The National tribune., 1910-09-29

piecemeal. Oddly yS<Gough, South Da-
kota, one of the newest States. was the
first to secure Fla3 lawEb 1897, and
Kansas, born of rqba allion, as the last
In 1905.
The States adopted Flag laws as fol-
lows:
South Dakota. Feb, 26, 1897: Mime
sofa, April 81. 1897; PENNSYLVANIA. April
r. Nsw 1901 yGft vfERog Fsp T. Tss$PSsF cadfas sss
March 2, 1899: New Hampshire. March
10. 1899; Maine, March II, 1893; Mas
sachusetts. April 10. 1899: Connecticut.
April 10, 1899; Illinois. Apnil %, 1899;
Arizona. Legislature of 1899; Iowa, took
effect July (. 1900: Oregon. took effect
Feb. 81. 1901: Indiana, March II, 1901;
Washington, March Is, 1901; Colorado.
March 2S, 1901; Wisconsin, Legislature
of 1901; Michigan, May l, 1901; Rhode
Island, April 3. 1902; Maryland. April
IS, 1902: Ohio, April %. 1902; Utah.
March 4. 1903: New Mexico, March IA,
1903; Missouri, March %. 1908; Della
ware. March 81, 1908; Nebraska, April
s., 1903; New Jersey. March ., 1904;
Porto Rico, March 10, 1904; Idaho.
1905; wyoming, 1905; oklahoma, 1905;
Kansas, April, 1905.
Altogether SO States have adopted
Flag laws. If all the States would do
this we could let Congress go hang, but
you will note that there is not a South
will be At our hearing the Chairman
of the committee assured us he could
give us law for the District of Column
bia, but | told him that we did not
want it. | knew it would be the death
knell of National law IL we got one
for the District. There are many hun
dred patents and trademarks on the
Flag protected by the United States
Patent Office, and these form one of
the greatest stumbling blocks to our
success in Congress. "Old Glory Beer"
our Flag Whisky" Congress Rye"
and trademarks like these are protect
ed by patents. and as there are mill
lions invested in the trademarks vest
ed interests cut a heap more ice with
members of Congress than patriotism
and love of clean Flag.
In 1902, however, the Commissioner
of Patents ruled that the United States
Flag and the portrait or name of the
President or any member of his family
could not be used as a trademark.
Having done this much, he went fur
ther, and on the Sd day of March. 1903,
extended this ruling to prevent the use
of the Shield or the Great Seal as a
trademark. He withheld approval of
the desired trademark, holding that
the introduction of the National coiors
in trademark designs is against the
public policy, cheapening the emblem in
its patriotic significance and sanctity."
You can readily see the remarkable
condition of affairs. Presidents have
importuned for a clean Flag and prom
iSed to sign such a bill, but Congress
could not see that it had any power to
disturb vested rights; but here is a
Commissioner of Patents, clothed in a
little brief authority. who suddenly as
sumes to dictate to a Nation, and no
body utters a word of protest How I
wish we had more men like this Com
missioner of Patentsi Surely that is a
whole wheatfield of straws showing how
the wind is blowing toward decency for
our National Emblem, ; ~
Another ineffably distressing desecra-
ton is the printing of all sorts of foul
advertisements on the white stripes of
the Flag. An Army officer. a gentle,
cOurtly old veteran. who had followed
the Flag for so years, told me that the
common uses of the Flag abroad, par
ticularly in the Philippines, was to des-
ignate bawdy houses. L have been in
formed that this condition OF affairs no
longer exists. and that such use of the
Flag meets with condign punishment
from military officers.R ii
How many of you are able now to
buy Flag napkins and tablecloths? /
have not been able to get them either
in Washington or BaltimoreF / did not
want any, but l ask for those things to
see how the dread of the law works. 1
am told that the firms manufacture only
few now. as there is no call for them.
You see, in those 32 States that have
Flag laws such articles would come un-
der the ban. And let me tell you an
other little story. About five years ago
it was necessary to retile the entry to
the National House of Representatives
To my horror, when | entered that place
m m INV IL in, ta
gallery in the Fail, l had to walk on
red. white and blue tiles forming the
shield, which some idiot of an artist
had designed, with scroll-like ribbons
fluttering out from it. But, to make a
long story short, last Summer the Shield
tiling was removed and plain put in it's
place. | do not say that / did it, for
others took it up; but a prominent Off
cial said that it was easier to put down
new tiling than 1t was to hide out
every time certain women came to the
Capitol L am not suffragist, but I
am militant to the hearts core when it
comes to lighting for the Flag.
Admiral Dewey has also noticed the
difference in the respect paid to the
Flag. II have seen during my service
in the Navy great advances in the re-
spect shown 1t even by our Sailors he
says. In the olden days it was not un-
common for Flag to be folded and
used "a cushion in n boat, but this
would not be thought of at the present
time. Indeed. the Flag is now regarded
as most sacred object in the Navy,
and on board ship whenever it is hoist
ed all work stops, all hands stand silent
and every officer and man salutes. I
hope that the day is not far distant
when all people shall cease to abuse or
desecrate the Flag of our beloved cOun-
try
The United States Express Company
was once one of the greatest foes of
our bill, but the back Of that corpora
ton is broken. Its trademark was
originally a striped square that looked
like the Flag, with an American eagle
lowering over it. This trademark could
not even cross any one of the - States
mentioned awhile ago. and so to be able
TO do business in these States the trade
mark has been changed. This change
was made in 1908. Senator Platt, OF
New York, was then living, and was
President of the company, | believe.
We had been hammering on this Flag
desecration thru the press and thru
Congress, and several Flag bills were
on the calendar. Senator Platt nm
doubtedly saw the handwriting on the
wall, and the order went forth.
If we are unable to impress our own
people with the Importance of what we
are trying to do, Ro& can Sfe expect to
interest strangers ?? The National Pres
ident asked in G. o. and Il have impor-
tuned from the National platform for
Endorsement of this work Of my com
mittee, and | come before you with a
little handful, about.50 in dll. Among