Evening star., 1950-07-06
Civic Leaders
Defer Merger
OF Fund Drives
Luchs Committees
Action Confirmed at
Meeting Of Citizens

S1flC lCduCIS GOldy 0CClQCQ QC1l~
nitely to postpone any merger of
fund drives here until next year.
The action was taken at a
meeting at the District Building.
The three Commissioners were
present during the closing por-
ton.
The civic leaders followed the
recommendation, Of a planning
committee headed by Frank J..
Luchs, which was set UP in March
after similar meeting called by
Commissioner John Russell Young.
About 40 representatives Of busi-
ness, civic and Government or
ganizations were present.
Support Of Chest Urged.
The group also called special
attention to the forthcoming
Community Chest drive this fall,
urging citizens to show their sup
port for the idea Of federated
fund raising by oversubscribing
the Chest goal.
Herbert p. Leeman. president OF
the Federation Of Citizens Asso-
Citations. was the lone opponent Of
the groups action.
Mr.. Leeman said postponement
means you're right back where
you were before this committee
was appointed" About the Chest,
he declared:
'We can't close our eyes to-
criticism Of the people to some of
the agencies that compose the
Chest. You'll destroy your
prestige If you indorse the Chest
as 1t is"
Critic of Chest Assailed.
Mr.. Leeman came under fire for
his stand from Jerome B. Mckee,
president of the Federation of
Businessmen's Associations, who
declared:
81 don't feel Mr.. Leeman has a
right to speak for the federation
except as an individual"
Mr.. Mckee said he believed the
federation has Endorsed several
recent Chest drives and, recalling
that he was a member of COM
mittee of the federation which
criticized the Chest several years
ago, he said he wished to con-
gratulate the Chest for doing an
admirable job"
Acting without Instructions.
Mr.. Leeman, in answer to a
question from Mr.. Luchs. said he
was acting without instructions
from the citizens federation.
Refusing to change his vote, he
declared his action was based on
what I believe to be the citizens
wishes in the matter"
The citizens federation leader
predicted the groups action would
''injure" chest collections this fall.
Mr.. Young thanked Mr.. Luchs
and the other leaders for their eff
forts to solve the problem of COM
peting fund drives and expressed
hope that more progress will be
made next year.
District Budget Officer Walter L.
Fowler commended the group for
making "a great forward move
ment." He said he was confident
that District government employees
would go along with the post
ponement.
1.-THE employees are dissatisfied
but they don't expect miracles"
he declared.
Goodwill Backs United Drive.
Hugh K. Dufield, chest drive
chairman for this fall, warned
that If the chest campaign fails,
''you can write the death knell to
. the first united drive because it
will prove people won't support a
united campaign" Referring to
Mr.. Leeman.s statement, he as
serted it was dangerous" for the
group to criticize the chest. The
chest has made much progress in
the last two years and has over
whelming business support, he
said.
The Defense Department plans
to consolidate all drives except the
Community Chest and Red Cross
on its own initiative. even though
the community isn't attempting
an overall merger this year, Col.
Everett Butler. a department off,
cial, announced.
MIR. Lucas reported that the
Goodwill Industries has agreed to
join q. united drive. This group,
which has $4,000 annual cam
paign, is the first to agree to the
idea.