New York Federation is to Seek $5,000,000 Fund

A plan for intensified personal solicitation by members of the various trade groups of the New York Federation for the Support of Jewish Philanthropic Societies instead of the campaign methods generally employed in money-raising efforts, was outlined by William Goldman, chairman of the executive committee of the Business Men’s Council, at a dinner meeting Thursday night at the Plaza Hotel.

Arthur Lehman, associate chairman, presided at the dinner meeting in the absence of Percy S. Straus, chairman of the Council, who sailed Thursday morning on the Mauretania.

Higher standards in philanthropic work have more than offset any savings in costs due to prosperity within recent years, Dr. Solomon Lowenstein, executive director of the Federation for the Support of Jewish Philanthropic Societies, stated to the two hundred men present at the meeting which was called to approve quotas totalling $4,924,840 alloted by the Federation to its ninety-one constituent agencies for the current year.

“The newer social service program,” declared Dr. Lowenstein, in analyzing the record of our relief agencies shows that we are eliminating to a greater and greater extent the second-generation pauper.”

Sol M. Stroock, president of the Federation, stated that payments by Federation to its agencies for 1927 have already exceeded its income. “Federation,” he said, “already has been compelled to borrow $345,000 above its receipts. In previous years, an appeal was made by the Federation in the fall to make further borrowing unnecessary and to pay off debts already contracted. This year we rely on you workers and on your co-workers to raise this supplementary sum without the ballyhoo of a campaign.”

Mr. Stroock declared that the Federation has reason to expect $3,429,289 in regular recurrent subscriptions and that the balance must be secured in new gifts. “Only by securing regular subscriptions in constantly increasing amounts,” he added, “can the Federation stabilize its position.”

The men invited to last night’s meeting are leaders in philanthropic work in their industries and it is through them that Federation maintains contact with its workers in every field of activity. The address by Dr. Lowenstein included a comparative statement of philanthropic work today and twenty-five years ago, when he entered the New York field.

Dr. Lowenstein pointed out that twenty-five years ago, in the field of child care, mere shelter was regarded as sufcient. A more enlightened attitude today provides for advanced education and other advantages, a program costing more money, but resulting in greater good for the community’s children. In the field of family welfare, the family in distress is no longer given merely immediate, palliative assistance, but is regarded as a solved problem until the family can be placed back on a normal footing along with its neighbors.

“In every field.” said Dr. Lowenstein, “the old, illogical arbitrary standards are gone. It is recognized that it is not necessary to disgrace the families in order to help them. This makes for higher costs, but brings with it greater returns.”

The speaker declared that tremendous sums are now required for social service which was not at all touched in years gone by. “To do preventive work among boys and girls in danger of becoming court cases,” he said “it is necessary to spend thousands of dollars annually.

“The new immigration laws have not lessened poverty. The fact that immigrants are not allowed to come into the country does not mean that the number of hospital beds has decreased, nor does it mean that the number of children needing the care of orphanages and boarding-out homes has diminished.”

S. D. Leidesdorf, of the Business Men’s Council executive committee, presented tentative quotas for the 134 trades and professions represented at the meeting. The quotas totaling almost $5,000,000 were accepted.

Felix M. Warburg, chairman of the Federation board and Mrs. Sidney C. Borg, chairman of the Women’s Division, addressed the meeting.

The five-day working week will be a major issue before the convention of the American Federation of Labor which will open in Los Angleles to morrow, President Green announced.