The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-06-09

of the flag, and IN this capacity, backed
by an Amazon army of los 900 women,
has lohbied before Congress for the de-
sired law
Another Jealous worker for the same
legislation is William Van Zandt Cox,
one of Washington's leading bankers,
the nephew OF Sunset" Cox-he who
introduced the first flag bill N Con-
gress. Mr. Cox is chairman OF the flag
committee Of the Sons OF the Ameri-
can Revolution. For years he has col
lecied in albums hundreds of aagrant
examples of flag dissertation. hardly
enc OF which is ft for reproduction
in an article on the subject and the
Daughters of the Revolution have also
their flag committee AS said. a total
of fifty-six patriotic organizations are
now at work hammer and tongs for
State and Federal laws.
Lectures on the Fling.
In the past year Mrs. Ball has deliv-
cred thirty-two lectures on the subject.
each illustrated with the six dozen
flags fashioned by her own deft flngers.
In the course of such work she has
travelled hundreds O. miles. paying her
own expenses in each instance. and
mas personally presented many flags to
schools wherein she has talked.
NSAei'iSSS LII hey mansion.
Some time ago she delivered one Of
these lectures in WashinGton's historic
Key mansion. the old house on the
north bank of the Potomac, wherein
cwelt Francis Scott Key. author OF
The Star Spangled Banner" Here the
Il. w. B. Flag Associations named in
her honor has for years held exercises
on Tag day. until the building passed
recently into new hands
Since the crusade for n clean fIor
commenced the Senate has passed a bin
III two Congresses. wherein the House
fas refused to approve. and the House
IN one Congress has passed n bill not
approved by the Senate These bills
have forbidden the placing upon ar
ticles exposed for sale or display any
word. figure or design suggesting any
nag or any coat of arms of the United
States. Punishment is provided also
for mutiliation, DETACHMENT or Insult
to these emblems.
Two such bills are now before tho
House, one having been introduced nv
Representative l. b. Hanna. Republi-
can. of North Dakota. and the other
by Representative ]. w. Byrnes. Dem
ocrat. OF Tennessee, whose state as yet
has failed to pass snch legislation.
Federal Fling Protection.
Those working for congressional pro-
tettioH VI Nhe nag MAINTAIN that mas
much as the national emblem is the
creation OF Federal law, 1t should be
protected from insult and commercial
degradation by Federal law-that Con.
eress has the constitutional right ne.
ccssary for both the adoption and regu.
lation of the flags use. in other words.
If Congress has the power to create, II
mus. have the power to protect its
creation.
Two steps forward have been made
in this battle by Federal authority
Ten years ago the Commissioner OF
Patents ruled that neither the national
flag nor the portrait or name OF the
President or any member of his fam
lily could be registered as trade mark
and n year later he extended this pro.
lection to the shield or great seal OF
. tho United States. He held that the
/, Introduction Of the national colors in
trade mark designs is against the pub.
lie policy, chcapening the emblem in
the eyes OF the people, and taking from
| its patriotic Significance and sancity.'
Three years ago Congress backed vi
these rulings with specific act. And
recently the register of copyrights has
refused official protection to lllustra.