Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-14
Congress Asked to Take Action.


EARLY in this month 1 wrote Dwight
Loomis. then a member of Congress from
this state asking him to Introduce In Con-
gress resolution for the observance of
Flag day as national holiday, to embrace
Constitution day also. He readily COM
piled with my request. Mr.. Loomis intro
duced joint resolution the 18th of June
and II was taken up In order of business
the 18TH. 1t recommended to the people
OF the United States to observe the 14th
day of June and the 18th day of Septem-
Der In each year as national holidays-the
first to be known as Flag day and the lat
ter as Constitution day.
speaking on this resolution, Mr.. Loomis
said he offered IL In good faith believing
that its adoption would do good; that It
was worthy of the sanction of the House
and would meet with hearty response from
loyai hearts throughout the land II adopt
ed we should have three patriotic days COM
memorative of three important events
in our national NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. day
Flag day and Constitution day-the first to
commemorate the anniversary of our ma
tional independence, the second to COM
memorate the birthday of our national flag.
for II was on the 14th day OF June that the
Continental Congress passed the resolution
creating the flag.
Resolution Laid on the Table.
Following discussion. Mr.. e. B. WASH
burne of Illinois, who was opposed to any
moro holidays, moved to lay the resolution
on the table. The question was taken and
there was, on division. ayes, 81; nays, 49,
So the resolution was laid on the table
Such was the temper of the House of Rep
resentatives, and such was the fate of
flag day IN that Congress.
We'll. those men In Congress who were so
opposed to sentiment and holidays are all
gone" said Mr.. Morris. They have
all passed away. They lived, however, to
see little more OF both. They lived to
hear the chant and song of the Union
soldier In camp OF on his march to the bat
tlefteld. They heard his shout of Well
Rally Round the Flag, Boys and Down
with the Traitor and Up With the stars.
They lived to see him on his homeward
march, bearing aloft the dear old flags,
torn, bullet-riddled and begrimed and
scorched with the smoke and fire of many
battles-the battle OF flags.
They lived to see the Union restored
and its banner waving in victory, and In
the sunlight of peace. in the old places from
which IL had been driven. They lived to
see the centennial OF its natal in 1877 cele-
brated throughout the land, and they saw
that all this was something more than
sentiment There was a meaning in it. 1t
sincerity. love, devotion, the express
sion of true patriotism. They lived to see
more holidays established--to see the birth
day OF Washington commemorated. on
which we recount the deeds. the virtues and
wisdom OF the father OF his country; and
Memorial day and Thanksgiving day-our
old New England festival nationalized.
And they lived to see labor claiming Its day
for recognition and rest. And Judge
Loomis has lived to see all this. and more.
He has lived to see the old flag flying. by
official order, every day from every public
building. and from nearly every school
house In the landau object lesson in child
hood; an educational force in the school Of
patriotism"