Grainger County news. (Rutledge, Tenn.) 1917-current, 1919-12-18
PROMINENT men
IN XMAS APPEAL
FOR ARMENIANS
Former President Taft Leads in
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
10000 orphans who are homeless
there former President William How
ard Taft, Henry Morgenthau, former
ambassador to Turkey, and Alexander
]. Hemphill, the New York banker, as
members of the Executive Committee
of Near East Relief the former Amer
lean 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 a government charter and IL
practically alone in the western Asian
field, the Red Cross several months
2 having announced its withdrawal.
The Christmas letter, a classic OF Its
kind. is as follows /: =
Dear Friend-Another little child
has shriveled up and died.
1.-THE mother, creeping back gaunt
Land cold. from the desert. has pui
down the thin little bones witlftthOse
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-T was hungry
and We gave me no meat; | was naked
and We clothed me not
"Today-yes. today-while we are
preparing our gifts for Christmas.
many more OF these little children
not a hundred nor a thousand. but
100000 Of them-are still wandering
uncared for and alone In that dead
land. their weakened skins clinging In
fear to their rattling bones and they
are crying out with gasping breath, i
am hungry, I am hungry! And the
voice of one who watches us as we
prepare gifts to celebrate his birth
day comes again to the ears OF our
souls-T am hungry! I am ~hungryil
am hungry!!r
"Now, the children and the mothers
In Armenia are dreading the winter.
lust human remnants they are, not
protected, many of them. from the ele'
ments by wen the dignity OF rags.
The most favored have merely shred
ded rags How shall we sing our
Christmas songs and laugh and light
the candles and give beautiful gifts
while that pleading N@SyeANes IN the
ears of our souls. I ami naked and cold
naked and cOldT
"Rut we can feed and clOthe these
perishing Ones-sOme of them-befort
It is too late. Herbert Hoover has ca
bled from the Caucasus, 1T is impossi
BILE that the loss of 100000 lives can al
this day be. prevented, but the remain
ing 100000 can possibly be saved.
They need not starve and freeze ant
die If we will save them. In the name
of him who saw the multitude n
sheep not having a shepherd ana wa
moved with compassion toward them,
who exclaimed when his disciple
would turn them away, They need no
depart, give We them TO eat! opei
your heart and purse and give q
these Christians whom he loves, VIII
are suffering for him and with whom
|. he 10 suffering. They need not die
, Give We them to eat. #
|, Fifteen dollars a month viii pro
vide food, clothes, shelter and educs
} ton toward self support for ons o.
phaR child. w
"Ten dollars . month will prosid
, foed. clothes and shelter for \ o.
, phan child. $50 1.
, give dollars q menth will provtd
, food for one orphan child.
} aHs fsd 5000 hungry people In ia
} wilderness Rnd said to his followers
! The things tfist I do shall ye do sts'
and greater things, than these shalt ,
do To-day nearly 100000 destitnt
Armenians-his peop.e--neea food IA
clothing
: HE took littie children IN his arm
7 and blessed them. Today will you tar
J one or more of these sad, cold. hungr
little children Of Armenia into yOt
, arms and heart In his name and civ
= them food and warmth and life?
what o Joyful Christmas it will .
q when with your songs and your laugI
,er ysu hear q voice Of wondro,
D sweetness speaking to you, o, }
blessed OF my Father, I was hung
and ye gave me meat, I was naked ar
70 clothed me: inasmuch "a 70 ha,
e done Il to these. my ebrethren, ys ha,
a done IL 10 me-
AIN his NAME.
Faithfully yeurs.
swILLIAM II, TAFT.