Evening star., 1950-06-08
Citizen Meetinq
Votes 10 Push
Sing|eFundP|a
Merger Is Pressed
Despite Opposition
Of Several Charities

SlC 1OAlQ CdlilpdlBI lUI Lie WdSu-
ington area, despite refusals from
leading charities to agree to the
plan.
At the meeting in the District
Building the merger project was
bolstered by Endorsements from a
number of civic groups and busi-
ness leaders, but also encountered
these setbacks:
The Washington Heart Associa
ton announced it would be will
ing to join combined drive with
other national health agencies
but would not join any single,
overall drive such as that pro-
posed by merger leaders.
The District Division of the
American Cancer Society said that
under present national policy it
could not participate, but its pres
ident, in a letter, indicated some
change in policy may be sought
by the local group.
Plan Is Opposed.
A spokesman for the District
chapter of the American Red
Cross said "it is not contem-
plated" that the national Red
Cross will alter it's policy in such
way to permit the chapter to
participate in the proposed mer-
ger.
The Metropolitan Police Boys
Club. a major local fund raiser,
failed to send a representative
to the meeting and has made no
reply on the proposal, it was an
nounced.
The National Foundation for
Infantile Paralysis already has
rejected the plan.
The independent organizations
came under fire from some of
those attending the meeting
Jerome B. Mckee, president of
the Federation of Businessmen S
Associations. said citizens are not
satisfied with this situation and
predicted that merger will come
about here as it has already in
Detroit despite such opposition.
The viewpoint of the inde-
pendentS was defended, some
what Unexpectedly. by Col. Wes-
ley Vouterse. head of the Saliva
tion Army here. who said that
although his organization favors
the one-drive plan, there was a
danger of "entrenched power in
the hands of federated finance" J"
Luchs Hits Boys Club.
you've got lot of donors that
want their money to go to certain
places" he pointed out, and the
independents are conscious of a
responsibility to those donors and
their own causes Al
Frank j. Luchs, chairman of
the merger planning group,
sharply criticized the Metropolitan
Police Boys Club for failing to
reply.
One favorable reply was given
at today's meeting tentatively-a
spokesman for Goodwill Indus
tries said the group probably will
decide to join a united drive.
Walter S. Pratt, jr.. Cancer
division president, said in letter
to Mr.. Luchs yesterday that the
local cancer group "at the present
time" is bound by the policy of
the national society, which is not
in favor of such affiliation."
Stating, however. that the
national board was due to con-
slider such matters here and
elsewhere" at a meeting in New
York today he added:
1--WE are we'll aware that WASH
tngton presents a rather special
situation in view of the Govern
ment participation and other fac
tors. This may require that the
local problem will call for special
consideration by national"
Mr.. Pratt told The Star his
group has not yet decided what
action to take with regard to the
national organization, but he
added he hopes personally" that
some change of policy will be
possible.
To Review Entire Policy.
THE purpose of our letter was
to leave the matter open" he
explained. adding that he expects
to call the national Office tonior-
row to learn what decisions have
been reached.
An official at the New York
Office said yesterday the organi-
zation's entire policy on fund
raising will be reviewed. He SAID
1t is impossible to predict whether
any policy change will be au-
thoriZed.
Meanwhile, the Junior Chamber
of Commerce placed itself formal.
ly behind the merger plan TO-DAY
with resolution urging fund,
raising groups to unite and in
dorsing a move to obtain congress,
sional authorization for payrol
deductions for Government EN-.
ployes' donations.
Chamber President Paul Mat
thews, in a statement, declared
1T is my earnest hope that tn,
officials of the Federal and Dis
trict government and the leader
of business in Washington VIII,
have called for single fund-rais
ing Chest campaign will stant
fast against any pressures exerte,
to the contrary by several of tn
large national charitable groups
only by a single Communit,
Chest Embarrassing effort and tn
re-evaluation of the services ren
dered by the institutions nov
members of the United Commu
nifty Services can this communit
successfully carry on it's moral an
social obligations. he said.