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Letter to Editor
November 30, 1936
The Key West Citizen
Key West, Monroe County, Florida
What is this article about?
A letter to the editor expressing skepticism toward current charity appeals, citing mismanagement of World War I donations where organizations wasted funds on salaries and headquarters rather than aiding soldiers, except for the Salvation Army which provided genuine relief.
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OCR Quality
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Full Text
UNREQUITED CHARITY
Editor, The Citizen:
At this time of the year there are many appeals for "worthy" charities, especially by mail.
Sometimes, reading these high-pressure entreaties makes me a little sick, remembering as I do the way these same organizations handled large donations and subscriptions during the World War.
It was all giving on this side of the water, but the men in uniform got only a begrudged percentage of the benefits donated. Salaries and impressive "headquarters" came first. And these salaries paid to workers in the organizations were not on the scale approved by our WPA. They were "good money," and there was plenty of waste and negligence in the handling of the people's offerings. On the other side of the water I have seen soldiers buying the cigarettes and sundries that were supposed to be free. About the only charitable organization that survived the war without loss of reputation for genuine relief was the Salvation Army. As I remember it, one could get free coffee and cigarettes at a Salvation hut, nor were you obliged to "join". So that right now, when I see appeals for aid on expensive bond-paper I can not bring myself to reach very far into my jeans, remembering the time when high-pay and a good "front" was what our donations really provided, while what was left went to the poor and needy.
Editor, The Citizen:
At this time of the year there are many appeals for "worthy" charities, especially by mail.
Sometimes, reading these high-pressure entreaties makes me a little sick, remembering as I do the way these same organizations handled large donations and subscriptions during the World War.
It was all giving on this side of the water, but the men in uniform got only a begrudged percentage of the benefits donated. Salaries and impressive "headquarters" came first. And these salaries paid to workers in the organizations were not on the scale approved by our WPA. They were "good money," and there was plenty of waste and negligence in the handling of the people's offerings. On the other side of the water I have seen soldiers buying the cigarettes and sundries that were supposed to be free. About the only charitable organization that survived the war without loss of reputation for genuine relief was the Salvation Army. As I remember it, one could get free coffee and cigarettes at a Salvation hut, nor were you obliged to "join". So that right now, when I see appeals for aid on expensive bond-paper I can not bring myself to reach very far into my jeans, remembering the time when high-pay and a good "front" was what our donations really provided, while what was left went to the poor and needy.
What sub-type of article is it?
Persuasive
Social Critique
Reflective
What themes does it cover?
Morality
Social Issues
What keywords are associated?
Charity Appeals
World War Donations
Organizational Waste
Salvation Army
Soldier Relief
High Salaries
What entities or persons were involved?
Editor, The Citizen
Letter to Editor Details
Recipient
Editor, The Citizen
Main Argument
the writer is reluctant to donate to current charity appeals due to memories of world war i, when most organizations wasted donations on high salaries and impressive headquarters instead of providing direct aid to soldiers, unlike the salvation army which offered genuine, no-strings-attached relief.
Notable Details
Mentions World War Donations Mismanagement
Contrasts With Wpa Salary Scales
Soldiers Buying Supposed Free Items
Praises Salvation Army For Free Coffee And Cigarettes Without Obligation