Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-01-12

Would Embrace Drives
For Home and Abroad,
With Red Cross Separate
President Roosevelt today ap-
proved plans for organization OF
a National War Fund" to COM
bine into one united campaign
next October the money raising
activities of Community Chests
and major war relief agencies.
The only other national appeal
for funds In connection with war
relief will be made by the Red Cross
in March.
The plan approved by the Presi-
dent would put on a Nationwide
basis the united appeals for funds
conducted in Washington last fall
by the Community War Fund and
by similar combinations Of organi-
cations in several other cities.
Banker to Head Trustees.
Winthrop Aldrich, New York
banker, will head the organization
of small group of trustees to
project the national plan, according
to report to Mr.. Roosevelt by JOS
eph E. Davies, chairman of the War
Relief Control Board.
Mr.. Davies emphasized that the
national organization would merely
provide the general framework"
for the united campaign. with the
various local Community Chests
and other relief organizations to
play their full part in carrying out
the campaign.
In formal statement making
public Mr.. D&vies' report, Mr.. Roose-
welt said:s
Il am glad to approve Of the
report. Of the War Relief Control
Board. I note with special salts
faction the provision for the wide
participation in planning and oper-
alton Of this enterprise which
makes it far more than just another
campaign.
"a Sees Aid to Unity.
cit will contribute greatly to our
unity, enthusiasm and power in
the war effort when 1t joins our
concern for our own men and
women in the service. our support
for our fighting Allies and the ma
tons in chains and our determine
| ton to hold the lines on the home
front.
This clears away any national
drives which might compete with
the most important Red Cross cam
paign in March"
The text OF Mr.. Davies report to
the President follows:
I'VE beg leave to report that since
the organization of this body 1t has
been our effort to reduce the num-
Der of war relief drives addressed
to the public. This cuts down over
head and other costs in money, re-
leases the strain on community lead
ership arising from many campaigns
and eliminates the irritation and
confusion of constant requests for
funds.
Organizations Contacted.
an this objective we have been
measurably successful.
Under the executive order Great
ing the present board We were
charged to also regulate and CO.
ordinate the times of the various
Embarrassing appeals and the
amounts thereof. Pursuant to this
policy and under this instruction
we initiated discussions with the
United Service Organizations, the
Community Chest Councils, the rep
resentatives of certain State war
chest organizations, as we'll as the
major foreign relief organizations.
las a result thereof we are able
to report that they have all agreed
to the advisability of the organiza-
ton Of a National War Fund which
will conduct a united campaign ap-
peal to take place in October, 1913,
and which will replace the various
separate campaigns for these pur-
poses.
THE board asked Winthrop AID
rich Of New York to undertake to
bring together a small group of
organizing trustees to project this
plan. We are glad to report that
when Mr.. Aldrich was advised that
our request was supported by your
personal hope that he would under
take this work he agreed to do so.
While this organization would
provide the general framework for
the accomplishment of our objec-
tive, namely, the reduction of ma
tional appeals to two, that Of the
Red Cross in March and that of
the National War Fund, we wish to
make 1t clear that in no sense Is
this organization suggesting a cam
paign imposed either by the Gov
eminent or by this group OF indi-
viduals.
These organizing trustees are
simply the focal point from which
the 48 States, the 600 Community
Chest cities and the many unor-
ganized counties are to be ap-
preached in the formation Of a
central and national voluntary and
civic organization. The goal to be
agreed on and the detailed plans Of
organization await the addition to
these trustees of other outstanding
citizans and the creation OF large
and representative advisory. and
sponsoring committee for the cam
paign. =
To Provide Local Autonomy.
"The maximum Of State and local
autonomy consistent with the ef-
fective functioning Of q united ma
tional effort is expected in this plan,
which affords opportunity for the
| generous support Of our men In uni
/