The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-06-14
been furiously denounced by the Des.
eret News
FLAG DAY TODAY.

| IdSa0 LA IODAY.
Today is the one hundred and thirty.
sixth anniversary of the unfurliny of
the American flag in substantially its
present pattern. Prior to that time
there had been various colonial flags.
but after that the National flag was
made supreme. IT has remained so
ever since. The thirteen stripes have
never varied The field has varied,
however, in the arrangement of the
stars; these being at one time arranged
in circle, ut another being grouped
as large star. The circular form left
tho center of the field bare. The star
form grouped the stars too much in
the center, leaving the outer field prac-
tically unoccupied. And so Congress
in 1878 passed law providing for the
arrangement of the stars in parallel
rows and for adding star on the fonrth
day of July succeeding the admission
of new State. This law has been
observed ever since, until now the field
is full, and no more States are ex-
pected to be added. Six rows of eight
stars to the row now complete the
field. with the thirteen stripes as at
first.
Laws have been passed forbidding
the commercial use of the flag, and
also forbidding the employment of 9th
er flags in parades or other public dem
onstrations in this country, the aim
being at the red flag OF anarchy, which
has been especially legislated against
in number of the States, and should
be legislated against in all of them
and also by Congress.
1t is fitting on this anniversary that |
special ceremonies and observances be |
carried out in honor Of the flag We,
as a people, have fallen into much neg.
lect of the due and proper observance
that beft the unfurling of the flag.
We do not, as rule, salute the flag.
We do not generally recognize the flag
rs the emblem Of the supremacy of
The Republic, the symbol of the free
lom Of mankind.
But the object in having flag day
S to change this indifference toward
he nag, and by inculcating in the
schools a due reverence for il, TO
'uild up in future generations a peo.
DE who will on all occasions show
proper respect and Difference to the
lag.
1t is. therefore, fitting that the day
'e observed as flag day, and that pa.
riotic exercises be enacted in all the
chools throughout the United States.
'hese observances are becoming quite
eneral, and it is hoped that they NAV ,
'ecome universal. In Utah there is !
pecial effort made to cultivate this 6
eellng of loyalty to the flag and to {
i've TO it those signs of respect which |
re its due.
All this is excellent, and the effect t
pom the rising generation cannot be S
therwIse than good; and so we com {
1end unreservedly the proper exer- c
ses in honor and veneration of the t
ag. even though this year the dav Y
appens to fall upon a day not a school q
aI In TACT, 1t is rather unfortunate s
nee so much is expected to be made t
the exercises in the schools in honor Y
the flag. that the date is so late that y
ost of the schools have been closed Z
nd 1T is not easy to collect the pupils r
IT tins Observance. Still, as much as P
'ssinle should be done in this line, TO
e end that the flag may be recognized
ITS proper worth and usefulness hv
the youthful population of the Great :
epnblic \