Evening star., 1942-02-13
Chest Serving
A||Metropo|itan
Area Is Urged
Jennings Calls for
Single Compoien;
Trustees Elected

The Washington Com m unity
Chest must take the lead in estab-
fishing q Greater Washington War
Chest" to unite all welfare groups
in the Metropolitan Area that derive
their support from one annual drive
for funds, Coleman Jennings, Chest
president, told the annual meet
ing Of the organizations trustees
at the United States Chamber of
Commerce yesterday.
A slate of 236 trustees, half of
them contributor representatives
and the other half appointed by
the SO member agencies, was elected
to serve during the coming year.
The annual Chest financial report
vas presented by Treasurer John A.
Reilly. ItsshoWed receipts and dis
bursements balancing each other at
81 GOT ,545.62 in 1941, with $278, ,763 80
remaining on the books in uncol-
lected pledges.
Mr.. Jennings and Herbert L. Will
lett, jr., director of the Chest, ap-
pealed for a greater concentration
of public effort to meet the addi-
tional demands which the war is
bringing to agencies affliated with
the Chest.
Calls for Areas Unity.
In advocating establishment Of
Greater Washington War Chest, Mr..
Jennings said, las our civilian de-
fense plans wipe out the artificial
barriers between Washington and
nearby communities, 1t might seem
logical for our bordering Chests to
unite with Washington.
This is challenge to all of us
to forget differences and remember
that our community is overloaded
with responsibilities, he emphasized,
land we who call upon 1t for support
must be ready to present the most
economical plans In the time-con-
suming matters of Embarrassing"
Mr.. Willett paid tribute to the
work of John Clifford Folger as
chairman of last years successful
Chest drive which had started be-
fore war broke out December T. 1t
appeared at first. he said, as if the
war would prevent Chest workers
from achieving their objective. Mr..
Folger wouldn't let the drive STOP"
said the director. "and his report Of
December "a was our Christmas
present-we were over the top for
the first time in several years. Our
goal of $4,000, 900 was set in a year
when we did not know there would
be war.
THE Budget Committee is now
faced with the necessity Of curtailing
in some places so that more money
can be spent elsewhere" Mr.. Willett
said.
Urges Higher Average Gift.
To achieve better results, Mr..
Willett pointed out, Washington
needs higher average for each
contributor. The average of each
gift here over the past five years
has been $500, while other cities
have averaged $10.31. He attributed
this Ito the tremendous number Of
givers, compared to our total pop
ulation," a desirable situation which
nevertheless causes the average to
go down.
1--WE are fighting to defend our
way Of life on three lines" he said:
The worldwide battle line, on
sea, on land and in the air: the
far-flung supply line. along which
reinforcements of men and NUM-
tions surge forward to this battle
line, and the home line. in each
community, where the lives of the
people are lived.
THE mobilization of free men for
war on all fronts means complete
community mobilization to assure
that there shall be no break
through on the home line which will
endanger the battle lines or the
supply lines" Mr.. Willett said.
Mr.. Willett presided at the meet
ing yesterday, while Herbert ]. Rich,
acting chairman, reported for the
nominating committee.