The Connecticut labor press., 1919-12-20
PROMINENT MEN IN XMAS APPEAL
 FOR ARMEN|ANS
Former President Taft Leads in Eloquent Plea for Support of
 Near East Relief.

To save the lives of SOO,OOO people in Armenia and other western Asian l countries and to care for more than l 25O,OOO orphans who are homeless | there former President William How ard Taft, Henry MOrgenthau, former ambassador to Turkey, and Alexander | J. Hemphill, the New York banker, as members of the Executive Committee of Near East Relief, the former Amer 1 ican Committee on Armenian and Syrian Relief, have issued a Christ mas appeal for continued support of this organization and it's work. l Near East Relief is now operating | under a government charter and is practically alone in the western Asian field, the Red Cross several months ago having announced it's withdrawal. l The Christmas letter, a classic of it's 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 bones with those that strev the road and has sunk be side them, never to rise again.
 "Only a little child and mother out on the bleak Armenian roadl But what is that vision lowering there and what is that voice the cold winds bear to the ears of our souls-1 was hungry and ye gave me no meat; was naked and ye clothed me not
 "Today-yes, today-whi1e we are preparing our gifts for Christmas, many more of these little children not a hundred nor a thousand, but 25O,OOO of them-are still wandering uncared for and alone in that dead | land, their weazened 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-I am hungry! I am hungry! ]! am hungry!lT
 "Now, the children and the mothers in Armenia are dreading the winter. Just human remnants they are, not protected, many of them, from the ele- ments by even the dignity of rags. The most favored have merely shred 1 ded rags How shall we sing our Christmas songs and laugh and light the candles and give beautiful gifts while that pleading voice cries in the | ears of our souls, I am naked and cold naked and coldY
 "But we can feed and clothe these perishing ones-some of them-before it is too late. Herbert Hoover has ca bled from the Caucasus, It is impCssi- b1e that the loss of 100000 lives can at | this day be prevented, but the remain ing 5OO, 900 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,' who exclaimed when his disciples would turn them away, They need not | depart, give ye them to eat! 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 ye them to eat "Fifteen dollars month will pro vide food, clothes, shelter and educa- dion toward self support for one or phan child.
 "Ten dollars a month will provide food, clothes and shelter for one or | phan cn1lO.
 "Five 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 ye do Today nearly 8O0,OOO destitute Armenians-his people-need food and 1 clothing.
 tHe 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 life?
 "What a joyful Christmas it will be when with your songs and your laugh
 ter you hear a voice of wondrous
 sweetness speaking to you, o, ye l blessed of my Father, I was hungry and ye gave me meat, was naked and ye clothed me; inasmuch as ye have l done it to these, my brethren, ye have done it to me-
 "In his name.
 1 ''Faithful1y yours, l CIVILIAN H. TAFT. ALEXANDER J HEN1PHILL.
 HENRY MORGENTHAU."