New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-18
hAhoR BUREAUS FOR CUBAN RELIEF.
IHE SUCCESS OF MR. HowARD's PLAN AS
APPLIED IL ARMENIA
To the Editor Of The Tribune


To the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir; Noticing several letters I'm vorr columns -.
morning concerning William Willard Howard's
pan To give permanent relief to the Cuban recon
0eh'rauos 1t occurred 10 me that the following
statement as 10 work Of a similar character done
by MI Howard for the Armenian Relief Associa-
''on might he OF interest to your readers:
MI Howard has made three trips 10 Asia in
connection with the Armenian question. the first
be.Hg undertaken in December 1894 Just after the
news Of the SassoIn massacre became public On
THIS trip he went TO investigate and was the only
investigator who succeeded In penetrating into the
interior Of the devastated districts of Armenia On
MS return TO America lie made public the results
OF his investigation, with the result that a relief
fund was raised. and he returned 10 Asia IN Octo-
Der. 1875. to arrange for its distribution.
On his return from his second trip Mr.. Howard
was strongly of the opinion that the only practical
mitigation Of the horrors OF the situation in Ar
mcnia lay in rescuing many Armenans pos
slble from the grasp OF the Turk and finding new
homes for them in Persia and Asiatic Russia. where
they would be enabled to begin life anew in the
land Of their forefathers He laid this plan be
fore the Armenian Relief Association in Anril 1856,
with the result that the Armenian Rescue Fund
was established and arrangements were made 10
carry it into effect. Mr. Howard then went to
England and laid his plans before the Women
Armenian Relief Committee and the Society Of
"a
was formed to cooperate with the Armenian Re-
lief Association of this city in carrying out the
scheme
From London Mr. Howard went TO Persia where
he secured the active cooperation Of Dr. J. p.
Cochran, the celebrated American missionary
physician at the head OF tho PRESBYTERIAN Mission
at Crunlia Other missionaries gave assistance
notably the Rev. Herber, NJ. Allen Of Van, Turkey,
and the rescue movement was made practical
success. Before Christmas time IN 1886 the move
mept had resulted in the rescue OF more than
twelve thousand Christians from Turkey. When
the heavy SHOWS compelled temporary cessation
OF the work. Mr.. Howard turned the executive
management over to DR.. Cochran, and returned to
America. This work has since been carried on
with money sent from America and England. Dr.
Cochrans report for the year ended October. 1896;
showed that he had received ana administered
nearly $1,000
undertaken Ne has kept uppermost the idea that
the best way relieve the starving Is to give them
work and enable them TO support themselves
While in Van, Turkey. on his first TRIP he strongly
which were afterward carried on with marked sue
cess. Thes bureaus are still in active operation
been of an industrial nature. although IN the res
cue movement considerable sums vera necessarily
used for transport alton and in providing new
homes for the immigrants
| cannot express myself too strongly In favor OF
the plan outlined by NJ Howard. If we are 10
avoid war. matter what the report on inc Maine
disaster may be. the condition OF the Cuban recon
centrados must be alleviatcd This Is feasible,
and in my opinion the only feasible plan to do IT,
and therefore all peace-oving citizens should wish
it godspeed. If we tyrn away indlnerentIy rom
these horrors, which fully equal those of Armenia
after all the blame which we have heaped upon
Europe for its Indifference TO the Armenian suf-
ferers what answer can make 10 the cry OF
conscience, Thou art the man w., ,,,,,rD
Chairman Of the Executive Committee OF the
Armenian Relief Association.
NeW-York March 10, 1879