New-York tribune., 1908-02-17

the new states shall be added in the field by ex-
tending the arcs
In discussing his bill Mr. Ansberry said: There
is no reason why this change should not be made
as it the original intention of the designers Of
the flag TO have the arranged in circle. and
the present arrangement has higher authority
than order of a Secretary of War, which was
tacitIy accepted by the people. My plan is not SO
much change the flag it stands at present
as to make some adequate design, which need not
be overturned whenever a state is added TO
the Union.
the present emblem is not what it was intended to
be by its founders. and for this reason 7 do not
believe that should feel any hesitancy in advo-
eating change. On June Il, 1777 the Continental
Congress passed It's resolution that the flag of the
United States thirteen horizontal stripes alter
nate red and white; that the union he thirteen
white stars arranged in circle in blue field,
representing a constellation. But even this
not the first American flag. A few months
after the colonies had been at war 1t was seen
that flag was necessary. and in December. 1775, a
committee consisting OF Benjamin Franklin.
Thomas Lynch and BENJAMIN Harrison recon-
mended. and the Continental Congress adopted, the
British union, in which the blue field of St An
drew formed the field. with the red cross of St
George plus thirteen red and white stripes. This
vas hoisted the headquarters of General
Washington at Cambridge. Mass. in ITS In June
1776 it unofTcialIy decided by Congress, in
view Of the impending Declaration. to replace the
union hv a five pointed star to denote the five na-
tions which composed the thirteen colonies.
The flag of III based on the constellation
of Iiyra, which has thirteen stars, and because
Ivra was time honored emblem Of union and
harmony The stars were arranged In a circle to
denote the perpetuy of the country, the ring being
the symbol of eternity and the stars being sug-
eested by the stars the escutcheon of the
Washington family. This flag used in the
War of the Revolution The flag adopted in
III remained unchanged until 1874 when, on mo-
ton of Senator Bradley. Of Vermont. which state,
with Kentucky had been admitted into the Union
it was resolved that on May l. 1885, the flag should
have fifteen stripes alternate red and white, and
that the union contain fifteen stars white in blue
field. This flag used until 1914
This act made no provision for future a1tera-
tons although several new states had meanwhile
been added to the Union. In 1916, on the adnlis-
sion of Indiana, committee was appointed 10 in
dure into the expediency of altering the flag a
bill was reported in 1871 which embodied the sug-
gestions of Captain Samuel c. Reid, distinguished
for his defence of the privateer General Arm
strong against a superior British force The bill
recommended the reduction of the stripes to the
original thirteen and the adoption of stars equal 10
m. number of states This bill approved by
the President the next year, and the new flag
was hoisted over the House of Representatives.
The stars were arranged in rows, or squares, en-
bematic of agriculture.
TO be made for the army. placing the stars hexa-
gonally TO correspond with tho flags OF the navy
There was no provision in this design for adding
stars for new states admitted to the Union When
Oklahoma was admitted joint board was ap-
nointed by the Secretary of War and the Secretary
Of the Navy, and that board submitted a drawing
TO the duartermaster general showing a rearrange-
nent Of the stars. with for the new state
This design arranges the stars in the field IN a
oufncunx design which is the emblem of justice
There can he no proportion in this design. and
the trouble will repeated with every state that
is admitted
In the flag suggest the symbolism IL aPpaf-
ent There is one star composed of many stars
The five arcs in combination are embematlc OF
the union of the English, German, French Slavic
and Scandinavian races in this country. have
talked to a number of Representatives aoout the
change. and find that there IS no greae objection
70 II after the matter is considered, although at
first thought it seems unwise to attempt 70 neddIe
with such a sacred emblem the flag.