The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-02-18
CONNECTICUT VETS ALARMED AT TALK
 OF CHANGING FLAG
No Foundation for Fear of O. A. R. Men That old
 Glory Is to, Be Remodeled
lspeclal to The Farmer.l

Washington, Feb. 17.--A few days ago the members of the Connecticut delegation received set of resolu- tfons adopted by G. w. Tnonpson protesting against the proposed change in the American flag. The old veterans of Thompson Post were informed, according to the resolution, that there was a movement on foot to reconstruct the American flag. They believed it and hence the reso- 1ution which stated that they under stood that the blue field was to be taken out of <sOId G1ory. and the Stars and Bars of the old Confeder- acy substituted-the Rebel flag the old veterans called 1t.
 The Connecticut member hustled about to ascertain what was the cauBe of the absurd story Of taking the lag apart and no one had ever. heard of the bill that the Bristol old soldiers veld about in their resolution.
 KRepresentative w. D. McKel1ar was asked if he had heard of the so-call- ed bill to put the Stars and Bars in the nag in place of the Blue Field sentative Donovan as follows:
 Hon. Jeremiah Donova11s
 House of Representatives
 My Dear Colleague,
 In reference to the Resolution which you showed me of the e ":
  February 11th. inst. about 9 bill changing the United States Flag:
 As a member of the Comnittee on Military Affairs, and as a Representa- tive rom the Southern State of Ten nessee. beg leave to say that I have. never heard of the proposed change and have no idea that any attempt will be made to change it, and believe if any attempt should be made that it would fall. The issues Of fifty
 
 ed our country were fought out by our fathers and settled forever. Those. who followed another nag in those days do, have no doubt have very tender memories when they think of 1t, and I believe it is now the general sentiment throughout tne country. both North and South that we should all respect these reco1lactions. a nd ad- mfre the ga1lantry of those who fought for thelr convictions. But [ believe that practically everybody North and South, are now as one in the belief that our country ig thor ouzhly reunited: that we have got the greatest government on earth; that the flag of the Republic is without a b1emish and without spot and needs no changings and that just as ft is, it will continue to float over the free est. Dravest. and greatest peopIe that ever existed on the face of the earth
 with high persona1 reeaEds, am
 ". " McK EIL4ARs'
 A search for bills introduced to change the design of the nag reveals that the story about the Stars and Bars was probably the resultsc abor- tive stories deducted most incorrect- iy from the bill Introduced by Repre- sentative Hayes a Republican, mem Der from California; who wants the stars in the flag placed in a circle on the field of blue with a star in the center composed of small StaTss end in the star red circle to represent our colonial and insu1ar posz essions. Nothing has been heard Of the bill since it was introduced until someone started the story in Connecticut that they were going to resurrect Ihe flag Of the South1andss lost cause which hoafed to prove that the nAtion could not be put asunder