El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-12-17

y ECENI arrests Fl PaSOanS for refusing stand
* when America The Star Spangled Banner and
other patriotic pieces being played restaurants
and amusement resorts have resulted several requests
reaching The Herald to print something regarding the COZ
rect thing to do when certain music is played
The Herald d. better than TO reprint part of an
editorial from this paper by h D. Slater or May of the
tiOns:
Most audiences nowadays stand when they hear
america" played start to sing it. There
Why they should do It has become habit and very
awkward one indeed. The tune IS played all sorts Of
occasions often most Inappropriate ones for any demonstra
tion whatever. It IS national ARR and
entitled to special recognition than any other patriotic
song By America" The Herald the song begin
nlng Ny Country Us Of Thee That IS not the ma
tiOnal air. and there call upon audiences when
II Is P1yea q sung OF 10 give II any sel recognition
The same IS tue Of the other patriotic airs have
toned with the sole and single exception Of The Star
SPangled Banner.
The Star Spanged Banner Is the one and only ina
tional air" national anthem" It is time due recogn
ton accorded It by law, national and local.
that its ceremonial might be duly protected dig
nified way, and that people everywhere would
enough TO rise and stand still when 1t played sung
proper occasions The air should used under
any circumstances except as ceremonial with dignity and
whenever the national air. The Star Spauqled Ban
neT played under improper conditions pub
lie dining part of the stage business" In
theater for chorus girls ensemble a climax to
the dissertation by standing Popular dsapprovaI should
be invariably expressed when The Star Spanged BanHer
played any occasion in such degrade
its high Office Let 1t be understood clearly and universally
that It Is sign Of patriotism 10 SIT DOWN when The
Star Spanged Banner Is played as part OF medley
PUBIC dining room OF incidentally 10 some act N
theaeT, cheap piece Of stage business" insulting
good taste and unpat0tic II would be the
Stars and Stripes wiper IN effort to get
coarse laugh on the vaudeville stage
Americans are VIGOROUSLY careless in respect to the
patriotic embIems In many other countries even Mexico,
the Of the national air gdly restrcted many
1t be played at all in public without special
authority In country the official usage of the army
navy, and marine corps well established and should
everywhere and shoud be enacted law national state
and local Until 1t be made matter Of Law,
accomplish the needed reform From the Cavalry
Drill Regulations Of the United States army the following
rules quoted they should be carefully read and applied
BY civilians everywhere:
"The composition. known as The Star Spanged
Banner IS designated the National Anthem Of the
United States Of America.
Provisions. requiring the playing Of the Ma
tiOual Anthem at any time place shall be taken
70 mean The Star Spangled Banner to the exclusion
Of other tunes musical compositions popularity
known S national airs
Commanding officers VIII require bands 10 play
national and patriotic airs on appropriate occasions.
i'The playing Of the national anthem OF any conn
try part Of a medley is prohibited.
when played by an army band, the National An
them shall be played through without repetition Of
any part
whenever the National Anthem IS played at any
place when persons belonging TO the military service
present all officers and enlisted not in for
nation shall stand at attention facing toward the
music"
Officers and men are required TO salute when the
National Anthem IS played retaining the position Of
salute until the last note; II IN civilian clothes and
wearing hats, they shall remove hats and hold them
at the left shoulder during the playing.
The regulations plain enough for anybody to
aerstand Is It not possible to educate the public
sisteut observance Of them at all times?
The Of the National Anthem so closely guarded
the public service that the president OF the United States
IS the only living nan whose presence Is entitled to be