The Alaska daily empire., 1914-07-14
FRANKLIN K. LANES
 TRIBUTE TO THE FLAG

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 The following fine and true tribute to the American flag. what 1t is and what 1t stands for, is from a speech delivered at Washington In the court yard of the patent office to the employ ees of the Interior Department by Sec retary of the Interior Franklin K, Lane:
 Makers of the Flag.
 This morning, as passed into the Land Office, The Flag dropped me a most cordial salutation, and from It's rippllng folds heard 1t say: Good morning, Mir. Flag Maker"
 q beg your pardon, Old Glory" l said, aren't you mistaken? I am not the President of the United States, nor a member of Congress, nor even a general in the army. am only gov ernment clerk"
 q greet you again, Mir. Flag Maker" replied the gay voice, "I know you well. You are the man who worked in the swelter of yesterday straighten- ing the tangle of that farmers home stead in Idaho. or perhaps you found the mistake in that Indian contract in Oklahoma, or helped to clear that pat ent for the hopeful inventor in New York, or pushed the opening of that new ditch in Colorado, or made that mine in Illinois more safe, or brought relief to the old soldier in Wyoming, No matter; whichever one of these individuals you may happen to be, give you greeting, Mir Flag Maker"
 was about to pass on, when The Flag stopped me with these words:
 "Yesterday the President spoke a word that made happier the future of ten million peons in Mexico; but that act looms no larger on the flag than the struggle which the boy in Georgia Is making to win the Corn Club prize this summer. ...
 "Yesterday the Congress spoke a word which will open the door of Alas ka but mother in Michigan worked from sunrise until far into the night to give her boy an education. She too, Is making the flag.
 "Yesterday we made a new law to prevent financial panics, and yester, day, maybe, a school teacher in Ohio taught his first letters to boy who will one day write a song that will give cheer to the millions of our race We are all making the flag"
 But" said impatientIy, these peo pie were only working"
 Then came a great shout from The Flag:
 "The work that we do is the mak ing of the flag.
 q am not the flag; not at all. an but It's shadow.
 q am whatever you make me, noth ing more.
 "I am your belief in yourself, youl dream of what a people may become.
 q live a changing life, a life o moods and passions, of heartbreak' and tired muscles.
 Sometimes I am strong with pride when men do an honest work, fitting the rails together truly.
 Sometimes I droop, for then pur pose has gone from me, and cynicall! play the coward
 Sometimes I am loud, ga:ish anC full of what ego that blasts judgment
 But always I am all that you hopt to be, and have the courage to try for
 q am song and fear, struggle anC panic, and ennobling hope.
 "I am the days work of the weakes man, and the largest dream of thu most daring.
 "I am the Constitution and thu courts, statutes and the statute maB CTS, soldier and dreadnaught, dray man and street sweep, cook, counselor and clerk.
 "I am the battle of yesterday, an the mistake of tomorrow.
 q am the mystery of the men wh do without knowing why.
 'T am the clutch of an idea, and tn reasoned purpose of resolution.
 "T am no more than what you bC lieve me to be and I am all that yo believe I can be.
 "T am what you make me, nothin more.
 q swing before your eyes as bright gleam of color, a symbol ( yourself, the pictured suggestion that big thing which makes this M tion. My stars and my stripes ar your dream and your labors. They ar bright with cheer, brilliant with cou age, firm with faith, because you hay made them SO out of your hearts. Fc you are the makers of the flag and is well that you glory in the making