The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-08-02
THE USE THE FLAG.

These are days OF discussion about the
use and the misuse of the flag OF our
country.
The National Flag Committee OF the
Society OF Colonial Wars in the State of
Illinois has issued an appeal which will
be presented to the Fifty-fourth Congress.
The object of the appeal is to have Con-
gress give protection TO the national
emblem. The committee that prepared
the appeal state:
"we wish that the Stars and Stripes
might fly over every public building IN
pattern OF it-even II IL is very small
one might be displayed over every private
building i'm the lanS. We like TO see
sold Glory" fiutter everywhere I'm the
breeze, provided il is not accompanied by
any sign, lettering, printing or painting
TO indicate that the display is TO attract
attention TO any matter OF proht, mere
tricious object, political purpose or
private gain.
"We hold that any person or persons
who shall manufacture the national nag
for use for purposes OF private gain by
advertisement, by distribution or I'M
proper display is guilty OF misdemeanor.
ave hold that any person or persons
who shall use the national flag, or
national coat-of-arms for purposes OF
private gain either by printing on IL,
painting on II, OF by attaching 10 the
same any advertisement for private gain
is guilty OF a misdemeanor.
'9We hold that the distribution or
public display of such for purposes oil
private gain Is a misdemeanor
''We hold that il Is an ignoble mlsde-
meanor for any person or persons TO use
the national flag, or the national coat-oi-
arms, as a drapery, in whole or in part,
by public display for private gain. We
object 10 its use as la bel or trade-mark'f
The appeal, in printed pamphlet form,
contains many interesting examples OF
what the committee consider the misuse
OF the flag. A dealer in bicycles has his
card printed across q fac-simile OF the
national ensign. Book beer, dress
fabrics, whiskey, furs, cigars, soap,
chewing-gum, tea, lemons, are among
the staples dealers in which use the
national emblem as q part of their
trademark, in many instances stamping
the names of their product across the
stripes of Old Glory. The coachman that
drives the State carriage OF our ambas-
sador at Berlin uses the American flag
for a carriage cloth and sits on 1t. "Liv-
ing pictures" appear draped In the flag.
Pugilists wear belts covered with minia-
ture flags. A big department store has a
border OF American flags about its adver-
tisement. Business houses fly the flag
with the firm name painted on it. The
Chicago Christian Endeavor badge was
miniature American flag stamped with
the word "Chicago." Saloons are adorned
with paintings.of the flag on their signs,
and the fiag is used for awnings.
We confess we don't know how serious
a matter this may appear to be with us.
We admit that our mind is not made up
on it. The committee of appeal neglects
to illustrate the familiar use OF the flag
most rudely sketched, by the postoffice de-
partment to can eel stamps Here In Prov
idence we have just had little tiff ovel
the flag, one OF our Alderman, who be-
lieved what the Providence morning
newspaper told him, attempting to cal
the Mayor to account for raising the flag
on American Mechanics Day, and thus
establishing precedent in favor of what
! the Alderman denominated as sectarar
organization. The Mayor cleared up the
Alderman's delusion by informing hin
that he had made 1t practice to acced,
| to the wishes OF any number OF his
fellow-citizens for display OF the Amer
ican flag, and that the st. Patrick's day
committee had, IL we quote His Honor
correctly, been the first to request IL
display and have the request granted.
We are pretty confident that Legislation
on this matter will be difficult to secure
and we are not sure that such Legislation
is desirable. We are not sure that W,
can become too familiar with our coun
t-y's flag. We do not wish to see i
mutilated or adapted to venal purposes
But it is hard, we should think, to draw
the line In the view of the COMMITTEE
on the appeal, We guess this newspape
may bs SHINING in printing the flag dali!
at the head OF this page But we love I,
fly 1t there, and we think 1t in good
taste, too. And after all, the use OF
misuse OF the flag is matter, perhaps
OF good and bad taste, and we think, as
rule, that the intention OF those whC
make use OF it in advertising, for in
stance, is not to degrade the emblem
even II its use is not always i'm the bes
Of taste. 1t is repugnant to us to see tn
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