Evening star., 1915-03-07
W0ULDSAVEFLAG
FROM DISSERTATION
Patriotic Societies of Country
Strongly Support Senator
Sheppard's Bill.
COULD NOT BE USED
FOR PURPOSE OF PROFIT
Next to Mother Love Is Love of
Country" Declares Mrs.
Charles II. Jonas.

Friends of the measure to prevent
the desecration of the American flag.
introduced by Senator Sheppard of
Texas in 1913, passed by the Senate
and left in the hands of a subcommit-
tee of the House judiciary committee
with the adjournment of Congress
Thursday, are to renew their efforts
in its behalf when the Sixty-fourth
Congress convenes. Among the strong
supporters of this piece Of legislation
are the various patriotic societies OF
the United States. such as the Sons OF
the Revolution, the Daughters of the
American Revolution. Sons OF the
American Revolution. the Society of
the War of 1919 and many other ma
tional bodies.
That the members of these organtza-
tions believe that the final outcome
will be favorable to this bill, and that
it is the duty of every patrlotic cru
zen to cooperate in the movement pS
notifying this subcommittee OF Viola
tions of the spirit of the pending leg
islation, is the opinion expressed by
Mrs. Charles H. Jonas OF the DlstT,ce
of Columbia branch of the u. "A. n.
every true patriot will acknowl-
edge that, next to mother loVe' tne
love of country is the purest and most
e1isinterested and, therefore, the Shep,
nard hiI1 has been welcomed by all
Americans with satisfaction, saiu
Mrs. Jonas recently in discussing .ne
matter. "The bill, briefly, Is as foi-
lows:
What the Bill Contains.
THAT any person or corporation VINO
shall use the flag or coat OF arms y.
tbe United States for the purpose OF
nity or destroy them, or use same TO
nrint or paint upon, shall be guilty OF
a midemeanor and upon conV1ctlon
shall be punished by fine not exceeu-
ing $500. or by imprisonment not ex-
ceeding one year: and that IT rs tne
duty of any United States d's1rlct ~.
torney to cause the arrest and prose
cution of any person or persons
charged with the violation OF the pro-
visions of this act -
"In a meeting of the subcommittee OF
the House judiciary committee" con-
timed Mrs. Jonas. held February 10,
1915. statements were taken from MISS
Lovisa White, subchairman. and Mrs.
s. G. Cornwell, chairman of the Nag
committee. p. A. r.: Frank W. Mahin
Of the consular service and William
y. Cox, chairman of the flag committee.
National Society Sons of the American
Revolution.
see the misuse Of the flag and asked If
action could not be taken against any
foreign country where such treatment
had been observed. Mr.. Webb of North
dietary committee, stated that there is
no authority to compel citizens of
foreign country to protect our nag;
that any improper use of the flag
United states consul and that he could
communicate with the Secretary of
State and make his protest. and that
usually, as a matter of courtesy, those
things are stopped There are only two
ways to prevent a desecration of the
flag-one is by pleasant relations: the
other is by force, declared Mr.. Webb.
Tells of Flagrant Dissertation.
.Mr. Mahin then cited an instance of
a fragrant desecration of the flag in
Amsterdam, which, after great deal
Of trouble he finally succeeded in
abolishins.
which he had compiled of the various
misuses to which the flag has been
put in the United States. It is used
by ballet dancers. clowns and prize
fighters for drapery, trunks, champion
ship belts. and dog blankets. handker-
chiefs, sofa pillows. neckties, stool
covers, cigarette trays and shirts are
covered with it, he said.
Fruit sellers wrap their oranges in
it; packing houses wrap their hams in
it, soap and candy factories print their
names on its broad stripes and stars.
1t is used on patent medicines and
nostrums, securing compounds. BIZ
cycles, canned salmon. stockings, cor
sets, malt extracts, table cloths. por
there's and napkins. He also submitted
a synopsis of the statutes of thirty-six
states and territories which have been
passed to prevent the desecration of
the flag.
"As a direct result OF the misuse Of
our flag by persons for personal
agrandizement," concluded Mrs. Jones,
nations have claimed in the past that
our strongest national feeling Is the
love of the almighty dollar Therefore.
while Europe is at war, 1t seems of
paramount Importance that we make
our patriotism strongly evident. and
there would seem no better way to
accomplish this than through the noti-
fication process suggested and approv-
ed by the great patriotic societies Of
thA