Evening star., 1942-10-09
Government Leaders
So
In War Fund Drive
Predict Success
Emphosize 'AII-Out'
Effort Will Be Needed;
Irving Berlin Speoks
Pictures on Page B-I.)

Pictures on Page B-1)
Conviction that the 1043 Com
munity War Fund drive for $4,141, 900
would 60 over the top was expressed
by speakers at mass meeting of
men and women who will conduct
the campaign among the some 3OO,-
600 Government workers last night
In the Federal Reserve Building
cafeteria.
Each speaker emphasized, how
ever, that the drive will demand
ulnceasing effort on the part of the
campaieners. The campaign gets
under way October 20 and extends
through November IS. The Govern
ment employees share of the total
budget is approximately $2,000,000
The meeting had brief appearances
OF Irving Berlin, producer of This
Is the Army" and Sergt. Ezra Stone,
radios Henry Aldrich" and now a
star of the soldier stage show.
Little Sacrifices by Comparison.
Introduced by 1t. Col. Curtiss
Mitchell. Mr.. Berlin said that while
raising the budget will be a hard
job. the worthy causes of the fund
give it exclusive selling points
Financial sacrifice, he continued, is
little in comparison with sacrifices
being made by the men in service.
Sergt. Stone declared that all, re-
eardless of personal sacrifice. must
be obsessed with a great, answering
resolve to make the campaign sue
cessful
The meeting marked the initial
appearance of the official 1943 cam
paign poster, a composite picture
depicting those receiving benefits of
the War. Fund on both the battle
front and the home front.
Floyd D. Akers, general campaign
chairman. said the drive is chal-
lenge to Washington leadership that
must and will be met Through this
campaign. he continued, Washing
ton Is presenting to the public an
opportunity to contribute to some
40 social and welfare organizati tions
military as well as civilian, in one
lump sum.
Facilities for Servicemen.
With the drives funds, he said
Washington will better equip itself
to provide suitable and adequate IA
clllties for servicemen here in transit
or for a holiday. The Capital, he
said, each week end faces a problem
OF caring for these men who come
to the city by the thousands for
entertainment and relaxation from
strict service routine.
The city also is responsible for
organization of civilian clubs to pro-
vide diversion for men and women
who have come to the Capital to
take over Government jobs for the
duration.
Every dollar spent this year will
be for a worthy cause and the
savings in manpower by concen-
trating all drives into one effort is
another favorable factor, Mr.. Akers
said.
Some Of the early individual gifts
so far this year. he continued have
been increased from 300 to 1000 per
cent over last year. He stated that
contributions must come from at
least 100000 Of Washington mil
lion-plus population and that it was
the job of the campaign workers to
see that this type of support was
forthcoming. The drive does not
call for IAN average job" he said,
but AN all-out effort"
Oscar l.. Chapman, Assistant Sec
retary of the Interior, said that new
comers to the Capital have a civic
obligation to support the campaign
inasmuch as they derive the benefits
Of many of the services supported
by the fund.
Gates Speaks for Navy.
Assistant Secretary OF Navy Gates
regarded last nights turnout as a
revelation Of the spirit that prevails
for this campaign. He predicted
that the Navy Department, repre-
senting about 10 per cent of the
Government personnel, would be
thoroughly canvassed.'
Herbert L. Willett, jr.. executive
director of the fund. and James "
Bennett. director of Federal prisons.
who Is chairman of the Government
workers group. followed the same
trend in advising the meeting Of
their part in the drive.
Announcements concerning the
War Fair Committee, which will be
held at UIine Arena, Third and M
streets NE. from October % to 30.
were made by Bruce r. Allen, chair
man of the Fair Committee. Motion
pictures OF some Of the services un-
derwritten by the fund concluded
the program. Literature on the
agencies receiving benefits Of the
drive was distributed.