Evening star., 1947-01-21
Letters to The Star.
A Key Man in the Chest Suggests
Friendly Investigation

A Key Man in the Chest Suggests
Friendly Investigation
To the Editor Of Tn. Star:
AS one who has served as keyman
for the Community Chest, thank you
for your excellent editorial OF Saturday
on the Chest.
I think that friendly investigation
would be welcomed by the ofncers of
the Community Chest, for it seems to
me that it is altogether possible that
they have yielded to pressure groups
in taking member agencies under their
wing. Some of the member agencies
seem to me to be little more than clubs
and far removed from giving aid to
those in want.
When the last drive for funds was
tagging, The Star gave us narrowing
details of what would happen to the
hungry, the homeless, and the bed
ridden if the Chest did not meet its
estimated requirements. That was en-
tirely proper. However, I think that
many people thought that the Chest
was not putting first things first and
had spread itself thin in accepting re-
sponsibility for supporting altogether
too many agencies.
quite agree that every agency listed
can make a good case for support, and
that it would seem the part of wisdom
for the Chest to be benevolent rather
than risk antagonizing influential
groups. The Chest has no means of
sounding public opinion, and, un-
fortunately, it is the unexpressed public
opinion that does more harm than good.
have visited the Chest headquarters
and it's appointments suggest that it is
the headquarters of poverty. The atti-
tude of the personnel convinces one
that it is also the headquarters of
charity.
Perhaps we are of the opinion that
the Chest has been too generous If
it is given the opportunity of doing so
1t may make it plain that we have been
short-sighted and stingy.
A friendly investigation will give the
Chest the much needed opportunity of
stating its case without being accused
of blowing its horn, of having its hands
strengthened in dealing with pressure
groups, and of making it clear that
it is not detached business group very
businesslike in raising money but not
quite businesslike in passing it out to
any one who asks for it.
cannot appraise every need. I can
not pretend that have been trained
to give wisely. I know that when I
give for Gods sake am also giving
for my own sake. However, I would
like to be reassured that when I give
to the Chest I also give wisely, and
that the people The Star begged for
are taken care of. SIGMA.
Favors Daylight Saving
To the Editor of TAe star
l want to add my personal plea, or
vote, for daylight saving for Washing
ton. I see that it is being advocated by
8 good many organizations, and I was
glad to read your editorial on the sub
ject few days ago.
I wish that on questions such as this
there could be some sort Of referendum
held, so that great many individuals
not reached through organizations
might express their wishes
MRS. DOROTHY P. URBAN,
Wants Charges Checked
To the Editor of The Star
Your editorial, "Mr. Shafer's Attack
strongly disparages the serious charges
made by Congressman Paul Shafer
against Dean Acheson and William L.
Clayton. You stated: "The reckless
I nature OF this attack is the more pro-
nounced because of the high caliber of
its victims"
Mr.. Shafer's original charges. like
many others. were made on the floor of
Congress and as such, understand. are
not actionable under law for redress
by Its victims" Since then, however,
MIR. Shafer has repeated them on the
radio and elsewhere. That makes the
issue more clear.
The situation typifies many others
which have confused the public mind
and resulted in public suspicion and
distrust of both Congressman and those
in high public Office, except that in this
case the issues are more clearly drawn
than usual
If Mr.. Skaters charges are untrue
why do not Mr. Acheson and Mr.. Clay
ton take legal steps to clear their
names? If they are true, why does not
Congress or the proper Government
department start action to bring out
fka 80 n
Oldtime Bars Coming Back?
To the Editor of The Star:
The District of Columbia has a way
Of leading the Nation in lofty thinking
just now our public officials are debat-
ing the question whether man can
get drunken sitting down or standing
up. The present regulations prohibiting
the sale of liquor by the glass except
to persons seated at tables was designed
to prevent the return of the disgraceful
old bar of saloon days. The only good
thing that can be said about the terribly
loose liquor situation here is that we
have no bars. But apparently we are
to have them. Already We have the
greatest per capita liquor consumption
in the United States.
Make no mistake about it-this is
drive to get the old bars back. Most Of
those who want the bars don't care q
picayune whether a man gets drunk
sitting down or standing up. Their aim
is to sell liquor. and they feel they
can sell much more of it with bars.
Modern bars are even worse than the
old ones because men and women drink