Evening star., 1951-05-04
Fowler Urges
Consolidation
OfFund Drives
Number Above ReuIn
Of Reason, Welfare
Conference Told

by conducting too many separate
fund-raising campaigns, District
Budget officer Walter L. Fowler
warned today.
Speaking before a meeting 81
the second annual Health Wei
fare and Recreation Conference
at the Shoreham Hotel, Mr.
Fowler called for consolidation of
private charitable groups and {,
single appeal for all of them.
The District official declared
that the number of solicitations
is almost beyond the realm OF
reason" The demand on the pub
lie. he added, is not only "time-
consuming, but it is extremely
annoying to those solicited, for
it poses embarrassing situations
which are destructive of general
morale"
Each of these causes and
others are beseeching US for funds
in an almost constant stream
each demanding separate recogni-
ton plus contributions in sufficient
quantity" Mr.. Fowler continued.
Varied Techniques Used.
"The techniques they employ
vary from single requests to mul-
tiple solicitations and payroll de-
ductions. The hostility they en-
gender by lack of discretion in
the means of solicitation often
finds itself reflected in their in
ability to meet established goals
1T seems to me that both the
number and the means of solici-
tations should be re-examined
and re-evaluated by both the
private organizations participat-
ing and the various levels of gov
ernment, but particularly the
local governments
Governments activity, in direct
support of private charitable in
stitutions, should be kept at a
minimum, Mr.. Fowler said, "and
only when clear necessity for
governmental means is demon
strated should we dip into our
public Golfers"
He urged that the effort of
the charitable organizations be
aimed at the goal established
when the Community Chest was
first organized in the District
At that time, the citizens were
advised that there would be a
consolidation of charitable groups
and that there would be one
appeal for all"
Lose Sight of Objective.
Mr.. Fowler added that "it would
seem that we are losing sight of
that very splendid objective, and
1t is my opinion that unless we are
very careful, the activities of all
groups will be jeopardized.
The speaker called on churches
and fraternal organizations to play
a larger role in the field of private
charity.
At the same session, Kenneth D.
johnson, dean of the New York
School of Social Work, stressed the
need for preventive rather than
corrective efforts in the welfare
field.
I'm our efforts to make this a
better place in which to live for
all people" he said, "it has often
been a case of too little too late.
get impatient with people who
fail to see the absolute relation
between the solution of many of
our serious social problems and
the building of our national
strength" p"
Delegates attending a session on
child growth were advised of DR..
Samuel Wishik, director of the
Bureau of Child Health in New
York City, that "a parent has a
right to blow his top now and
then" when dealing with children.
No Perfect Parent.
Declaring that modern parents
lack confidence in themselves, DR..
Wishik said there is no such
thing as perfect person and a
perfect parent and he has a right
to make mistakes" No permanent
damage is done if a parent occa-
sionally yields to the temptation
to haul off and slap a child in
anger and then be sorry after
ward-but not too sorry" he said
District Welfare Director Gerard
M. Shea told another group that
national defense poses special
problems for the adolescent child,
especially girls.
Books and school will not hold
her interest" he said She Graves
the life of an adult"
This natural disturbance
coupled with the existence OF
many military encampments in
the District area naturally re-
suits in many adolescent girls
becoming camp followers" he
declared.
Conference Attracts 1000.
The same group heard criticism
of women in uniform from DR.
Lucille Allen, dean of women at
Cornell University.
"One of the gravest concerns to
a majority of young men is that
women shall not be in uniform, u
Dean Allen declared. Serious OBJ
lection is registered to women S
marching, to heavy training, to
maneuvers, to women in the motor
corps particularly, to uniforms that
were designed to flatter men, but
usually penalize women" She
added that mems objections
greatly influence attitudes on the
part of women
The one-day conference, spon-
sored by the United Community
Services, attracted nearly 2,00C
professional and volunteer workers
In the welfare field.
The luncheon was to be ad.
dressed by District Commissioner
Donohue and Leonard w. Mayo
director of the Association for the