Evening star., 1902-08-26
LET THE FLAG FLOAT
OLD GLORY ON EVERY POST OF
FICE IN THE LAND.
Representative Cannon's Recent Re-
mark and the Suggestions Of
Post Office official.

"1n recent interview Mr. Cannon, in re-
ferring to the appropriations passed at the
| last session Of Congress, said: Some
| day We will have the flag floating over
| every post office owned by Uncle Sam.
| and the people will never be out of sight
| OF old glory. The people will approve
| OF such expenditure because 1t makes Uncle
| Sam real estate holder in every commu-
nity,' remarked a postal official this morn
| ing.
Mr.. Cannon refers, of course to appro-
priations for public buildings in which are
situated post offices, which must fly the
national flag daily, and which are gradually
acquired by the government in the different
| cities.
"As chairman of the House committee on
appropriations he has more or less control
over appropriations for specific and general
purposes, but if he wishes to hand his name
down to posterity by small act when
most of his greater achievements are long
forgotten, 1 will offer him suggestion
Let him literally carry out his views
ana cause the national colors to fly over
every post office in the United States and
It's possessions, whether it be of the first or
fourth class or in place of a million or a
| dozen people.
He can do this in several ways one of
which would be to have the United States
flag a part and parcel of the supplies of
every post office the same as the dating
stamp. A flag Of say 4 by 6 feet
can be made by the Post Office Depart
ment right here in Washington in it's mail
equipment, or, as the establishment is IA
miliarly known in town, the mail bag and
repair shop on c street. as easily as any
where else, and as readily as the depart
ment makes its own mail locks and re-
pairs and makes it's own mail pouches, If
1t should not be desired to have the flags
made on contract.
Gould Be Made a Local Industry.
I'm fact, the additional employment
given to efficient force of sewers and
canvas workers in the shop would be well
come in all probability. as it would give the
force employment throughout the year and
over the dull spells when less than full
time is demanded
The flag making for the nations post
ohlces could be made an important local in
dustry, and, should the project go through
they had better be made in Washington
than In another city. In fact they could
be made probably cheaper here with our
own force of expert workers already on the
rolls, and it would be necessary to buy
only the material.
There are about $1,000 post Offices of
which about 4, 500 are presidential. No man
will deny that the American flag should not
noat over every one Of them, from Point
Barrow, a post Office inside of the arctic
circle, to Manila. 1t flies at present over
the roofs of most of the presidential Offices
ne nag nleS over all army posts
and naval stations. and over most of the
public school buildings in the United States
The idea Of hosting 1t over post offices
ought to be pushed to adoption.
Perhaps by calling the attention of the
public. and especially that of Mr.. Cannon
to the proposition through The Star, the
suggestion will bear fruit at the next ses-
sion of Congress, and the necessary appro-
priation be made. have little doubt that the
department would readily put an esti-
mate In its request for appropriations for
the next fiscal year If it had any thought
that 1t would go through
Hoist the flag, Mr.. Cannon, over every
post office in the United States Don't wait
until you hope to see the day. but do it
now