The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-06-15

4
who would put peace above everything
ielse were not helping the PATRIOTS II
of the country. Mr.. Howell said that
he did not believe one cherished very
highly anything he would not fight
for.
! War and conquest, Mr. Howell said
had been the soil out of which true
patriotism had grown. He spoke nj
/ the necessity for being prepared fo-
war.
/ Some Would Defend by Words.
| He said that if words were to be
used as bullets and shells, then there
were some of the men in our public
| life today who would stand in the
mississippi valley. and adequately de-
| fend both coasts against an enemy.
| He spoke of the duty of those who
are Americans to instill patriotism
and loyalty into the hearts and minds
c. our naturalized citizens. This must
be first if we are to keep our patriot
i ism from declining
| w. G. Blood spoke on the Iowa Flag
Law Mr.. BIood's paper which ne
prepared for the occasion dealt fully
laws in other states.
Mr.. Blood on Iowa Law.
Following is his raper on this sub
lject:
! an 1899 the state of Illinois passed
an act to prohibit the use of the ma
tional flag or emblem for commercial
purposes, or as an advertising
medium. This is quite similar TO the
Iowa law in meaning but is not near
" so comprehensive The act made
it unlawful to use or display the ma
tional flag or emblem or any repre-
sentation of same for advertising A
firm in Chicago used pictures of the
national flag upon cigar box labels,
and one of the partners was arrested,
tried and fined $50 before a Justice
of the peace. He then appealed to
the criminal court of Cook county,
where he was again tried, convicted
and fined SO. The case was then
appealed to the supreme court of ILL
nois.
lone of the labels was female
head with picture of the American
flag in the corner. Another was
picture of hansen, the explorer, in
the center of wreath, around which
was entwined the American flag. An
other label was the picture of Presi-
dent Lincoln. a view of the capitol
building at Washington in the dis
lance, and on the right hand a picture
of the American flag. Another label
was the picture of a female figure in
the center holding in her right hand
a shield containine upon 1t picture
of the American flag.
The supreme court of Illinois, in a
very lengthy opinion by Judge Ma
gruder, held that this law was I'M
constitutional in that it unduly inter
fered with personal liberty, and hence
violated the constitution of Illinois as
the said act does not concern the pub
lie health. safety, welfare or comfort.
and also violates the U. S. constitu-
ton in that it abridges the privileges
and immunities of the citizens of the
United States. as the right to use
and display the flag is privilege Of
the citizen of the United States; and
stitution in that it excepted from it's
provisions those who engaged in pub
lie Or private exhibitions of art as
being class legislation.
Dissenting Opinions.
Three Illinois judges dissented to
this opinion. but did not give the
reasons for their dissent Amongst
other reasons given by Judge Magrud-
er in holding this flag law unconstitu-
tional are these: He says that con-
gress had never passed any legis1a-
ton restricting the use of the flag or
combining its use to any particular pur-
pose, and hence it would seem that
if that had been the intention of con-
gress there would have been some
provision in the federal law. They
also based their reasoning upon the
fact that many trade marks consisted
of various representations OF flags,
and that the commerce of the high
seas was carried on under the flags !
of the different nations.
"In the year 1903 the state of New ,
ork passed an act relative to the |
mutilation or misuse Of |
the L. S. flag which is quite similar |,
10th in meaning and phras.eoiogy to
the Iowa law
This law was also set aside by |
the courts. This decision is quite |