The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1918-12-26
GOV. RYE ASKS
AID FOR EAST
Executive Issues Proclamation
for Contributions to Ma
ton wide Relief Fund.

NASHVILLE. Tenn. Dec. 2s. (spl.l
Gov. Tom c. Rye expressed himself
today as heartily in favor Of the work
Of the American committee for reliei
II the near east and issued a proclama-
ton setting aside the week OF Jan. /.
as the time for everyone in the state
to contribute to the relief fund OF
5000, 600 for Tennessee. This Is the
| Volunteer states part OF the $50, 000, 00C
fund that will be raised at the same
time throughout the United states.
All this money goes to relieving the
distress OF millions Of unfortunates In
the western Asiatic countries. All ex-
penses Of management, clerical labor
and transporting this u n to the scene
Of need are met by subscriptions re-
ceived from channels other than dur
ing the campaign Of Jan. II to IS.
Following is the governors proclama-
ton:
victorious peace has come to our
national cause, bringing with 1t great
cause for rejoicing. At the same time
there Is good reason for sober thought
for the citizens Of Tennessee. We, here
in America, rejoice BECAUSE we know
German oppression will never again
threaten us; VI rejoice because our
men are coming home; we rejoice be-
cause our losses have not been heaVy
compared with the losses of our allies
and we rejoice because the enemy mas
not ravaged our land.
although Americas losses have been
least Of all, 1t has gained equally with
all allied countries in the victory. the
freedom which has not cost us heav-
ily in comparison to others has cost
many peoples their life blood, Their
lands have been devastated of homes
and industry and the mainstay OF thelr
prosperity gone with the death OF their
young manhood.
I'VE are the only nation with suffi-
cient food and funds to administer to
the distress of these countries which
are so greatly in need Of our help.
The needs Of France, Belgium and
Italy can be reached through govern
mental relief measures and are being
attended to by our government as well
IA the governments Of all the allies.
To reach the millions Of unfOrtunates
in the near east it is necessary to de-
pend on the succor Of voluntary or
CARNATIONS. The American committee
for relief in the near east Endorsed by
President Wilson and Secretary Lans-
ing has attempted to raise during the
week OF Jan. 10 to 10 $50, 000, 900 to keep
the 1000, 900 destitutes Of the near east
from dying Of starvation, and Tennes-
see Is asked to give only n one
hundredth of this $50, 900, 900.
WORD comes from the near east
that people fall dead daily from want
and the need is continually growing
worse. Our own present state OF civ
ilization originated in that section. 1t
was from there that the disciples were
sent out to spread the word OF Him
whose day Of birth we have SO fittlngly
observed.
This section is backward in every
respect and is contaminated with dis
nlga Tho A rTORnilnE the industrious
people OF the near east, have been
massacred and deported by the Turks
at German instigatiOn, so that the
progress OF the whole section will be
greatly delayed, yet from this part of
the world many future American clti-
zens will come, and much Will depend
ON our efforts now to help them be-
come healthy, vigorous individuals who
will throw themselves into the melting
pot Of America.
Therefore, !, Tom c. Rye, governor
OF the commonwealth of Tennessee, do
set aside the week Of Jan. IL to 10 as
q time every citizen shall give thought
to the needs Of the u~nfortunates in the
near east and shall contribute as gen.
erously as he has goods. We can not
refuse to give now because we have
already given. Distress in the world
IL so great that II can be relieved only
by unwearied giving, And nowhere is
distress greater than in the neal east.
1.-THE $50, oOo, 900 which the American
committee for relief in the near east
asks the people OF the United States
to contribute is 10 be used for feed
ing, clothing and putting back on a
self-supporting basis the 1000. 900 Ar
menian and Syrian refugees, 1t is i'm
perative that Tennessee's full quota OF
$500, 600 shall be raised. II anything
less than the fun amount is raised
some Of the needy cases can not be
cared for and must be turned away
to die. The persons distributing aid who