The Washington herald., 1908-06-29
Who are. who are. who are vet
Betsy Roses. don't you seel

Who are. who are. who are wel
Betsy Roses. don't you seel
Guthrie, Okla, June s-With this
yell the ninety-two Oklahoma women
who made the flag which is to float over
Independence Hall in Philadelphia on
July ! entered the Oklahoma stetehouse.
and. making their way to the governors
Office, sang America with zeal and en-
thusiasm that would have made glad the
heart OF the original Betsy
The yell will be heard in PhHadeI-
phia on July 4. when many OF the Okla
homa women Will attend the breaking
forth Of the first official flag OF forty-six
stars on the Independence Hall fagstaff.
The plan originated with the city coun-
ell Of Philadelphia. as not only a novel.
but a patriotic means Of celebrating the
coUltry's natal day. Immediately an in
vitation was extended TO Oklahoma
through George W Alexander. OF Phila-
delphia, who has charge Of the matter as
committeeman. and when the invitation
reached oklahoma the annual encamp-
ment Of the State G. A. r was in ses-
made known 10 them il was accepted
forthwith. and a committee OF veterans
named TO take charge OF the Oklahoma
end of the arrangements.
First Mayor Is Chairman.
Col Thomas H. Seward. OF Guthrie.
was named chairman OF this G. A. r
committee. He was the first mayor of
Guthrie, and Is a past department COM
mander OF the G. A. r. Associated with
him on the arrangement committee are
Judge Hosea Townsend. Of Ardmore;
William II. Hornaday. Of Lawton. also a
past department commander OF the G.
A. r.; R. NJ. COnger, OF Bristow, and
William II. Query. OF Tulsa
1t was also at the suggestion OF the
Philadelphians that the flag. which
should be made in Oklahoma for use
on July I, should be manufactured OF
Oklahoma-grown wool, dyed with Okla
homa dyes. spun and woven in an Okla
homa MILL and made by an Oklahoma
Betsy Ross.
Instead Of having the flag made by one
Betsy Ross. as suggested, Il was decided
10 have ninety-two OF them 10 sew on
side OF the flag. The G. A. r. committee
selected them from the principal cities
and towns. with instructions TO assemble
in Guthrie on June is TO build the flag.
The body Of the flag was then made by
Mrs. Josephine Tidbau, Of Guthrie.
Includes Many Women.
In selecting the women 10 sew on the
stars the committee made OF the appoint
ments a Statewide and nonpartisan af-
fair, including a number OF women OF the
COnfederacy and OF the Spanish -Ameri-
can war. One OF the number-Mrs. V.
J. Pettee. OF Oklahoma City-is a Daugh-
ter Of the American Revolution. The
Oldest woman Of the ninety-two 10 work
on the flag was Mrs. Nancy Fnson. aged
seventy-hve. Of Guthrie, and the young
est person to assist in sewing on a star
was little Miss Mary Gregory Mcbride.
The Oklahoma-made hag VIII be taken
TO Philadelphia by Col Seward and escort
who VIII leave here on June 30. The
Oklahoma school teachers. who will be
attending the National Teachers Associa-
tion annual convention IN Cleveland. will
join the party also. In all. there will be
several hundred Oklahomans IN Phladel-
phia on July T.
The instant the flag IS raised over Inde-
pendence Hall. the fact will be wired TO
every city and hamlet IN Oklahoma, and
Immediately the people OF the new State
Will begin singing simultaneously with
the people Of Philadelphia The Star
Spangled Banner"
VIII BE Put in Museum.
Following the Fourth Of July celebra-
ton in Philadelphia. the Oklahoma flag
will be placed in the Independence Hall
museum, together with the names OF the
Oklahoma Betsy Rosses who made it,
In its stead. Col Seward will bring back
to Oklahoma a flag which is now being
made at the old Betsy Ross home. 2Ss
Arch street. Philadelphia, and similar in
every detail to the flag made by the Okla
homa women. 1t will be deposited either
with the Oklahoma Historical Society or
with the Betsy Ross Association OF Okla
homa. an organization formed by the
women who made the flag and their
for the purpose OF teaching
patriotism as exemplihed by the first
Betsy Roses"
The president Of the Betsy Rosses for
the first year is Mrs. J. J. Brotherton, OF
and the vice presidents are
Mrs. Mary 3. Herod, OF Guthrie; Mrs. J.
a. Oliphant, Of Tulsa, and Mrs William
J. Pettee. of Oklahoma City. Mrs. Anna
B. Dodson, of Guthrie. is recording secre-
tary. Mrs. De Ross Bailey, OF Muscogee.
corresponding secretary; Mrs. Ida NJ.
Ruby. OF Ponca City. treasurer; Mrs. Ed
ward NJ Clark, OF Pawnee. historian. and
Mrs. l.. Gertrude SprOat. Of Enid.