The Coconino sun., 1917-05-04
THE AMERICAN FLAG
 AND ITS PROPER USE

have written and telephoned this of- flee within the past fortnight asking what is the proper way to hang the national emblem, the Army and Navy Journal has consulted every authority available on the subject. The chief question is as to the position of the union-the starry field-of the nation al flag when it is hung without a staff, as for example from the front of a building. The position of the union in a flag flying from a staff or mast is of course we'll established both by regulations and custom; but as to the position of the flag when not attached to a staff, there is endless diversity of opinion. There are no official regulations as to the matter and there is no accepted opinion even as to the prevailing custom. Army officers themselves do not agree, some holding that it is the best army GUS tom to keep the union at the left as one faces the flag, whether it is hung from the front of a building either horizontally or vertically. This, how ever, does not agree with what ap- pears to be the growing custom to hang the flag with relation to the points of the compass, the union be- ing hung to the north or east as the case may be. The following informa- tion we derived from an army officer who has made special study of the subject and may be considered as authoritative as any opinion, in de- fault of definite regulations as to the display of the Stars and Stripes when not attached to staff or mast.
 Not until the first administration of President Mckinley was any concert ed action taken to form even by GUS tom some sort of regulations which might finally be accepted by the pub lie without their being backed by law. This work was undertaken by com- mittee on decorations, the members of which Suggested" to those who hung flags from their windows or across walls, that the union--the starry filed-should be either to the north or the east, as the street ran east and west or north and south. The only reason that can be found for the adoption of this custom is that in all sciences these directions are regarded as "positive"-for instance, in map. making the northern and eastern DOT tions of city are always outlined in heavier markings.
 The flag should never be draped, though it has been and still is com monly used for this purpose. The main objection is that when draped against wall or stand the fabric usually becomes stained, warped or mangled by breezes and by splinters from the wood. Whenever possible, the flag should be flown from a staff or mast so that it may be as free as the people it represents.
 So far as can be learned no Europe an country permits it's national emb' lem to be draped as decoration. This may be, however, because no other flag lends itself so nicely to this pur- pose as does that of the United States Our flag should not be used as a cover over a table, box or desk, nor placed where anything can be set or placed upon it.
 When the national flag and other flags are flown together, the former should always be on the right. Wher the flag is flown at half-staff as g sign of mourning, it should be hoisteC to full staff" at the conclsion of tn, funeral. When the flag Cor severa of them) is used in unveiling a statue or monument, it should never be per, mitted to fall to the ground but should be carried aloft to wave free, at ono, forming distinctive feature to tn, occasion and honoring the emblem.
 When clusters and draping of tn, colors are desired as decoration us, red, white and blue bunting--but no the flag. If it is so used, however care should be taken that it is no placed below a person sitting on stand, platform or rostrum, for ex ample, when the president delivers his war address to congress April Z the flag hung vertically beneath tn clock of the house of representative acbk of the president with the field il the upper corner. If bunting is usec
 army custom requires that the re
 shall be at the top, then the white an
 finally the blue.
 Every schoolboy knows that each o
 the stars stands for" state but fe,
 grown-ups know that the five point