Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1919-12-18
PROMINENT men
IN XMAS APPEAL
FOR ARMENIANS
Former President Taft Leads II
Eloquent Plea for Support OF
Near East Relief.

To save the lives OF 100000 people
IN Armenia and other western Asian
countries and TO care for more than
100000 orphans who are homeless
there former President william How
ard Taft, Henry Morgenthau. former
ambassador 10 Turkey, and Alexander
]. Hemphlll the New York banker as
members OF the Executive Committee
81 Near East Relief the former Amer
tcan Committee on Armenian and
Syrian Relief, have issued a Christ
mas appeal for continued support Of
this organization and its work.
Near East Relief is now operating
under government charter and is
practically alone In the western Asian
held. the Red Cross several months
ego having announced Its withdrawal
The Christmas letter, n classic OF lis
Kind. is as follows
Dear Eriend-Another little child
has shriveled up and died.
THE mother, creeping back. gauni
and cold, from the desert. has put
down the thin little bones with those
that strew the road and has sunk be
aide them, never 10 rise again.
"Only little child and a mothev
out on the bleak Armenian road Bur
what Is that vision lowering there and
what Is that voice the cold winds bear
to the ears of our sOuls--I was hungry
and We gave me no meat; | was naked
and We clothed me not.
tsTnda to1nv--Vhf1a We
preparing our gifts for Christmas.
many more Of these little children
sot hundred nor a thousand, bur
s.nOOO Of them-are still wandering
uncared for and alone in that dead
land. their weakened skins clnging IL
fear to their rafting bones. and hey
are crying out with gasping breath. !
am hungry, ! am hungryr And the
voice OF one who watches us as we
prepare gifts 10 celebrate his birth
day comes again TO the ears OF ON
souls am hungry am hungry
arm hungry ~
Now, the children and the mothers
IN Armenia are dreading the winter
Just human remnants they are. MOI
protected many 81 them. from the ele
ments by even the dignity Of rags
The most favored have merely shred
ded rags How shall we sing our
Christmas songs and laugh and iishi
ihe candles and give beautiful gifts
while that pleading voice cries in the
ears Of our souls. 4 am naked and cold
naked and coldT
"Rut we can feed and clothe theS,
periShng Ones--some Of them-beforc
II T. TOO late. Herbert Hoover has ca
blpd from the Caucasus, 1T is impOssi
BILE that the loss OF 200. 900 lives can ~
tins day be prevented. but the remain
Ing 5O00 900 can possibly be saved
They need not starve and freeze and
die IL we Will save them. In the name
~ him who saw the multitude 'aS
sheep not having a shepherd and was
moved with compassion toward them.
who exclaimed when his disciples
would turn them away, They need no
aepart, give We them 10 eat open
your heart and purse and give to
these Christians whom he loves. who
are suffering for him and with whotn
ne Is suffering They need not die
Give We them 10 eat
Fifteen dollars a month will pro
vide food. clothes. shelter and educa
ton toward self support for one or
phan child
Ten dollars a month will provide
food. clothes and shelter for one or.
phan child.
Five dollars = month will provide
FOOD for one orphan child.
ale fed 1000 hungry people IN the
wilderness and said TO his followers.
THE things that do shall We do also
end greater things than these shall "
do Today nearly 100000 destitute
Armenlans peOple--need food and
clothing
He took little children in his arms
and blessed them. Today will you take
one or more OF these sad, cold, hungry
little children OF Armenia into your
arms and heart In his name and give
them food and warmth and life1
What a joyful Christmas it will be-
when with your songs and your laugh
.er ysu hear voice OF wondrou>
sweetness speaking to you, %. ye
blessed OF my Father, vas hungry
and We gave me meat. was naked ant
ye clothed me inasmuch as we have
done II 10 these, my brethren, ye have
done IL TO me-
In his name
Faithfully yours.
aXVTT IAN u TAFT