American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1918-04-30
GREAT CROWD GATHERS
TO RALLY 'R0UND THE FLAG
Auditorium Packed to Hear Armenian
Address Parade Preceding Meet
ing Had Few On-LOOkers.

er Congressman McCracken at the
Auditorium Friday afternoon. The call
of patriotism is always heard in Pow
er county, one of the few counties in
the state where afternoon audiences
are possible.
Preceding the meeting there was a
drill by A company, Idaho state
guards, on the public square. Follow
ing the drill the American Falls Mu-
nicipal band led a parade, the line of
march being across the tracks, around
the block fronting the depot, back to
Chestnut avenue, thence to the Audi
torium. The marchers numbered sew
eral hundred, including the band.
company, G. A. r. veterans, Red
Cross, Junior Red Cross, garden club,
and bond subscribers. There were
probably more people in line than the
Auditorium would seat, including a
number of Red Cross contingents
from out of town. Few spectators
lined the streets, nearly everyone
joining in the parade.
Mr.. Krikorian said there had never
been a time in the history of the world
when there was so much sorrow.
Every continent has been ravaged and
some nations practically eXterminated.
II is on behalf of the first and Oldest
CT the Christian nations, Armenia, that
/ am bringing you face to face with
the conditions now existing in these
tabled nations.
In these days of war as l go about
from state to state / hear a great deal
about war responsibilities, about war
taxes on incomes, on property, about
Liberty Loans, Red Cross, Y. NJ. c. A.
and Y. w c. A., and all the different
war activities going on at the present
time. and | have heard some of the
American people, and l am glad to say
only a few of them speak in a COM
planning mood, because they said that
these different war activities were
coming rather thick and fast, but |
want to tell you American friends, l
have been in five different countries,
under five different flags, and have
come in contact with five different
peoples, have known their prosperity,
their conflicts, their principles and
rules of government. and have known
of their liberty, but l want to say to
you this afternoon, that you, as Amer
ican citizens, are living in the great
est country anywhere in this world.
There is the greatest flag in the
world, pointing to the stars and the
stripes, floating over churches, schools
lodges and business institutions. 1
do not make these statements in any
way to flatter you, because | know
some facts that you friends don't
know, and before l get through ex-
pect to relate to you how one beauti-
1,, of CO..
the lives of 10000 Christian women
and children in Armenia, in the TURK
ish empire. There is not anything
that you are asked to do, nor any sac
rifice you are called upon to make IN
supporting your great government ano
in supporting this great cause ol
world democracy. none too great foi
the great blessings and privileges yot
are enjoying in this land.
You think you have a hard time
with your Liberty loans, to nay your
taxes. when you have to give rev
thousand dollars to the Red Cross
or all these war activities, but when
give YOU a few taxes the people across
the water have to pay judge for your
selves whether your lot is hard 10
in this country You speak about sub
scribing to the Liberty loan. No mat
ter if you have to go down and borrow
money and subscribe to the Liberty
loan. I want to tell you it is worti
every bit of il for the blessings an'
privileges you are enjoying under tn
stars and stripes.
The collection of taxes in the ol'
country is different than in this coun
try. In the old country. at a certan
neriod of the year the Turkish gov
ernment makes an announcement
throughout the country that all Turk
ish Mohammedon people should gath
er in the large centers. The empire
divided into provinces. An auctionee
sets on the platform and takes pro
vince by province, and says how muc
will YOU give me for collecting taxes
The highest bidder gets the privileg
CT collecting the taxes and all the GOV
ornment gets out of the taxes is IN
privilege that man pays for collectin
the taxes. and all over that amour
goes into his own pocket
r On a bid of $4,000 or $4,000 for
~ lrovince, the tax collector often col
~ects from $4,000 to 100000 or more
and all above his bid he keeps. Tn
tax collector takes soldiers with hin
fixes the taxes of each head of
family. usually high enough to TAX
every cent they can get together o
times they can not get enough, an
the tax collector takes their propert
end sells it to the Turks for very To-
prices. Families have had their ful
piture set out in the snow in the dea
of winter, and their houses torn dow
and the material sold to pay take
Many such families have perished fro
the cold. There is no regularity
the amount of the taxes. If ia
collector has to bid high. he increase
the taxes. and often does so witho'
any excuse. Many families. with veI
little property. have had their take
increased from 800 to $3.50.
Taxes levied on the Christian PEI
= rle under pretense of public scho'
education. while not one cent is spel
Cor the education of one Christian be