Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1914-06-24
EVERY AMERICAN A MAKER OF
.Fs tm,5 OUR FLAG W. 49, "a.

Franklin K. Lane, Secretary of The
interior, in a recent address describ
ed the American spirit, typified BY
our flag, III the following beautiful.
anG patriotic prose poem:
.Ihis morning, as l passed into
The SRali4 o4fiee lag uropped ne
i ll4osl colalaI ,sa4lLAuon, ssnd iron
US Tipping rclus' i heard Tit say:
40. nlurnillg MIR. f4ag Maker
lsa,esAsyS pard6n, Ulussilory,S
said, you are mistaken. l am no
snee 1resi4ent ofsthe United States
dor tlle VIE tIesluen1, nor a mem
Der OF Congress, nor even a%@gGnera
IN the army i am only aEgOgern
inent clerks
WELL, you helped to clear that
patent for the hopeful inventor I il
New York or pushed the opening O.
that new ditch in Colorado o. made
that mine in Illinois more safe, Of
Lrought relief to the old soldier il
Wyoming. No matter,%Whicheyer on
IT these beneficent individuals 70.
may happen to 5be, ] give you greet
ing. Mr.. flag Maker"
Yesterday the Congress spoke :
word which will open the door o
Alaska, but a mother in Michigan
worked from sunrise until far int
the night to give her boy an educa
ton. She, too, is making the flag
Yesterday we made q new law tC
prevent financial panics; yesterday
doubt, a school teacher in Ohio
taught his first letters to a boy who
will write a song that will give. cheer
To- the millions OF our race. We are
all making the flag"
But j said impatiently, 'these
were only working
Then came a great shout about the
lag. b i,-t 3
Let me tell you who 1 am.
1.-THE work that We do is the max
ing of the real flag.
I am not the flag, not at all! / am
,ut it's shadow. T. &Els ~ sglg.3
Il am whatever you make me,
Nothing more.
II am your belief in yourself, your
lream Of what a people may become.
81 live a changing life, a life OF
moods and passions, OF heart breaks
Ind tired muscles. s. g a.
Sometimes l am strong with pride,
When men do an honest work, fitting
he rails together truly. =
Sometimes / .droop, for then pur-'
,ose has gone from me and c%ynically
play the coward. - II.
Sometimes l am loud, garish and
ull of that ego that blasts judgment.
But always I am all that. you
lope to be and have the courage to
ry for.
II am song and fear, struggle and
anic, and %ennobling hope.
Il am the days work of the weak
st mar and the largest dream OF
ne most daring. = r''G
Il am the Constitution and the
ourts, statutes and statute makers
older and dreadnought, drayman and,
treet sweep, cook, counselor and
Jerk. g ~ !
Il am the battle Of yesterday and
le mistake of tomorrow. - !
liam the mystery Of the men who
0 without knowing why. II
II am the clutch of an idea and
le reasoned purpose of resolution. /
Il am no more than what you be-;
eve me to be and i am all that you
I can be. ,
Il am what you make me, nothing
ore.
II swing before your eyes as a
right CLEAN Of color, a symbol OF
o~urself, the pictured suggestion OF
lat big thing which makes this ma
on. My stars and my stripes are
our dreams and your labors. They
e bright with cheer, brilliant with
firm with faith because you
ave made them so out of your
carts, for you are the makers of the
az and it is we'll that you glory in
making