Jasper County Democrat, Volume 23, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 May 1920 — “JOE THE TURK” TOURS COUNTRY FOR S. A. APPEAL [ARTICLE]

“JOE THE TURK” TOURS COUNTRY FOR S. A. APPEAL

FOREIGNER IN NATION-WIDE JOURNEY IN BEHALF OF 1920 HOME SERVICE. MEETS GREAT ENTHUSIASM His Story Illustrate* Change of Attitude Toward Army In Last Ten Years. Many Interesting facts iu connection with the rescue work of the Salvation Army in Indiana and oth-r states have come to the notice of the national committee of friends of the Salvation Army, who are planning the 1920 home service appeal for funds May 10-20. Little stories, throbbing with human interest, have been unearthed by the various voluntary committees working to place the facts about the work of the Army before the American people. The following story is one of the best of these, states Major -Arthur R. Robinson, state chairman of ths appeal for Indiana: Joe Garabed, alias “Joe, the Turk,” alias “Hole In the Wall Joe,” holds the Salvation Army’s long distance record for arrests. Since he first allied himself with the Salvation Army thirty-three year* ago and, armed with a stock of English and a large share of grit, became one of Its staunchest defenders, Joe has paid more than 100 enforced visits to an equal number of jails for holding street meetings on the main thoroughfares of unfriendly towns. And when he was brought to trial he was always acquitted, after making a speech to the court and winning friends for the Salvation Army. Work* for Service Fund. But Joe’s police record is about completed. The arrest and prosecution of Salvation Army officers is now a thing of the past. The rugged foreigner whose head and body bear the Imprints of the rocks of the rabble now speaks unmolested. Today he is stumping the country in behalf of the $10,000,000 Salvation Army Home Service Fund for which an appeal will be made from May 10 to 20. And everywhere he speaks he is greeted with enthusiastic approbation, especially when, clad in his native costume, and armed with a huge umbrella brilliant with electric lights, he tells the story of how he met and joined the Army.

When he first arrived in San Francisco many years ago, he rented a shoe making shop adjoining a saloon and made efficiency his watchword. So much so that instead of stepping next door to the bar he tore a hole in the wall when he was thirsty. This little invention gained him the name of “Hole in the Wall, Joe," and an almost constant state of intoxication. One night, 33 years ago, he staggered across the street and found himself in the midst of a Salvation Army meeting which was being vigorously, if not well, received with red ochre, rifte eggs and soft oranges. Without knowing why, without clearly understanding what the meeting was about, the young Ottoman, fired by drink, bared a defensive arm and invited all-comers to step forward. The following day the hole in the wall war boarded up. The following week the shoe repair shop was closed; and from that day on "Jo®, the Turk,” has devoted his life to the Salvation Army.