Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-09-26
ROOSEVELT ALTERS
STAND ON CHARITY
Chest Drives Are Spurred
by His Change on
F. Corporations.
by DAVID LAWRENCE.


President Roosevelt told the Amer
lean people at one time early in his
administration that If he were mis-
taken about a public policy he would
be the first to acknowledge that mis-
take.
The nearest the President has come
TO an observance Of that promise came
this week. And because it is perhaps
an indication Of the readiness OF MI.
Roosevelt to concede that he has been
mistaken, in some particulars at least
the incident takes on real importance.
It was only this past Summer wnen'
In talking with press correspondents
MIR. Roosevelt said he believed many
CORPORATIONS made contributions to
charitable agencies just because they
wanted to buy good will" This re-
mark raised a storm OF protest, as
did also the Presidents insistence
that corporate gifts to charity should
not enjoy deduction as a legitimate
expense in computing net income.
Disappointment Widespread.
From men and women prominent
In charitable work in all parts OF the
country came expressions OF dlsap-
monument and resentment over the
Presidents viewpoint. Congress found
1t necessary in recognition Of this
sentiment to disregard the Presidents
recommendation and to allow instead
q limited deduction for corporate gifts.
But as the time came for the an
nual mobilization of Human Needs
Conference the effect Of Mr.. Roose-
velt's pronouncement still ranked in
the breasts of the social workers. Some
of them thought the Presidents at
titude might discourage many cor
porations from giving money, since
the latter might contend that if their
motives were going to be questioned
they would prefer not to give at all.
The representatives of Community
Chests and other groups interested in
philanthropic work had made 1t clear
that they believed corporations owed
1t to the communities in which they
lived to support the persons who need
ed charity. Thus survey OF the peo-
pie receiving benefits in Cleveland a
few years ago showed a large pro-
portion had once been or still were
on pay rolls of corporations which
could not themselves build hospitals
for their own employees or other vel
fare agencies and which naturally felt
an obligation to contribute to the
support of their own agencies almost
ss a direct expense of their businesses
1t is interesting, therefore, to ex-
anime the words of Mr.. Roosevelt's
speech to the welfare workers assem-
bled in Washington this week: THE
task of private welfare" he said, "has
become increasingly great as industrial
life Greats new problems of commu-
nifty living. Such support must come
from all those whose developments
have accentuated the congestion and
the problems of community life.
Owe Community Sums.
"They owe the community very
substantial sum for the maintenance
of community welfare services. Such
gifts should be, and am confident will
be, based on the sound motive of help
ing those within the community who
need all kinds Of help and better liv-
ing conditions.
Today there is not word of crow
ing from the welfare people about the
way they persuaded the President to
change his mind and publicly by his
words to acknowledge his error. But
At is nevertheless interesting to note
that Mr. Roosevelt was open to persua-
sion and did reverse himself within the
short space of less than three months,
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