The Spanish American. [volume] (Roy, Mora Co., N.M.) 19??-19??, 1919-12-27
PROMINENT MEN
IN XMAS APPEAL
FOR ARMENIANS
Former President Taft Leads II
Eloquent Plea for Support Of
Near East Relief.

To snve the lives of 100000 people
IN Armenia and other western Asiar
countries and to care for more than
250.000 orphans who are homeless
there former President william How
ard Taft, Henry Morgenthau, former
ambassador to Turkey, and AlexandeI
J. Hemphill, the New York banker, az
members Of the Executive COMMITTEES
of Near East Relief the former Amer,
lean Committee on Armenian and
Syrian Relief. have issued 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
field, the Red Cross several months
ago having announced its withdrawal.
The Christmas letter, classic Of Its
kind Is as follows:
Dear Friend--Another little child
has shriveled up and died.
"The mother, creeping back, gaunt
and cold. from the desert, has put
down the thin little homes with ihosa
that strew the road and has sunk be-
side them, never TO rise again.
"Only a little child and a mother
out on the bleak Armenian road But
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 ye gave me no meat; was naked
and ye clothed me not. -
"Today-yes, today-while we are
preparing our gifts for Christmas
many more Of these little children
not a hundred nor n thousand, but
250000 Of them-are still wandering
uncared fer and alone In that dead
! land, their weakened skins clnging In
! fear TO their rafting bones and they
are crying out with Gasping breath, I
am hungry, ! am hungryr Aud the
voice Of one who watches MS MS we
prepare gifts to celebrate his birth
day comes again to the ears Of our
souls-T am bpngryl ain hnngryli ]
! am hungP!ir
/ snow, the children and the mothers
IN Armenia are dreading the winter.
Just human remnants they are, not
protected, many Of thcm 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 light J
the candles and give beautiful gifts
while that pleading voice cries In the
ears of our souls, 4 am naked and cold
naked and coldf
"But we can feed and clothe these
perishing ones-some of them-befors
1t is too late. Herbert Hoover has ca.
bled from the Caucasus, 1T is Impossl-
Bile that the loss of 100000 lives can at
this day be prevented, but the remain.
ing 100000 can possibly be saved.'
They need not starve and freeze and
die If we will save them. In the name
Of him who saw the multitude as
sheep not having a shepherd and was
moved with compassion toward them.s,
who exclaimed when his disciples
would turn them away, They need not
depart, give We them to eatr open
your heart and purse and give to
these Christians whom he loves who
are suffering for him and with whom
he is suffering. They need not die.
Give ys them to 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.
Give dollars month will provide
food for one orphan child.
He fed 5000 hungry people In the
wilderness and said to his followers,
The things that do shall ye do also,
and greater things than these shall yer
do Today nearly 100000 destltutei
Armenians-his 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 lifef
What a joyful Christmas 1t will be
when with your songs and your laugh
der ysu hear a voice Of wOndrous
sweetness speaking 20 you, o, ye
blessed Of my Father. was hungry
and ye gave me meat, was naked and
ye clothed me; inasmuch as We have
done It to these. my brethren, We have
done 1t to me-.
Elm his name. n -SSeS n i
Faithfully yours ztesIs
WILLIAM H. TAFT.
ALEXANDER HEMPHYIL
"HENRY MORGENTHAU."
For Executive Committee, Near East