The Commonwealth. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1911-1914, 1912-08-09
PHILADELPHIA REPRESENT
ATIVE WAKES PATRIOTIC
INTRODUCES BILL TO COM
PEI CITIZENS TO BE
PATRIOTIC.
Pennsylvania's Latest Patriot.

Pennsylvania is apparently strong on
patriotism \ year ago Representative
J. Hampton Moore, Of Philadelphia, in
troduced a bill to compel, under penalty,
proper respect for the Stars and Stripes.
Now, Representative Charles Matthews,
of New Castle, is out with a bill along
the same lines but with an additional
provision for the red flag. New Castle
has a socialist administration.
Patriot Matthews evidently wants to
show his old party friends that he is GO
ing to bring the wrath Of the federal
government down upon the heads of the
triumphant socialists who parade the
red flag of human brotherhood on the
streets of New Castle. OF course, the
old party yokels don't know that intro
ducing a bjll'is one thing and having it
appear on the statute books is quite an
other thing.
Just how gray matter will act under
certain conditions and environment is
aptly demonstrated in the following
masterpiece of proposed legislation;
'Whereas, it has become a common
practice to carry in public professions
and parades or displaying from houses
and buildings flags OF other nations and
the red flag, also disfiguring the United
States flag for purposes of advertise
ment, and so forth, to the dishonor of
our national eolors, which tends to
breaches OF the public peace, and against
the good order of society; therefore,
Section l. Be it enacted, ETC., that
II shall be unlawful for any person or
persons, firm, or corporation, to write,
print, paste upon, or attach, or cause to
be attached, to any flag, standard, or
ensign of the United States of America
any words, signs, symbols, or characters
whatsoever as advertisements or for any
other purpose, and any person or per-
sons, firm or corporation so doing shall
be guilty OF a misdemeanor, and upon
conviction thereof shall be subject to a
fine OF not less than three hundred dol
lars and undergo imprisonment for
term Of not less than three months, or
either, at the discretion of court before
which convicted.
"Sec. 2. That in all public parades
and professions, political, religious or
otherwise, in which flags, banners and
other symbols are carried and displayed
the flag Of the United States of America
shall be carried unfurled in the advance,
or at the front of such parade or pro-
cession, and any person or persons neg
lecting or refusing to do so shall be
guilty Of misdemeanor, and on convic-
tion thereof shall be subject to a fine
and penalty, as provided in the first
section Of this pact; provided, that the
foregoing shall have no application to
foreign embassies or consulates.
"Sec. 3. That it shall be unlawful for
any person or persons to display in any
public assemblage, or from any house,
building, polo or other structure, the red
flag except in subordination to the flag
of the United States of America, or for
any person or persons knowingly or
wantonly, by violence to pull down or
remove any flag, standard OF ensign of
the United States of America, carried in
any parade or procession, or displayed
from any house, building, pole, or other
r.
trample, befoul, mutliate or otherwise de-
face the same, and any person or per
sons so doing shall be guilty of a mis-
demeanor and upon conviction thereof
shall be subject to a fine not exceeding
one thousand dollars and undergo i'm
prisonment not exceeding one year, OF
either, at the discretion Of the court be
fore which convicted; provided, that the
foregoing shall have no application to the
use Of red flags for danger signals and
for the purpose of warning persons of
possible injury 70 life, limb, or prop
erty."
Patriot Matthews. according to the
Congressional Directory, is engaged in
manufacturing and banking. Also, a.
cording to inside information, Patriot
Matthews is afraid that a socialist may
succeed him next fall If New Castle
continues as it so well began, Patriot
Matthews will take the above bill back
home next winter as a souvenir Of a
brief stay in Washington.