The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-11
Yes My Father, Maj. Orren Randolph Smith, Designed
the Stars and Bars Says Daughter of Southern Soldier
Rs DOLLY nALRYMp1.E

I 1auRnIEfS
the Confederacy, there win be among the
delegates from all sections of the ooun-
! try one little woman whose heart and soul
| Is not only pledged to the convention,
but whose work there is far beyond any
mere routine work Of q general nature.
This woman is Miss Jessica Randolph
Smith, daughter OF the late distinguished
Confederate soldier, Maj. Orren Randolph
Smith OF Henderson. N. c.. whose name
| is an honored one wherever It is men,
toned, whose record is an honorable one
wherever it is known, and to whose life
and character tribute has been paid four
fold wherever the "stars and Bars"
wave
Miss Smith. who is a delegate to the
| convention from the Vance county chap
ter Of Henderson, ~ c, spent a few
hours in Birmingham within the past
few days en- route to New Orleans, where
her mission Is one of love and devotion
to her honored father.
AT this convention the question OF who
-e7Ae"ate Hag will come
up, and Miss Smith goes to present the
claim of her father, who has been recog-
nized by the Confederate veterans (and
they are the official organ) as the de-
signer of the "Stars and Bars as well
as by the United Daughters of the Con-
federacy.
L. ="..l Az ,4IAe -. .ns
1901 when another Richmond appeared
in the field.
The matter is one OF general interest to |
all those who love the STARS and Bars"
and IL Miss Smith appears before the con- |
vention ard presents her case as she did |
to me, when / had the pleasure OF meet
17c~ a1a- vie eli tN har
tiyes, Mr.. and Mrs. Joseph Riddick Estes,
50 let wOmany face filed with the
light Of love for her honored father, and
the desire to perpetuate his memory in the
hearts of his people, and establish his
right as the designer of the flag, she can
not fail, for honesty, devotion and loyalty
are imprinted upon her earnest face
which is made beautiful by her unswerv-
ing fidelity to a cause which is very dear
to her.
Miss Smith wears about her neck
'charJn" of which she Is very proud. 1t
was presented to her father, Major
Smith, just three months before his
death. on Lees birthday January 10. 1913,
by the North Carolina division of United
Daughters of the Confederacy.
The foundation Is the "cross of honor"
made of black enamel, and on it are the
crossed sabers in gold, while the flag
in red, white and blue enamel lies over
these, the stars being done in diamonds.
On the back is the inscription with the
date:
ITO the Designer OF the Stars and
Bars-Maj. Orren Randolph Smith"
When I asked Miss Smith to tell me
about the origin of the "Stars and Bars"
and the circumstances surrounding her
fathers design of the flag, she said in her
quick. sparkling way:
when the senator's and representatives
of the seven Confederate states that had
seeded February l, 1861, met at Mont
gomery, the first business after organiz-
ing was to decide whether the new nation
should have new flag and new consti-
tuition or fight under the Stars and Stripes
and under the constitution of the United
| States The debate was Short but both
sides had strong arguments to offer.
"a new constitution was adopted and a
committee was appointed to select new
| flag This committee advertised in the
| leading papers for designs OF flags to
| be sent to 1t at Montgomery.
''When my father was introduced by
! Gen. Julian S. Carr. commander-in-chief
of the United Confederate Veterans of
North Carolina, at a reunion in Norfolk,
September, 1910, he told the story OF
the Stars and Bars in the following
words:
The idea of my flag took from the
Trinity, "Three in One" The three bars
were for the church, state and press. Red
represented state, legislative. judiciary
and executive; white for church. Father,
Son and Holy Ghost; red for press free
dom Of speech, freedom of conscience and
liberty of press-all bound together by
field of blue (the heavens over alb. bear
ing a star for each state In the confed-
Grafton. The seven white stars, all the
same size, were placed in a circle show
ing that each state had equal rights and
privileges, irrespective of size or popular
ton The circle, having neither head
nor foot stood for eternity, and signiied
''You defend me and I'll protect you."'
you see, I'm telling you the story.
Miss Smith continued. lust es my father
told it, He went on to say
'I had the flag all complete in my mind
before the Confederate congress adver-
| tised for models, and when the advertise
ment appeared designed a flag and when
| It was finished I sent It. to Montgomery,
with the suggestion that star be added
for each state that Joined the Confeder-
acy. The flag committee, as you know,
accepted the flag and named 1t The Stars
and Bars They also adopted the sug-
| gestion and it was not long before the
| flag bore II stars for the IL Confederate