The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1908-01-24
MISTLETOE FOR STATE EMBLEM
Is Strongly Opposed, but viii Be the State
Flower of Oklahoma

1t is generally conceded that OKLA
homa mistletoe is the finest found any
where. This parasitic plant that at
taches itself to trees, does not thrive in
northern attitudes, though some of a
scrubby growth is found as far north as
Illinois. There was strong opposition
to its adoption as the emblem of the
new state of Oklahoma. Because of
its abundance and rank growth it was
chosen as the emblem of the territory
of Oklahoma, and will probably be re-
garded as this emblem of the new state.
1t had to contest for the honor with the
passion flower. There was a serious
effort during Oklahoma's constitutional
convention to make alfalfa the state
flower, and now movement has been
started in favor of the golden rod.
The opponents of the proposed
change point out the fact that Alabama,
Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebras-
ka and Pennsylvania have already
adopted the golden rod, and that it is
also the national floral emblem. John
Golobie, who led the fight for the orr
ginal adoption OF the mistletoe, is
strongly opposed to the goldenrod
idea, and wants the present emblem
retained.
AS far as the nativity of the gold
en- rod in Oklahoma is concerned" he
said; it came here with civilization,
as did the sunfower to Kansas. In
fact, the sunhower is as native here as
in Kansas, and, to the grief Of farmers,
is as numerous and prolific. Why not
choose the sunAower, since at least
we would only have to share its wor-
ship with one state, instead of half
dozen with the United States thrown
IMP
1t is different with the mistletoe.
The mistletoe does not grow every
where, and can not be made to grow
where it does not choose to grow. 1t
is native wherever it grows. There
are few places in the United States
in fact, in the world-where the white
berried kind grows. 1t is conceded
by scientists that the Oklahoma mistle-
toe is of rare quality and the finest in
the world.
The same argument used for the
mistletoe as the floral emblem of Okla
homa territory holds good for the state
of Oklahoma. The matter was all
threshed out by the papers at that time.
The opponents of mistletoe put up the
passion flower against it. But it was
clearly shower that an imported flower,
with the sentimental allegory attached
that it sprang from drop of blood
from the pierced wound of Christ on
Calvary was not mathematical of any
specific quality possessed by Oklaho-
ma that was not possessed elsewhere.
But the mistletoe possesses such spe-
ciic qualities native to Oklahoma, or it
wouldn't have been here before the
white man was.
Besides, the mistletoe has the fur
ther claim that it has not been adopted
by any other states, and in spite of its
parasite growth it has appealed to the
heart of humanity with greater affection
than any other purely ornamental flora
that grows, not even the laurel, the
garland Of the poets, excepted. In
addition to its Christmas cheer and its
propitious influence on others, its very
high-bred origin, objected to by its op-
ponents, can be turned into its favor
by natural allegory not yet written.
Why can not its spiritual quality be de-
noted by the very fact that it does not
have to spring humbly from the lowly
earth, but, like the soul of man is
breathed into the body by the Divine?
At any rate, like the soul, it is in
destructible by the ordinary laws of ma
ture. 1t is perennial, and the rigors
of winter that, like the angel of death,
lay all other flowers in their shroud of
snow, and the winds that blow a chill
requiem over their dead forms, are like
the warm breath of the resurrection
morn to the mistletoe."
Christian Scientists VIII Have Opposition
If imitation is the sincerest hattery,