Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 191?-19??, 1915-06-17

0.3 Il 1L ~ LINZ II AAsA II HAA II.
TO The MAKERS OFIHE FLAG
sgt,-- M
/ tBy Franklin K. Lane, Secretary of
the Interior)
Speech delivered on Flag Day, June
IA, 1914, before thezemp mployees of the
! Department of the Interior, Washing
ton, D. c., by Hon. Franklin K. Lane
sSecretary Of the Interior. After reading
this speech of Secretary Lane, Secre-
etary of the Navy Josephus Daniels took
the first opportunity to say to his col
I leagues in the Cabinet that nothing
/ finer had been written about the flag
and that Mr.. Lanes tribute would go
+ down n history asa classic. !.
This Flag Day speech is one which
should Inspire every American. ut
should be memorized by every boy and
girl in the schools of North Carolina
1t breathes the very spirit of Ameri-
can1Sm. 1t reads:
MAKERS OF THE FLAG.
This morning, as 1 passed into the
Land Office, The Flag droppe dine a
most cordial salutation, and from its
ripping folds / heard it say: Good
morning, F-r. Flag Maker"
81 beg your pardon, Old Glory" I
said, "aren't you mistaken? I am not
the President of thesUhited StRtess non
a member of Congress. nor even a gen.
Eera1 in the armykI am only a govern
ment clerk
ST greet you again, Mr.. Flag Maker y
replied the gay voice. 81 know you
we'll You are the man who worked in
y the swelter of yesterday straighten-
ing out the tang1e of that farmers
. homestead in idaho, or perhaps you
found the mistake in that Indian Con-
tract in Oklahoma, or helped to clear
that pa ent for the hopeful inventor in
New York, or pushed the opening OF
that new ditch in Colorado, or made
q that mine in Illinois more safe, or
brought relief to the old soldier in Wy
..foming No matter; which ever one OF
. these beneficent individuals you may
:, happen to bel give you greeting, Mr.
Flag Maker"
sfF : twas about to. pass on when The
: Flag stopped me with these words:
YESTERDAY the President spoke
: a word that made happier the future
ii of. ten million peons in Mexico; bu
: that act looms no larger on the fas
than the struggle which the boy il
Georgia is making .ato win the Corr
Club prize this summer.
r Yesterday the Congress spoke F.;
o word which will open the door o
:, Alaska; but a mother in Michigan
4 worked from sunrise until far into tn
p night, to give her boy an education
She too, is making the flag.
nj Yesterday We made new law t
= prevent financial panics, and yester
- day, maybe school teacher in Obi
v, taught his first letters to a boy VIII
"a will one day write a song that vii
% give cheer to the millions of our race
w We are all making the flag"
,v But 1 said dmpatient1y, "thes
q. people were only working"
IS Then came great shout from the Flag
d. sTHE WORK that we do is th
r. making of the flag.
$, 81 am not the flag; not at all. I al
is but it's shadow
" 81 am whatever you make me; notl
ing more.
ce 81 am your belief in yourself, yor
at dream of what People may become
N. I live changing life, a life
On moods and passions, of heartbreal
ar and tired muscles.
ii. Sometimes am strong with prid
when men do an honest work, ittir
the rails together truly.
Sometimes droop. for then pu
pose has gone from E1e, and cynical
I play-the coward.
Sometimes 1 am loud, garnish al
ne full of that ego that blasts Judgment
on "But always am all that you no
ty. to he. and have the courage to try #
eo. 81 am song and fear, struggle a.
ly' panic, and ennobling hope.
ty, a4 am the days work of the weake
ga man, and the largest dream of the me
IN daring.
ors .'I am the Constitution and t
on courts, statues and the statue make
soldiers and dreadnaught, drayrn
ur- and street sweep, eoo1s, counselor a
re- clerk
81 am the battle of yesterday, a
uly the mistake Of tomorrow.
lty' 81 am the mystery of the men W
ea. do without knowing why.
s. 'I am the clutch of an idea, and
reasoned purpose of resolution.
sstI am more than what you belle
lon, me to be and am all that you beiit
Ior can be.