Evening star., 1944-07-29
Deckman Defends
Action in Criticizinq
Housing Association
Federation Offieiol Soys
Charges Of Using Chest
Funds Not Refuted

Joseph H. Deckman today defend
ed his action of charging the WASH
tngton Housing Association with
distributing misleading and anony-
nous literature on housing through
the use of Community Chest funds.
Mr.. Deckman, who as chairman
of the Federation of Citizens Asso-
citation Committee on Housing and
Rent Control, has waged an unre-
lenting fight against public hous-
ing, issued statement declaring his
charge had not been refuted. He
also denied that the Federation had
criticized or asked for an investiga-
ton of the Community Chest. His
statement follows:
THE recent disclosure by this
committee that the Washington
Housing Association operates en-
tirely on funds donated through the
Community Chest and was using
those funds to propagandize for
public housing seems to have been
confirmed by the defensive state
ments issued to the press by various
individuals.
Calls Material Misleading.
"The facts contained in the Fed
Grafton letter cannot be refuted.
Examination of the literature,
mailed in plain envelopes, will show
the sender was unidentified, and
that the material is highly mac
curate and, hence, misleading.
The Federation recognizes the
right of all groups to express their
opinions. 1t objects to the dis
tribution of misleading factual
material, either in an anonymous
manner or under the cloak of a
charity enterprise.
The Federation letter neither
criticized the Community Chest nor
asked for any investigation. Ac-
ton of other organizations in this
regard should not be confused with
our efforts to present the facts for
the guidance of those who want 4e
facts. @
The Federation committee will
rest on the record"
The Southeast Council of Citizens
Associations, not the Federation,
adopted resolution calling for the
severance of the housing association
from the chest, Mr.. Deckman said
AS for an investigation of himself
or his committee, demanded yester-
day by the recently organized Cit
liens Council on Community Plan
ming, he said: They have only to
look at the minutes of the last Fed
Grafton meeting to find that I was
given unanimous approval to in
vestigate the source of the anony-
nous literature mailed to delegates" +"
Association Investigated.
Herbert L. Willett, executive di-
rector Of the Community Chest. said
he did not receive the Southeast
Councils resolution until yesterday.
He said, in reply, he would point out
that the association had been duly
investigated and admitted to mem
bership in the Chest.
Mrs. Charles H. Hagerty, secretary
Of the Southeast Council, said it was
regrettable that the resolution was
not mailed sooner but that she had
not hat time to do so. Mrs Hagerty
said h,r work as council secretary
must be done after office hours, that
copies must be made for all dele
gates to the council and association
presidents, and she had no clerical
help.
The Washington Housing Associa-
ton yesterday gave The Star copies
of the material that was mailed to
Federation delegates and association
presidents. The Introductory letter,
Have You Heard Both Sides of the
Story" bore no signature or mark
identifying its source.
A statement by Maj. Gen. U. S.
Grant III, before the Burton Senate
subcommittee on housing several
months ago, bore the association S
rubber-stamped title and address,
but Harry Wender, Federation presi-
dent, said the material he received
was unsigned.
At the housing association ONCE
1t was said that two patches" of the
material had been mimeographed
and 1t was not remembered whether
or not the first letters mailed bore
the rubber stamp identification.
For the bond drive you have an
S-card and the speed limit is off.
Drive now and stem m IL