Evening star., 1951-10-15
Red Feather Appeal

The poster of the 1851 Red Feather cam
palgn shows mother and child standing
against a background of members of the armed
forces of the Nation. It is intended to symbolic
the fact that the drive is aimed in support of
the home front of our country in the present
phase Of its struggle to survive The active
backgrounds of Korea and the potential places
OF conflict in Europe represent one aspect of
Americas endeavor to maintain its leadership
OF civilization and the joint Community Chest
United Service Organizations drive represents
another. There probably never has been time
in our national history when there was such
great need for the agencies participating in the
current appeal. The demands now being made
upon them are the heaviest and the most urgent
they ever have known.
Most people understand the issue. They have
been educated to comprehend the utility of the
annual Red Feather campaign as a cooperative
Embarrassing enterprise, staged to the end that
money required in aid of the social, relief and
character building work of the collaborating
groups may be raised as quickly and with as
little waste as possible. Experience long ago
proved the wisdom of such procedure What has
not been SO completely established is the uni
versatility of the benefits it yields to the whole
community. Everybody, directly or indirectly,
J is advantaged by the Community Chest-U S. O.
association The service rendered by the more
than 100 agencies profits each individual man,
woman and child in the metropolitan area. It
follows that it is a duty as well as a privilege
for everybody to contribute.
Unfortunately in the past such mutuality of
support has not been forthcoming. This year
1t is particularly important that all who can give
should do so. Further, there is urgent need for
larger subscriptions than previously have been
solicited or received Imitation has hurt the Red
Feather agencies. Some of them have been
forced into budget compromises which seriously
have injured their efficiency Meanwhile, the
same influence has brought to the handicapped
groups an increased demand for help. They are
being asked to do more with less funds. If they
1ail, the fault is not exclusively their own. It
also may be traced to the neglect of the Com
mun1ty Chest-U. S. o. appeal by persons who
can afford to carry their share of the common
burden and yet do not do so. The 10000 VOL
unteer solicitors who begin ringing doorbells
today have been instructed to explain that each
resident Of the Washington Maryland Virginia
area is being approached as a neighbor who
realizes that the welfare of one is in effect, the
welfare of all. Each is urged to give more than
ever before because the need is greater
The total objective of this years drive is
$4050,0OO Considering that the population of
the metropolitan community is in excess of
SOdl is lIledSlDl6 OF dCCdlQme0C
Undoubtedly it will involve sacrifice on the part
OF many contributors Such is the price of fellow
ship. That it may bring blessings of commen-
surate value and significance will be the hope
and the prayer of every citizen of goodwill. The
Red Feather campaign of 1851 in this respect
conforms to the elemental principles of idealism
upon which America was founded-the prin-
cipleS of righteousness and justice, brotherhood
and mercy for which all of us necessarily strive
everywhere