The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-02-22
Presentation by Philadelphia
Chapter of the d. A. r..
Il Made in the Hall of the
House Today.
SPEECH BY MRS. GUERNSEY
Follows Opening Of the Meet.
ing by Gov. Capper.
Great Great-Nephew OF Betsy
Ross Is Present.

ROSS Is fTeSeuts
The presentation of flag to the
state of Kansas by the Philadelphia
chapter of the Daughters of the
American Revolution was held this
morning in representative hall under
the auspices of the Kansas chapter of
the ID. A. r.
The meeting was held at 1O:3O
o'clock and the representatives dis
continued their session to assist at the
celebration. Governor Arthur Capper
opened the meeting, introducing to the
company Mrs. Robert Merrick. regent
Of the Topeka chapter of the d. A. r.,
who presided at the meeting. Mrs.
Merrick presented Mrs. George
regent of the Kansas chapter, and
candidate for the presidency of the
national organization. Mrs. Guernsey
made the presentation speech, telling
the circumstances which led to the
idea of giving to Kansas a flag by
the women Of the Pennsylvania So
ciety.
.Fifty-four years ago today" she
said, 1.-The first flag that bore on its
field of blue star for the state of
Kansas, was raised over Independence
Hall, in Philadelphia, and Abraham
1SlncOln raised the Tag ana maze the
address of the day The flag means to
us loyalty and also peace. 1t was
given to us by women of the City of
BrOtherly Love. We have in our ma
ton men and women who have come
from countries that are now at war,
but there is every reason why the
United States should be entirely neu-
trail We hope that this flag will new
er wave over a battlefield"
The Acceptance.
The acceptance of flag was made
by w. Y. Morgan of Hutchinson, lieu
tenant-governor and president Of the
senate. and by Robert Stone, speaker
of the house. Mr.. Morgan spoke of
what the American flag meant in 9TH
err nations. when Mrs. Morgan
and l were on one of our ramblings
a few years ago. we were in Constan-
tinOple. We found the French flag
flying over tobacco factory; the Bel
gian flag over some railroad shops,
and the English flag floating from a
bank, but there was no American
flag. After a few days we went to
the edge of the city. and there we
found on a hill a school for girls. one
of the finest institutions of it's kind in
that part of Europe. and the only
girls school in the Turkish peninsula
Over it was the American flag, and
we were proud that while the Rags OF
other great nations waved above the
buildings that sheltered Industries
that were taking away the wealth OF
the land. our flag rose above an insti-
tuition that was giving all and taking
away nothing"
Mr. Stone reviewed some of the
events of the revolutionary war, wher
the flag was first made. He spoke OF
the spirit of true patriotism;. thai
while 1t deplored war, it did not shrink
from the duty of loyalty to the flat
In order that succeeding generation:
might live in peace and liberty Hs
told also of the place of Kansas as
leader among states of progressiv,
legislation. and what it owed to it
early soldier settlers.
Nephew of Betsy Ross.
Mr.. Joseph Satterthwaite, represen
tative from Butler county, was intro
duced. He is a great-great nephew o
Betsy Ross, who made the first Ameri
can flag. My mothers great aunt
Betsy Ross. taught her how the fla
is made. She learned how to max
the stars with one clip of the scissors
and my mother taught the art to me.
ID. X. Evans of Topeka, was next O
the program. Mr.. Evans was in Phil
adelphia at the time of Lincoln's ad
dress and the raising of the flag owe
independence hall. He was then 2
years of age. and he sail that he an
his father got up. at 2 o'clock in tn
morning to get a place near the plat
form from which the address was
pc nlaue. he nearu every WORD
the speech on the occasion whic
Kansas ID. \. RS are celebrating to
day.
Ira ID. Brougher, department con
mander of the Kansas Grand Army
the Republic, who was appointed
raise the flag. spoke briefly. He wa
soldier in the war of the Rebellion
serving with a Pennsylvania regimen
After the ceremony at the Sta
house. the ID. A. r.. women of II
peka. and their out-of-town guest
went to Mills tea room for luncheon
At Independence Hall.
Philadelphia. Feb. 22.-On the sp,
where Abraham Lincoln unfurled II
Stars and Stripes over Independent
Hall on February %. 1851 there w;
raised today the flag presented
Philadelphia by the state of Kansa
A similar ceremony had been n
itol at Topeka. where a flag presen
ed by Philadelphia TO Kansas was
be unfurled.
The occasion was a double celebr;
ton of Washington's birthday and
the admission of Kansas to statehoo
for on February %. 1861. Linco
raised the flag of Kansas over the hi
toric hall. The flag presented
Kansas was made by the Flag aHou
chapter of the Daughters of the Anne
lean Revolution. f4F
has 0IIIT MFYln0