Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1917-11-02
KEEP FLAG SACRED
NO ADV. MEDIUM
State OF Pennsylvania Regards 1t
As Felony.
mISUSINC OUR FLAG.
What Joe Beatty Burt Has To Say
About The Law Governing
Stars And Stripes.
Communicated)


Editor Of The Capital:
Dear sir:-It is my opinion that you
win be violating no law Of the United
states or OF its territories or Of any
state government if you print in your
spaper for educational purposes
picture showing the United States
nag ana the emblems Of the Order OF
odd Fellows over a saloon in Louis
vile, Ky. This opinion is based upon
tas. replies that have received from
the Attorney General of the United
states. the Honorable Van c. Swear
inren. Attorney General of Florida;
Honorable i. ID. Boyle. Governor Of
Neveda. and others who have charge
OF the legal departments of the differ
ent states and territories of the United
states.
The Attorney General of Florida On
October j, 1917. writes as follows:
we have no statute prohibiting the
use of the American flag in connec-
ton with advertising purposes. A bill
covering the subject was introduced
in the Legislature this year, but, for
some reason, failed to pass, though !
40 hot think such failure was due to
any opposition it, very likely, got
lost in the shuttle which usually pre-
cedes the closing Of each session.
The Legislature this year enacted
law which prohibits the advertis-
ing of liquors in this State in any
manner whatsoever,
III there is any gambling in this
state at county fairs or church
bazaars, ] am not aware Of it.
Il know Of no law in this State that
prohibits such literature being cir
culated"
Governor Boyle of Nevada on Octo-
Ter nth, writes as follows:
1T is true that in Nevada nearly
every saloon in the State, and We have
number of them. has flag hanging
over the bar, in the windows, and
perhaps at other points. The saloon
business here, however, is still IL
censed business and [ presume that
the owner of one of these establish
ments has the same right to display
the flag that any other business man
would have. Most Of us are looking
forward to the solution Of the prob
lem at the polls year hence, when
prohibition comes up on the initiative.
Ii these is any violation of the gamb-
| ling laws here at county fairs and
church bazaars, the matter has not
come to my attention.
81 am certain that it would be no
violation Of any law here to send lit
erature Showing the United States
flag on a saloon) to the people of this
States
I have asked President Wilson to re-
quest the Department of Justice at
W Washington, to give an opinion in
preference to the right to mail for edu-
cationaI purposes, to the people in
the District of Columbia, the picture
of the Chicago saloon that uses the
picture of Abraham Lincoln, Presi-
dent Wilson and the United States
flag in its display underneath the adj
vertisement of Milwaukee beer. / am
sending yGu herein a copy of the gen.
eraI statement prepared by the De-
partment of Justice at Washington
on account of so many letters being
received by the Department asking for
information concerning the law gov
eTning the use of the United States
] flag. You will note in this general
J statement that there is no other Fed
eral legislation bearing upon this sub
ject except the Statute approved Feb
ruary 8, 1917, which only governs the
District of Columbia. The Attorney
General did not send me a copy of this
Statute
Respectfully submitted,
JOE BEATTY BURTT.
AEisHsing Our Flag.
Whoever uses the United States
flag for advertising any business OF
trade whatsoever shall be guilty Of