Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-27
OPPOSE DISSERTATION OF FlA6
PATRIOTIC BODIES FILE PRO
TEST AT THE CAPITOL.
Hearing by Senate Committee on
Military Affairs-Addresses
by Prominent Residents.


! Scores Of patriotic men and women who
are interested In preserving the sacred
ness OF the American flag and preventing
| its desecration attended the hearing this
| forenoon before a subcommittee Of the
Senate committee on military affairs on
| bills to prevent the dissertation. mutila-
| ton or improper use of the nag. The
committee room proved to be too small
| for the throng. and the adjoining CORR
doris were crowded with those who have
expressed their indignation at the de-
| spoliation of 'Old Glory"
The subcommittee was composed OF Sen
ators Lodge. Frasier and Warner, and
those who urged the passage Of one OF
| the pending measures were headed by
Mr.. W. v. Cox of the Washington Board
Of Trade. who was elected chairman OF
] the joint committee to present the mat
ter to Congress.
| After the doors Of the committee room
| were opened every seat and all the stand
| ing room in the apartment was quickly
occupied by representative people from all
parts of the United States. the overflow
extending into the corridor.
| The two bills under consideration are
known as the Lodge and the Warner
Grafton of the American flag.
Mr.. Co.'s Address.
The opening speech was by Mr.. Cox
who said in part:
THE patriotic societies of America are
grateful to those who have introduced
bills to prevent the dissertation OF the
American flag, and to this committee
which has granted this hearing.
I'VE know how busy you are at the
| close of the session, so we shall be as
brief as possible in pointing out the need
of legislation that will prevent the abuse
and misuse Of our country's emblem.
Thirty years ago. on April Is. 1878
| Samuel S. Cox Of New York introduced
the first bill into the House of Repre-
sentAtives Oh. r. No 4305) to prevent the
dissertation. OF the United States nag.
That bill, as all others since. died In the
committee. I have from time to time col
lected illustrations of the misuse OF the
| flag, which I submit for your inspection.
These illustrations will show what SO
| many patriotic Americans protest against.
They will also: we believe; emphasize sas the
never contemplated by those who estab-
lished and by those who have defended
| that old flag.
"Mr. Chairman. we are not sentimental
lStS, OUT all 6eNSc OIL pIOpIISly az OuN
ragged whenever we see our ensign used
for improper purposes.
1--WE understand the flag to be an en-
blem of our liberty; that we owe TO our
fathers. who struggled and won, the sol
emn duty Of maintaining it unsullted at
home as well as abroad. We maintain
| that the flag of the United States is the
creation Of federal law and should be
| protected from insult and commercial
| degradation by national law:
"As to these bills, the G. A. II. indorsei
the Warner bill; the American Flag Asso-
citation indorses the Lodge bill. but most
| of us, Mr.. Chairman. indorse them both
and shall feel satisfied with any measure
that protects the flag from abuse.
! There is no question OF politics In these
bills and there is no appropriation asked
| from the Treasury. There 10 no north. nc
south, no east. no west. but united
country entreating Congress for a clean
dag"
Mr.. Cox next introduced Judge Ivory G.
Kimball, acting chairman OF the national
committee on legislation OF the q. A. H.
who had ordered recess OF his court 10
order that he might be present. He asked
Of more than 400. 600 veteran soldiers and
sailors he represented to protect the Amer
lean colors. He said he preferred the bill
| introduced by Senator Warner. VINO Is a
past commander-in-chief of the G. A. r..
but added that all the bills were good. and
the passage OF either would be welcomed
as a positive advance in saving the nas
for the purposes intended by its makers.
Mrs. George T. 6mallwood. vice regent
for the District OF Columbia Daughters
Of the American Revolution, made a
strong plea along sentimental lines for
the flag.
Gen. Thomas M. Vincent, representing
the American Flag Association. spoke OF
the work Of that widespread ORGANIZATION
and traditions
Mrs. John r. Walker Of Missouri, who
was designated by Mrs. Mclean. presi-
dent Of the D. A. r.. to represent her At
the hearing. made strong plea Tor the
Mrs. Isabel Worrell Ball. past president
Of the District Woman's Relief Corps.
urged the passage OF one OF tho nag bills.
and described some Of the forms OF desc
jected by INSCRIPTIONS patent medicine
manufacturers and others. which she
characterized as q disgrace.
Mrs. Daniel Lothrop of Massachusetts,.
founder Of the Children Of the American
Revolution. urged immediate action by
the committee on one OF the measures
Mr.. w H: Singleton of the Washington
Board of Trade made a strong speech On
the constitutionality Of the proposed legis-
lation. He said today is the anniversary
of the birth of Gen. Grant. and the best
celebration of the event would be a favor
able report Of the Senate committee on
the flag bills-'the flag for which Grant
fought so hard to keep all the stars in
Among others present at the hearing
were Mrs. Du Barry Keim, Mrs. Juliet II.
Cox. regent Of Flag Chapter; Miss Emery.
Miss Polkinhorn. Mrs. Semmes, Capt.
Moon. u, 8. n. Col John McElroy. edi-
tor National Tribune: Harry w. Samson
and representatives from various patri-
otto societies from all parts of the United
States. all apparently much interested
in legislation to prevent the degradation