Evening star., 1942-04-24
Board Of Trade
Backs United
Chest Plan
Officers Authorized
To Pursue Joint
Fund Compoign

~ otSoS SVtut
Fund Compoign
Plans for establishment In Wash.
ington OF q united war chest" COM
bining into q single drive the sep
arate fund campaigns of the Com
munity Chest, American Red Cross,
United Service Organizations and
possibly other agencies. were project
ed last night at meeting of the
Board Of Trade.
BY q voice vote. the several hun
dred board members gathered in
the Mayfiower Hotel ballroom unan-
imously pledged their support to the
principle of united campaign after
hearing Charles G. Cabot, chairman
Of the Greater Boston United War
Fund for 1943. describe the ad-
vantages Of combining wartime
appeals.
Immediately afterward, President
Fred A. Smith of the trade board
disclosed that arrangements have
been made for q mass meeting OF
civic leaders on May 8 at the Cham
ber Of Commerce of the United
States to determine whether or not
the community wants q united war
chest. He announced that the
proposal has been under study for
some time and was approved recently
by the boards Executive Committee.
10 Directors Elected. =
Last nights meeting was marked
BY the election of 10 new directors
and the annual report OF Mr.. Smith,
who was presiding over the final
session of his administration
Mr.. Cabot. 42-year-old attor-
ney. who headed the Metropolitan
Division Of Boston's highly success
ful United War Fund campaign for
1912 and then was chosen general
chairman for the 1943 drive, told
the gathering how the Boston Conn
munity Fund and Its ais agencies,
the Red Cross, the United Service
Organizations and the local Soldiers
and Sailors Recreation COMMITTEES
pooled their efforts and raised a
total OF $7,700. 900, exceeding their
goal by 100000.
In this time of war" he said. mo
one has many spare moments and
the time-saving factor is the most
compelling reason for such united
war funds"
He warned, however, that TO make
the venture success, the partici-
pating groups must set aside petty
1eaiousies and petty pride and view
the problem from the standpoint of
what Is best for the community as
whole.
Community Backing Essential.
voicing hope that washington
would inaugurate q united war chest.
Mr.. Cabot said there was no reason
why this could not be done here,
but. he added, that it must have the
backing Of the entire community
and its leaders and 1t must have a
trained professional stan to guide
the work.
The Boston drive was successful
not only because 1t met these re-
Quirements, but because it had ()
something to sell that was worth
selling, ca good publicity and CD
people to sell 1t. The plan has the
advantages, too, Of saving money In
overhead expenses, and, even more
important, he said, 1t produces a
new feeling of unity and patriotism
In the community.
The Boston campaign was worth
far more than the $7,7o0 900 it pro-
duced," Mr.. Cabot said. THE spirit
of unity and patriotism that devel-
oped was almost unbelievable. Ev-
erybody was vitality interested be-
cause 1t came after Pearl Harbor.
and they were itching to do some
thing. Here was something they
could put their teeth into, and there
was a lift that you could feel all
over the city"
In pledging their support, the
trade board members approved q
motion by James e. Collifiower, au-
thorizing the officers Of the organ
ization ito take the necessary steps
to effect the establishment OF q
united war chest"
Morris Among Speakers.
The board also heard a report
from Edgar Morris, chairman of the
Greater National Capital Commit
tee, and several other speakers on
the activities Of the unit in meeting
wartime needs. Speakers included j.
Martin Emerson of the travel Sec
ton Of the War Production Board,
Dean Elmer Louis Keyser of
George Washington University. Ar
thur j. Harnett, secretary of the
hotel association; B. M. McKelway.
managing editor of The Star, and
E. D. Merrill, president Of the Cap
ital Transit Co., who Is chairman
of the committees 1912 fund cam
paign Mr. Merrill reported that the
amount to be sought this year viii
be smaller than In previous years
because of curtailment Of the pro-
motion of tourist and convention
trade. He urged support Of the CAM
paign.
New directors elected for the
coming year were w. Crosdale
Wits, G. J. Mack, Thomas J. Groom,
Leon Chatelain. jr.: John Saul, M.
L. Langford, Charles H. Tompkins,
Thornton w. Owen. Marcy L. Sperry
and George E. Keneipp. They will