Evening star., 1940-02-12
Most Gifts 10 Help
Films Are Small /,
Dr.. Walsh Asserts
Chuirmun Corrects FuIse
Impression Campaign
Is 'High-Hot'

The greatest percentage of dona-
tions to the cause of Finnish relief
has been in small gifts, the Rev. DR..
Edmund A. Walsh, chairman OF the
Washington Unit of the Finnish
Relief Fund, said last night in cor
recting certain false impressions"
that the campaign is confined
largely to society circles and '.high-
hat festivals"
Denying that the Finnish Relief
Fund drive has been removed from
the man in the street. DR.. Walsh
said.
7 deem sita duty based on my
personal observations and my own
direct experience with contributors
edeny asphAtically and repndiate.
any such attempt to dry 1p the
source OF human charity BY state-
ments which, If not malicious, are
entirely arbitrary and in contradic-
ton with the realities.
Since assuming the chairman
ship of the drive insthe District of
Columbia I have witnessed one of
the most touching responses to .
great cause that has yet occurred in
the United States. Our records,
which are open to all contributors
to consult, will show that large do
nations have been relatively small
and the great percentage Of entries
range from Is cents upward. They
show a vast number of 50 contribu-
tions, 81 contributions, So, IS and $40
contributions.
Million in 81 Gifts.
This type of assistance occupies
the major space in our records. I
have just looked over some $50 en-
tries and find only II over 500.
Not only is this true of Washing
ton, but the audited records of the
national headquarters in New York
will show that over one million dol
lars were contributed in sums of one
dollar each. It was precisely this
magnificent response from the man
in the street which induced some
of the leading industrialists and
bankers to assure the authorities
charged with the campaign that in
dustrial and banking circles re-
garded it as challenge to them
to go and do likewise among those
of greater means. They have pro-
missed to duplicate the first million
contributed by the man in the
street.
Moreover, the American Fedora
ton Of Labor has received the en-
thusiastic support of hundreds upon
hundreds of local unions in a pro-
gram designed to raise money pre-
cisely from the man in the street,
from the man at the forge, from
the man in the factory.
Gable Of Gratitude Sent.
II am sure that Zero A. Vuori.
president of the Finnish Federation
Of Trade Unions, will not agree,
from the field of battle, that the
Finnish Relief Fund, Inc, has fallen
into soft hands in Washington or
elsewhere. This authentic spokesman
for the man in the street recently
sent a cable of gratitude to the
Finnish Relief Fund, Inc, in answer
to the heartening news that Amer
lean workers are contributing so
widely and generously for the de-
fense Of his homeland. President
William Green of the American
Federation Of Labor has set mag
nificent example in organizing the
ranks of labor in support of this
movement and the Finnish Fedora
ton of Labor has taken cognizance
Of the wide penetration Of this
movement into every social class in
the United States.
"Our largest single source Of in
come during the last month in
Washington was the benefit per-
Torrance of Gone With the Wind,
which netted over $4,000. This was
open to all classes in Washington
at prices in accordance with their
means, and all classes responded in
perfectly astonishing manner. The
two simple wedding rings brought
into this Office by, one contributor
with the hope that we would con-
vert them into funds are symbols
Of the widespread response from al
categories of our people In the
present emergency. The deluge Of
letters I have, received With small
sums irclnsed justify me In saying
thasthis latest attempt to obstruct
the greatest popular response on