The age-herald., 1902-02-06
Washington Day bYDay

| doth wave over the stand of the boot black and the wagon of the ragpicker; the hams of Chicago and the glucose of fair Jerseys summer-girl shore.
 The old flag and the appropriations for everl
 1 "I hope the American people will con- tinue to wrap hams in the flag. not to teach patriotism but to teach ham eaters 1 to eat American hams''
 These profane words accredited to Speaker Henderson. who halls from the state of Mrs. Leslie M Shaw and the New Secretary of the Treasury, have aroused the Society of the Sons of the American Revolution to the point of sending fierce protest to each member of the 57th Congress, and this action is supported by the American Flag, Asso- citation, the chief purpose of which is to secure legislation to prohibit the i'm proper use of the national flag. Enlightened Americans generally will not fail to associate themselves, in sym l pathy at any rate, with this commend able movement, which has been going on for years and gathering force con- stantly.
 The pamphlet of protest sent to Con gress bears the title Speaker Tender son and the Flag" and at the outset it l declares:
 Speaker Henderson of the House of Representatives is the obstacle to na- tional flag legislation. He opposes it, and has so far defeated it."
 If Speaker Henderson was favorable and anxious to have a law enacted pro- tecting the flag from dissertation, it could be passed without any effort from out side sources.
 Onquestionably this is true.
 "1t makes my blood boil" declares an old Federal general and former com mander of the c. A. R., Ito know that one man who is supposed to represent the loyal people of the United States in Congress, can override their wishes and prevent the passage of a law that will stop any one from the desecrating our national emblem
 Why, it demanded-"why does David 5. Henderson oppose himself to the de- mands of the G. A. R.. the Army of the Tennessee, the National Association of Spanish-American War Veterans, the Union Veterans Union, and the Military Order of the Loyal Legion?"
 Can't say why. There has been much bad politics and unrighteous pension 1 grabbing by some members of those or ganizations; but they have accomplished great good and they are clearly right l yira fn
 from improper, immortal and wicked 1 purposes
 Seriously and in binding duty to the Re- public all Americans should thoughtful ly consider these statements of outrag- eous facts as set forth in protest to Con- gress, namely:
 Tt is unworthy of the American gov ernment to permit the improper uses or our national flag. Toilet paper with a fac-simile of the United States flag print ed in colors is manufactured (sample sheets were obtained in Boston. Mass. January 3, 1909)"
 Tn the Philippine Islands the American nag IS used to advertise immortal pur- poses. Facsimiles of the American flag are painted clear across the front of dis reputable houses in Manila to advertise their traffic, with the knowledge of the local United States government authori- ties, who issue certificates of inspection to the inmates.)"
 ''1n Vienna. Austria after the chief of police had made inquiry of prominent Americans to ascertain to what extent Cfafa pa l home. the government authorities pro- hibited the sale of American goods in Austria which had upon them fac-simile of the American flag"
 l Speaker Henderson, who is a Scotchman by birth and who lost a leg as a Union soldier in the war between the states. | is in no sense a loveable man. He is anything but an ideal speaker of the House, being overbearing and autocrat- ical to an unprecedented degree.
 In leading newspaper of today there is cartoon representing ''the machine" l or "The Triumvirate' of the committee on rules of the House. In the picture Speaker Henderson, MT. Payne of New York, and MT. Dalzell of Pennsylvania, ''The Triumvirate'' are represented as sit ting together on one seat while below them sit the two other appurtenances of the machine" the Democratic members of the committee, the Hon. Oscar Under wood of Alabama, and the Hon. James D. Richardson of Tennessee, who is vulgarly called Slick Jim" The point against the Republican majority, "The Triumvi- rate" as Amos Cummings calls his mighty colleagues, is admirably made, and the portraits are excellent
 This mechanical production" says Amos Cummings, who, by the way, is a former Alabamian, lis kept in the Speakers room and is worked entirely by the speaker. It runs silently and without friction. Compared with 1t an | automatic sewing-machine is obsolete. | Without it, indeed, aside from appropri- ations and revenue bills and other privi- | legged business, there can be no legisla- | tion in the House, except the considera- l tion of a few unimportant measures" In view of these facts, the lovers of the old play apart from appropriations will have to wait till the next Congress elects a former rebel" as speaker, be-. fore they can secure legislation to pro- tect the play from desecration.
 They are coming not in single file but