Evening star., 1950-06-09
Health Groups
.MovetoMerge
Charity Drives
Heart Association
Offers Plan as Reply
To Single Fund PIeo

A move for a drive
merger among national health
groups here appeared to be
shaping up today as counter to
proposals for a single area char
ity drive.
The ArthMtis and Rheumatism
Foundation unit here, it was
learned, decided last night to
join a united health drive" pro-
viding it is supported by a ma
jority of the independent health
groups.
Yesterday the Washington
Heart Association proposed such
a drive in announcing its refusal
to join any single, overall drive
for all area charities.
Still another major health
group is considering a similar
move, it was learned, but has not
yet committed itself.
Opposition of the national health
groups is the stumbling block in
the way of organizing the one
package drive now being pro-
NOTED by group of civic leaders.
Health Groups Listed.
Besides the arthritis and heart
groups. the independents include
the National Foundation for In
fantile Paralysis. the American
Cancer Society, the District So
ciety for Crippled Children and
in a field somewhat apart from
health-the American Red Cross.
All have established national pol
icies of independence in seeking
funds, although both the polio
group and the Red Cross allowed
limited joint fund raising by their
units in Detroit last year.
A plan to permit joint solicita-
ton in industrial plants was SUBJ
mitted yesterday to the national
board of the cancer society in New
York. and this is due to be acted
on within a few weeks, it was
learned. If adopted it might per-
NIT a limited merger of the group
here, officers indicated.
Ward French, chairman Of the
arthritis unit. said his group is
willing to pitch in and try to
make a go" of an omnibus health
organization" here, but considers
a single, overall drive for aN
charities too remote" at pres
ent to indorse.
The groups participation in a
health drive would require per-
mission from the national organi-
cation. however. and leaders are
not acquainted with national
policy on the matter, Mr.. French
pointed out.
Single Drive Called premature"
The Heart Association yesterday
called the overall-drive plan pre-
mature" and proposed instead a
combined washington Health
and Research Fund" either as a
solution in itself or as a pro
gressive step toward an ultimate
solution" of the problem of COM
peting drives.
Leaders of the independent
groups indicated they feel the
community protest on the drive
situation demands some action on
their part. They object to the
single drive plan, however, be-
cause of doubt it would raise
enough money for all and fear
of Objectionable controls.
Meanwhile, proponents of an
overall merger today were seek
ing a Nationwide approach to
the problem.
A citizens meeting in the Dis
trict Building. voting yesterday
to continue the merger efforts,
agreed to seek help from some
national agency in asking a
change Of policy on the national
level by the baking organizations.
The Community Chests and
Councils of America, with which
the local Community Chest Fed
Grafton is affiliated, was sug-
gested.
Ralph H. Blanchard, executive
director of the national Chest
group. attended the meeting. but
he did not indicate whether his
organization would accept the
task.
Frank j. Luchs. chairman of an
"interim committee" sponsoring
the merger. said his group will
meet again next week to push its
one-drive plan "as fast as pos
sible." The effort will proceed
whether or not the independent
charities come in, he indicated.
Mayors Back Merger.
The mayors of Alexandria and
Hyattsville, several department
stores and other major firms and
several civic and business organi-
zations indorsed the merger move
yesterday.
Mayor Franklin P. Backus OF
Alexandria said in letter that he
considers the numerous separate
local Embarrassing drives increas-
ingly irksome to the charitable
minded citizens of the area" and
urged lone annual charitable do
nation"
Mayor Caesar Aiello of Hyatts-
vile said merger would be a great
blessing" in the county areas, al
lowing "all doorbell ringing to be
done at one time"