heads OF
all departments, independent bureaus,
institutions and agencies of the Federal
Government, the Letter read:
Il strongly request your active aid
and support in the coming campaign
ton. D. c. The need which the people
Of the National Capital face is the
greatest IN the history of this city. The
burden on the welfare and relief
agencies which have united their ef-
forts through the Community Chest Is
therefore the heaviest in their exper-
ience This is true in spite of the fact
that Congress at my request has ap-
propriated the sum of $350.000 for re-
lief of the unemployed through the
Board of Public welfare. ThNfund, it
is quite clear, will not last through the
Winter.
The need is greater than the amount
which can be provided from public
funds. These agencies bear the burden
normally carried by private phllan-
created by unemployment. They must
care for families broken by sickness
desertion. widowhood and disability
unemployable persons, orphans, the
aged. hospital patients unable to pay
for their care and all other classes OF
need.
The Community Chest is the united
effort of all races and creeds in COM
mon endeavor for the welfare OF all
All who have jobs and a regard for
the wellbeing of their fellow man
should give to the full extent of their
ability. their heart and their conscience.
for the sake of their fellow citizens who
cannot adequately help themselves.
HERBERT HOOVER"
Many Families Cared For.
The Speakers Institute. presided over
by Mrs. John Jay OConnor, chairman
was informed by Leroy Halbert. IN
charge of the distribution OF the 1880 =
900 municipal relief fund authorized by
Congress. that this sum has already
fallen short of supplying necessary aid
to families entitled to it under the rules
governing distribution of the money.
Halbert said his organization has
1000 families on its rolls, and with a
maximum of $4,000 to eXpend, each
family receives the highly insufficient
average of Sl2 a month The speaker
said the private relief agencies must
take on a larger burden this Winter
than ever before.
Walter S. Ufford, general secretary OF
the Associated Charities, told the in
stitute his organization is caring Tor
more than 5000 families and estimated
the number would be increased by 500
during the Winter. The Charities has
spent 1903 900 for relief during the first
nine months of the year and will need
S4OO, 900 to complete the year, he said
Constantly increasing demands for
aid were stressed by Rev. Laurence j.
Shehan. assistant director of the Cath
olic Charities: Arthur Rosichan, execu-
tive secretary of the United Hebrew
Relief Society, and Adjt. Gilbert S.
Decker. in charge of the welfare and
relief work of the Salvation Army.
Meetings to Continue.
Sessions of the institute are to con-
tinue through Friday. Speakers at to-
days meeting will include DR.. William
A. White, superintendent OF st. Eliza
beth's Hospital, who will discuss Social
and Mental Hygiene; Rev. Calvert E.
Buck, superintendent of the Episcopal
Ear, Eye and Throat Hospital who will
speak on The Place of the Hospital in
the Community Program" and Miss
Gertrude H. Bowling, director Of the
Instructive Visiting Nurse Society, who
will discuss Some Aspects of the Health
Movement in Washington"
The meeting of the governmental unit
yesterday, at which practically the en-
, tire organization was present, was pre-"
! sided over by Gov Campbell and ad-
dressed by Newbold Noyes. Community
Chest campaign chairman; E. C. Gra-
ham, president of the Community Chest,
and Elwood Street, director.
Mr.. Noyes stressed the need existing
| this year for even greater effort on the
| part of campaigners to obtain volun-
tary contributions from Government
workers. Mr.. Noyes explained the
Chest does not desire unwilling gifts,
! but said he felt that if solicitors would
take the trouble to explain the needs
| that confront Washington the resultant
contributions would be more than graft
| flying.
Pledge Cards to Be Used.
The group voted to conduct solicita-
tions by means of the regular Chest
| pledge cards used by the metropolitan
and group solicitation units.
The following were elected to serve
| as an Executive Committee for the gov
ernmental unit:
Lieut.. Col. u. S. Grant, Sd, in charge
of Public Buildings and Grounds; Carl
Robe White, Assistant Secretary of
Labor: Herbert D. Brown. chief of the
United States Bureau of Efficiency;
Frank A. Birgfeld, chief clerk, United
States Treasury Department; Mai.
! Daniel ]. Donovan, auditor of the Dis
trict of Columbia; John F. Victory. Sec
retary of the National Advisory Com
mittee for Aeronautics; Elwood Street,
| and Herbert L. Willett, jr, assistant di-
rector of the Community Chest.