Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1919-12-10
.ARlMEl Still
NEED JCH Help


Editor OF The Tribune ssz.6.t zss !
Recently attended conference9in
Minneapolis for relief IN the Near.
East. The membership of the confer-
=eneeswas made up for the most partso
county directors for the Armenian-s
syrian0fiF which Was made last
81 For Kandiyohis County this drive
was. one. Ofsthe most snccessful held
In the county up to that time, ai-!
though the amount asked for was
small iRsc with some of the
great campaigns for war funds. Our
superintendent was $6700, and We
not only went over the. top, but We
exceeded the amount BY more than
5000. And my expenses in collecting
this amount was about $40. Miss
Noren of the Firt National Bank was
our efficient Treasurer. 81 =
The State OF Mfnnesota made up the
sum Of $500, 900, althoush 81 {, 900 was
asked for. The. expense In collecting
this amount was less than three per-
cent. That's a most remarkable
showing. 80 that the dOnators may
we'll feel that their money was most
economically handled and went to
the people 5forswhom it was given. The
The Christian nberality Of the Ameri-
can people saved hundreds Of Mous-
ands of lives in Armenia, Syria, and
other countries Of the Near East dur.
ing this past year. 4 III we had not
reached out Z helping hand the Ar
menians as people would be practi-
callys nonresident today. And we
must remember that these people are
the oldest Christian nation in the
world, who have been prosecuted by
the Turks for-hundreds of years
At the recent conference learned
from, authoritative sources why the
Armenians and other. people OF the
Near East have as yet been unable
to reestablish themselves in their old
homes. > The great powers as usual
have dallied with the Turkish ques-
ton. and as yet have not determined
what they will do with that people,
who since the fifteenth century have
been the scourge of eastern Europe
and Western Asia Owing to this de-
lay the Turks have again taken heart,
and returned to- their bloody recre-
alton of numbering the defenceless
Christians within their borders.
But the American Relief Commits
sion under the protection of the
United States, is by now so we'll rec.
ognized in all parts of Turkey. that
the difficulties for extending relief are
only such as naturally result from
poor transportation facilities. n
At the present time the dirert need
is found in that part of Western Asia
where Turkey, Persia, and Russia
meet. All this country was devast.
ated by the war, not once, but many
armies advanced or reiterated. Hare
of ruins, and the spectre of starva-
hundreds, and Thousands Herbert
recent months and reported that
200, 900 were beyond help. but that
speedy succor would save 500, 900.
There are 250, 1000 orphans who must
be cared for, and these children will
Unless we again come to the rescue,
much Of the assistance we rendered
last winter will have been in vain.
by one who has been through the hor
IOI VI IL oil, LudL uuAoa6 OuA dooA8loAS0
was prompt and adequate, We might
better let the last Armenian starve.,
From what ITheard am more than
ever convinced that it Is the Chris
tian duty of America to help. and
more than that that the Armenian
people are worthy Of our help. OF all
the people of the Near East, the Ar
menian people were Conspicuous for
htheir loyalty to the cause Of the Allies.
They fought with Russia until the
collapse Of that. nation. and then
single handed struggled on against
the Turks with their German leaders,
until their resistance was destroyed.
They are a brave people, and made
noble stand In spite Of fewness of
numbers and inadequacy of armament
Armenia is the Belgium of the East
All told in Turkey. today there are not
more than four million Armenians
1t is the plan of the Commission
for Relief in the Near East to send
out letter asking for a Christmas
gift in order that the Immediately
pressing needs may be met, but the
drive itself will take place during the
first three weeks of February.
| I trust that the villages and town