Evening star., 1932-11-13
They Ask-We Must Give.

A member of the Community Chest
campaign organization, the value OF
whose work is recognized in his designa-
ton as a key man." sincerely ques-
tions the desirabllity Of including some
twenty constituent organizations in this
wears appeal-these organizations de-
voting themselves to forms CT relief
other than the supply of food, clothing
and the bare essentials OF living. The
same issue no doubt has been raised
in every city that has adopted the
Community Chest method Of united
appeal and united giving and the same
issue has been discussed in these col
unns. 1t is worth while taking it up
again.
The fundamental idea behind the
Community Chest organization is to
unite appeals Of all organizations de-
pendent upon private charity or phi
lanthropy for their support. A condi-
ton of membership in the Chest or
SANITATION is the submission Of yearly
budgets to the Chest authorities, who
cut them to the bare needs, thus
eliminating the traditional waste, dupli-
cation and overhead expense character
istic Of unorganized and independent
appeals to the community. Some OF
these organizations may be the pet
philanthropies," so to speak, Of many
good men and women. Until we reach
that happy cay when all men and all
women will agree on the correct appH-
cation CT philanthropy some forms OF
philanthropy will always be regarded
by some persons as unnecessary.
Granting the hnpossibility of seeing the
dawn of that happy day at any time
in the near future, it should likewise
be grented that the Community Chest
is the most practical step yet taken
toward fastening its manifest bless
ings. AS there will never be unanimity
o. opinion On what agencies should
constitute the Chest, we must either
accept the principle of the Community
Chest or dispense with it. The latteF
alternative, Of course, is not to be &C.
riously considered.
But in one way this is all beside the
point. The supporters of the Chest have
the privilege and they should exercise
it, of specifying the use to which their
money is to be put. Those Of us who
feel a special interest in the work Of
some organization may designate that
organization as beneficiary of our con-
tribution. This should certainly meet
the objections, occasionally voiced, to
the inclusion of some organizations in
the Community Chest.
But, again, is this not also beside the
point? Intelligent criticiSso Of the Chest
Is welcome, and If the Chest could not
stand criticism it could not hope to
survive. But is the time for criticism
particularly opportune? We of Wash
ington are facing Winter that prom
Ises grievous distress to men and women
and children. But for the grace of God,
those of us who are now called on for
help would be among those who are
now SO dependent on help. Can we re-
fuse them? Can we refuse them by
interposing doubts as to whether this
organization should do that, or that
one do this?
The Chest appeal this year is beau
tiful in its simplicity-"Give us this
day our daily bread" The Community
Chest makes the appeal to Washington
on behalf of the thousands who suffer,
the men and women, the children. the
babies. It Is through the Community
Chest that Washington will respond
The Chest is merely the machinery.
For the immediate present, objections
to its shape or size might be reserved
until 1t has functioned, as it Will do
efficiently, for the relief Of those who
suffer. For our objections hurt only
those who hunger and ask for bread.
The Chest can defend itself. They
cannot.
-S@&eN-S-