Evening star., 1933-11-29
Dern, Morgenthau and 0'Ma.
honey Ask Units to Bear
Their Share of Burden.
CITY'S NEEDY FACE DIRE
OUTLOOK OVER HOLIDAY
5000 Grim Volunteers Fight Va.
liantly to Wipe Out Deficit
Of Almost S750,0O0.

A last-ninute appeal for a generous
response by Federal employees in the
flnal stages Qf ht Community Ghf0t
campaign for $1,s45 900 was issued to-
day by heads of the War. Treasury
and Post Once Departments
Secretary of War Dern, Acting Sec
retary of the Treasury Morgenthau and
Assistant Postmaster General O'Ma-
honey sent special letters to their de-
the employees in the drive, which ends
tonight.
The letters pointed out the Govern
mental unit has subscribed but small
percentage of its quota, and asked that
Federal workers assume their proper
share Of the burden for relief of the
city's needy. Copies of the letters
were sent to Campaign Chairman
Frank J. Hogan.
Dern Urges Help.
Secretary Dern called attention Of
War Department employees to the fact
no payments on Chest pledges are re-
quired before January !, and the
workers have the entire year in which
to complete their payments.
Il desire" Secretary Dern said, "the
chiefs of bureaus and services bring to
the attention of their entire personnel
the condition which confronts the
Chest, with the hope that many VINO
have not yet made their pledges may
do so Immediately and that perhaps
some who have made pledges may feel
able to increase them"
While thousands Of families were
making preparations for their annual
Thanksgiving feast tomorrow, a pathe-
tic host of underprivileged men, women
and children awaited anXiously the out
come Of the campaign-their sole hope
Of happiness in 1884.
Fully cognizant of the grave plight
conforming the city's crippled, inflrm
and hungry citizens unless $l,945, 900
is raised before conclusion OF the drive
tonight, an army Of 5000 grim-visaged
volunteers fought valiantly today to
wipe out a deficit of nearly s750.000.
Although they realized the task was
an almost impossible one. the indomi-
table campaigners. urged on by Cam
paign Chairman Hogan and his tire
less staff, refused to admit defeat.
They hoped that by some miracle
today they would be able to send the
mercy fund lover the top" when final
returns are reported at closing rally
tonight in the Washington Auditorium.
The last count of pledges, late yes
terday, placed the total at 81 ,204, ,634.73.
The climacteric returns-determinin
success or failure of this years drive
will be reported by leaders of the four
divisions at tonight's meeting, which
will begin at o'clock with an informal
box supper" for the faithful workers.
Preceding the meeting there will be a
half-hour concert by the Marine Band.
with vocal numbers by the George
Washington University and telephone
company quartetS.
A radio program dedicated to the
Community Chest and its 60 member
agencies was broadcast last night over
Station WJSV, with Kate Smith, Wash
ington's own songbird, acting as mistress
of ceremonies and the principal talk
being made by Right Rev. James E.
Freeman. Bishop of Washington. The
program was arranged by Miss Smith
as personal tribute to the Chest OF
her home city, and she brought TO the
program not only her own stage show
but other radio stars as well.