The Washington times., 1908-07-20
SCORES RALPH ROSE
FOR FLAG INCIDENT
-Olympian Color Bearer
Guilty of Discourtesy,
Says "Old Sport

There was. one little episode in The
Olympic games. says the Old Sport in
the Philadelphia Enquirer. which, II
true as reported, will cause every real
American TO blush with shame.
The Old Sports criticism follows:
According to the story when the ath-
letes of the various countries passed in
review in front of King Edward the
flags of their respective countries were
dipped out Of compliment 70 their host
There was nothing suggestive Of ser
Witty in this; nothing TO indicate that
those who dipped their colOrs proposed
to renounce their allegiance to the
country whose colors they had the
proud honor of carrying: merely the
outward and visible expression Of re-
spect to a man, though a King, who
has proved himself 10 be one Of The
greatest sportsmen IN, the world. a man
who has been proud to lead his horse
from She scales after weighing IL. TO the
judges stand.
According to the reports when the
American athletes reached the stand
Ralph Rose, the American color bear
er, refused to do that which the color
bearers representing the other countries
participating in the garnes had done
If we could be only led to believe that
this act of boorishness twas the result
of neglect or ignorance om the part of
the gigantic Californian the humiliation
that every American must feel would
be somewhat softened. Bat, unfortu-
nately, according TO the story, after
this fragrant display of bad manners
Rose was regarded as a sort of hero
by his teammates, who approved OF
his action by shaking him by the hand
and patting him on the back.
Condoned b. Colleagues.
'It is almost incredible hat that
splendid band of athletes. many Of
whom are graduates Of our most noted
colleges. would Willingly condone such
an insolent usurpation Of the rules of
common politenesss. 1t was mo place to
haunt pinchback patriotism. For the
time being, the athletes areN the guests
of the English nation. Under the cir
cumstances Il was no more obsequiOus
for them 70 salute the King Of England
with their cOuntry's flag than IL would
be for them to take OF their hats II al
Tuftted TO his Queens drawing room.
ITO try to palliate this offense against
common courtesy by admitting that II
was 'undiplOnatic but american Is
only TO emphaiZe an Implied anront &c
the gracious host. To suggest that Rose
was inspired by the spirit Of Concord
Lexington, and Valley Forge is tht
veriest twaddle-twaddle that wouldn
fool for an instant the most blatant
Jingoist in the land.
If It Happened Here.
Reverse the place and conditions Say
that the games were held here. and
that the President OF the United States
had consented to review the competing
athletes in the same way as did thE
King of England. And say that IN pass
ing his excellency, the standard-bearel
of the English athletics, refused to d.
as the others. dip his cOlors. Wouldn'
the possibilities for a free-for-au b
great. with the chances Of some of th'
lingo papers to come out dat-fOOted fol
an Immediate declaration of hOstilitie!
between the two countries? In tn
meanwhile every true American VII
deDIore- Roses failure to observe thi
rules Of common decency and good be
havior."