The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-04-15

THE STARS AND STRIPES.
The Worn.Out Ones Are All De.
strOyed by the Government.
q q

lBoston Transcrint.l

\DOSIOn 1TdNSCTlpl.)
A reader Of the Transcript writes to
inquire what disposition, official or
otherwise. is made of WORKOUT nation
al flags used by the United States gov
eminent in the army and navy, for
public buildings, etc. He is of the i'm
preston that some uniform regulation
governs their disposition and doubts
If they are thrown away.
The patriotic intuition Of the inquir-
er comedies with the fact. The gov
eminent sets an example to the whole
country in requiring that WORKOUT
flags shall be burned and not permit
ted to become mere pieces Of waste
rag. whether or not any special law
or regulation governs the disposition
of the flags. the universal practice Of
the army and navy for generations
longer fit for service it shall be de-
stroyed. When a flag used at an army
post or on board a naval vessel be-
comes unserviceable, requisition Of
the quartemaster is made for a new
one and the old one Is burned. The
same disposition is made of flags used
on public buildings in Washington.
ington buy their flags outright of the
government. Whether or not they fol-
low the official plan Of disposing Of
old flags cannot be stated.
So ingrained among military men
has respect for the national colors be-
come that 1t is extended in a curiously
formal way even to the flags of other
al Henry w. Lawton Of Philippine
fame, was inspector general on duty In
Texas. a list Of articles for condemns
ton submitted to him included a
Mexican flag. The venerable officer
who tells h story and who was an
eye witness Of the incident, says that
Lawton picked out the flag and turned
IT back, that 1t might not be made sub.
5ect to condemnation and sale as was
the other property on the list.
Flags borne in battle are Invariably
preserved. either by the commands
which carried them, or. under instruc-
tons by the war department. by the
government at Washington. A whole
roomful Of battle flags is on exhibition
at the war department., and It will be
recalled that n of the most striking
Of the mural paintings which decorate
the ~statehouse at Boston depicts the
return Of the battle flags by the Union
soldiers in 1865 to Governor John A..
Andrew.
The government is a little thrifty.
however, in the use of the national.
colors. A flag is not put out Of bust.
ness merely because It is torn or worn,
- ~ . AloJAlS0lIlCA WlIH lIIcn
who repair flags. and II the injury is
not too serious repairs are made and
the flag is sent back to service.
The fag-making plant of the navy
is at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. where
some 20 women are employed. The
bunting from Massachusetts,
and every case costs the government
must weigh five pounds to every 40
yards and stand q weight test Of 20
pounds to two square inches. It is
stepped in salt water for six hours and
then exposed to the sun for another
six hours. If strength and color hold
the fabric is then pronounced nt for
service.
That General Lawton's sentimental
treatment of the Mexican flag had its
basis in custom may be inferred from
the fact that Of the 100 varieties of
flags made for the navy - are the COL
ors Of foreign nations. all of which
must be carried by naval vessels of
the United States. Sentiment attach
ing t Q the nstional eolors is n Of
breast. and 1t is not surprising to
learn that even a discarded official
flag must be finally disposed Of almost
with military honors.
If living in q fiat is d%egenerating
enough to prompt people to draw
cubist pictures. what is riding ir
street cars?
The Belgian socialists who are send.
ing their children out Of the country
preparatory to the big strike are
more forehanded than the Lawrence
strikers were.
It IL related that Billy Sunday,
preaching made John Wanamakel
weep. But tears. at best, are non.ne.
gotiable contributions.
Cannot some one In Buffalo diver
the street car strikers attention Il
peaceful pursuits by starting som,
referendum doings?