The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-06-11
FLAG DAY. IlINE u

Next Wednesday, June 4, Will be
the 134th anniversary of the stars
and stripes, and in accordance with
the custom OF the past fourteen years,
the occasion will be more or less
desultorily observed.
1t ought to be observed pretty
closely. It is a fine idea TO set apart
a day in the year to thought of the
flag and of the glories it represents.
and while it isn't necessary to make
a legal holiday of it, at least the flags
should be brought out and flung to the
breezes from housetop and flagstaff
and porch front in commemoration Of
the flags birthday.
On June u. 1777. congress made
the following enactment: THAT the
flag of the thirteen United States be
thirteen stripes, alternate red and
white. that the Union be thirteen
stars, white in a blue field, represent
ing a new constellation.
The number Of the stripes having
been increased by the admission of
new states, it began to dawn on the
fathers OF the republic that such de-
velopments might be in store for the
republic that It would be awkward TO
represent the number Of states by
stripes, so on april 4, 1913, the orig
inal thirteen stripes were unchange-
ably restored by the following act:
THAT from and after the fourth DAY
Of July next, the flag Of the United
4 States be thirteen horizontal stripes,
alternate red and white; that the
| Union be twenty stars, white in blue
/ field, and that on the admission Of a
new state into the Union, one star be
! added to the Union Of the flag; and
such addition shall take effect on the
fourth day Of July next succeeding
4 such admission"
The stars in the flag, once thirteen
are nov Iorty-six, and when congress
gets through worrying Arizona and
New Mexico they will be forty-eight
Except by division Of existing states
4 there il not likely to be any more
states 80 that in all probability the
flag az Il viii stand when the starr
for New Mexico and Arizona are add
ed viii be the flag OF the United States
for many years to come.
The custom is for the President
governors Of states and mayors o
cities TO proclaim Flag Day and =
urge it's observance Where schools
are still in session though no schoo
should be in session 80 late AS jun
lift ia the custom 70 have cxercise
calculated 10 ingpire the pupils viii
the patriotic spirit.
The American Flag Association. al
organization Of individuals and fla
committees from patrioaic societie
in the United States, has taken III
lead In the observance Of Flag Day.
was formed IN 1897. 70 promote res
/ erence for and prevent the desecrs
! tlon Of the flag ri our country" an
besides prosecuting those %ho uEe tli
flag for improper purposes, such q
advertising, II brings FLAG Day " IN
attention Of executive officers, and III
3 pregs and TO the public Its appc;
j this year is az follows:
I'VE respectfully appeal 70 III
n Presldent Of the United States, 10 81
? governors Of all the states 81 81
q land and 10 the mayors of each Anne
d lean city. 10 herald the coming al
o celebration Of Flag Day BY proclaim
e ton. we cali upon eyery public .
a dcer, every teacher Of the youth Of o.
country the editors Of all Newspaper
~ t1re dill" in@irrctoeF ~ The N9ptii I