The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-04-21
THE RELIEF CORPS.
News and Gossip of the Great Auxil-
iary.
KEEP THE FLAG AFLOAT.


Not only in the United States Congress,
but in several of our States an effort is be-
ing made to protect the flag in allits beauty
and glory from the DETACHMENT of those who
would use its glorious symbolism to ad-
vance selfish interests, whether of business
or politics.
The two chief obstacles to overcome in
securing legislation are the persistence OF
politicians and the plea that the Govern
ment has granted. the use of the flag to
numerous patenteeS and cannot pass law
which would annul that privilege.
The first of these obstacles ought to be
easily overcome. and though the second
presents more difficulties, yet any priv
leges bestowed upon patentees must expire
when the patents granted shall have run
their course. The passage of a law forbid
ding the use of the flag in future would
simplify the whole problem.
In times of war our flag is a sacred EN-
blem to be treated with respect, even upon
penalty of death; but in times OF peace It
has been treated with inconceivable in
dignity. 1t is used for the advertisements
of. patent nOstrums, cigarets and liquors.
1t has been printed on alien flags, torn
down trampled under foot, rot. en-egged and
trailed behind the red flag. 1t has been de-
faced with names and faces in fierce politi-
cal campaigns, and at a concert held not
long since it was spread upon the platform
for the leader of the band to stand upon.
An incident Of TIE Worlds Fair will serve
to Show how those who would preserve the
flag in all its beauty and glory are shocked
to see it dcbaseI or dishOnoved At one OF
the State build ngs it was spread upon the
stairway for the feet of all nations to tread
upon, until a party of caCets refused to
walk over IT, saying:
" We are bound to keep tho flag atloat,
not under foot"
When asked If there were any laws gov
erning their action they said: 1--WE should
hope not. Neither is there an Army regu-
lation that a cadet should not throttle his
| mother. There are some things that need
no Army regulation"
This is the spirit we would inculcate into
the minds and hearts of our children, and
is a very important part of patriotic teach
ing. 1t is hoped that at National Conven-
ton the Woman'S Relief Corps, with their
magnificent organization of a hundred and
fifty thousand members. will take up act
lively the work of flag legislation. and give
their hearty support to some one OF the bills
pending, or else originate one of their own.
Without exception all the bills before
Congress except the devices of the Grand
Army of the Republic. and permit them, as
now, to put upon the alag names and
on. To no other civic organization should
this privilege be accordeds
MASSACHUSETTS.
The Department of Massachusetts,
W.R.C., has assumed the charge of the
dormitory of the Sold ers Home at Chelsea,
and propose to makeit II lasting monument
of their fidelity to the Union soldier. Past
Department President Emile L. Waterman,
upon whose recommendation the Depart
ment Convention accepted the trust, will
serve as Chairman of the Committee in
Charge of furnishings sg s5n.
Past Department Mary q. Dean, Patri-
Dtic Instructor for Massachusetts, has
changed her address from Fall River to
FreetOwn.
ALL ALoSG THE LINE.
The President of George w. RAIDER Corps,
49, Middleton Ind. desires it to be known
that neither the Corps nor the Post to
which they are auxiliary have given any
sanction To an endless chain letter being
sent out from that place, and it IS their be-
ief that the parties working the same are
IN no way connected with the Grand Army |
)r Relief Corps anywhere.
Department President Mary a. Silloway, |
IF Minnesota, was the organizer of the |
Loyal Home Workers in Minneapolis, and |
1 is her intention to invite the members of |
hat association to accompany the W.R.C. |
delegation to the Cincinnati Encampment. |
Department President Anna A. Beck has
made an excellent appointment in the |
selection Of Mary NJ. North to he Patriotic
instructor for the Department of the PO |
omac. One of her duties will he to Sc
.ure an appropriation from Congress for
placing portraits of Washington, Lincoln, |
irant and other Union heroes, together
Y tn charts of the Declaration OF Independ
nee, in the school buildings of the Dis
riot.
The Department of Iowa, W.RC., is col
Getting money to place an organ in the WO-
nan S Building of the Iowa Soldiers Home.
Nhe organ has been ordered, and will soon
,e put in place with proper ceremony.
The Iowa Legislature has made an APP
'ropriation of $1,000 for an odd Peoples
Suilding' at the Iowa Soldiers Home,
where the aged veterans and their wives
nay spend their declining days together.
he building will be erected the coming
summer. A liberal appropriation in aid of
he Iowa Soldiers Orphans Home has also
cen made.
The roster of the Department of Iowa,
V.R.C., numbers 321 Relief Corps. The