The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-07-16
Adjutant General Of War Department
Issues Circular In Which Some
Common Usases Are
Defined.
DAYS FOR RAISING FLAG
Civilians Are Told How They Should
Give Salute to Banner-Other
Matters OF Flag
Etiquette.

The following official circular IS
sued by the war department contains
much that will be of interest to many
and is especially valuable at this
time:
War Department. the Ad1utant Gen
erals Office, Washington, D. c.
Many inquiries concerning the proper
method of displaying, hanging or sa-
lut1ng the United States flag, are be-
ing received in the war department
with the evident object of securing
some authoritative statement relating
to the subject.
In this connection it should be re-
marked that while it Is within the
province of the war department to
prescribe rules and regulations gov
ernfng the matter in question for the
observance within the army, yet 1t is
beyond its province to prescribe any
such rules or regulations for the guild
ance of civilians or to undertake to
decide questions concerning the sub
ject that are presented by civilians.
There is no federal law now in force
pertaining to the manner of display
ing, hanging or saluting the United
States flag or prescribing any cere-
monies that should be observed in
connection herewith. In fact there are
but two federal laws on the statute
books that have any bearing upon this
subject, one the act of congress ap-
proved February 20, 1905 (33 Stat, L.
p. 1850, providing that a trademark
cannot be registered which consists of
or comprises, inter ALA, "the flag,
coat Of arms, or other insignia of the
United States, or any stimulation
thereof" and the other act of con-
gress approved February 8, 1917 pub
lic-No. 305-64th congress), provid-
ing certain penalties for the desecra-
ton, humiliation or improper use of
the flag, within the District of Co.
lumbia. Several states of the union
have enacted laws which have more
or less bearing upon the general sub.
ject. and 1t seems probable that many
counties and municipalities have also
passed ordinances concerning the mat
ter, to govern action within their own
jurisdiction.
Warning against dissertation of the
American flag by aliens has been is
sued by the department Of justice,
which has sent the following notice to
federal attorneys and marshals:
ANY alien enemy tearing down,
mutilating, abusing or desecrating the
United States flag in any way will be
regarded as danger to the public
peace or safety within the meaning Of
regulation IL Of the proclamation of
the president issued April s, 1917, and
will be subject to summary arrest
and punishment"
1t is the practice in the army, each
day in the year, to hoist the flag brisk
ly at sunrise, irrespective Of the con-
dition Of the weather, and to lower 1t
slowly and tremendously at sunset,
indicating the commencement and
cessation of the activities of the day,
and to display it at half staff on Mem
orial day MAY 30) from sunrise I'M
til noon and at full staff from moon.
until sunset, and also on other days
specially designated for that purpose
by the proper authority, the flag al
ways being first hoisted to the top Of
the staff before being lowered to the
half staff position.
There has been some question
among civilians concerning the exact
location of the flag hung at half
staff" Theoretically, the flag is al
ways hung on separate staff, mucn
shorter than the staffs usually erected
on buildings, and as consequence
flag hung at half staff would be To-
Gated much higher on the ordinary
flag staff than under the present
practice, but still the custom OF plac-
ing the half-staffed flag in about the
center Of the flag pole, whatever It's
length may be, is rather generally OBJ.
served throughout the country, and
this department sees no real objec-
ton to this custom
Considerable discussion has arisen
throughout the country concerning
the proper manner of hanging and
displaying the flag for decorative pur-
poses. AS already stated, there is
no federal law governing the sub
tect, and individual opinion differs
should not be followed. 1t has been
suggested that as far as possible the
hanging of the flag should be re-
stricted to suspending it from a flag
pole, in the regular way, and to dis
playing it otherwise; that for pur-
poses of decoration only the national
colors should be arranged in the form
of bunting and not used in the form
of the flag; that if it Is nevertheless
Inc desire to use the flag for deco
rative purposes 1t should always be
hung fiat whether on the inside or
the outside of buildings, with the
union to the north or east, so that
there will be general uniformity in
the position Of the union of each flag
displayed; that the flag should rarely
be displayed in horizontal position
or laid fiat; that under no circum
stances should it be hung where it
can easily be contaminated or soiled.
or be draped over chairs or benches
to be used for seating purposes, and
that no object or emblem of any kind
should be placed above or upon it.
This department sees no objection to
dvin1 the flag at night ON civilian