Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1918-06-28
TAKE CARE OF FLAG
National Capitol Is Only Place For
Continuous Display.

Wncn dH AHACAASoh Aiob 80 Jaw
pieces by an enemy cannon or mus
kerry in most instances 1t cannot be
helped. But when il is allowed to
blow to pieces while perpetually
"mastheaded" on an office building
staff or in any other place it has been
desecrated. This was the Flag Day
declaration given out by the Western
Department of the army in San Fran
cisco recently in an educative effort
to secure greater respect for the ma
tional ensign.
The declaration proclaimed the flag
to be a sacred thing, which must be
treasured and treated with reverence
at all times. It urged that the army
and navy regulations covering the use
of the flag be generally accepted, and
that every owner of a flag 60 through
his own private ceremony of raising
and lowering the cOlors every day.
The department declared the fol-
lowing practice to be strictly against
regulations:
Draping the flag in semi-circular
or other decorative effects. Every
thread must show.
Placing the flag on speakers tables
or platforms, where it may be used
as a setting for a water picher or
even trod upon.
Using it for belt, girdle or drape'
IL is not an article of dress.
Using it for motor car, carriage or
float decoration other than in man.
ner that will permit it to fly straight
out and show all of its beauty. When
used otherwise, the flag might tran
in the dirt, the acme of desecratlonI
The declaration holds that the CHIEF
offense against the flag is allowing 1t
to be blown continuously until 1t is
blown to shreds. Every flag that is
not suspended indoors should have q
caretaker, who should display it when
the days tasks begin, and fnri 1t
when those tasks are ended. There
are three places where the flag may
be flown continuously, according to
regulations.
Those places are over the Senate
and House wings of the Capitol at
Washington, and the capitol proper
Even these flags must be kept spot
less. They are renewed every six
weeks, and the old ensigns respect
fully burned.
When pure decoration is called for,
bunting alone should be used. The
flag is no more meat for decoration
than a priestly vestment.
But one flag is shown above the
American banner and that is the
church pennant. This is to signify
that there is but one thing more su'
preme than the country, and that Is
the Kingdom of God. The regulations
prohibit the use of any other flag or
pennant on the same staff as the ma
tional ensign. If there is a desire to
honor the flag or an alley or neutral
country it must be placed on a sep
arate staff.
When the flag passes in parade or
other observance, civilians should rise
if they are sitting and remove their
headgear. In inclement weather
they should lift the hate so that it does
not rest on the head.
Second only to the flag is the ma
tional anthem. It must be considered
also that in these times the national
anthems Of the allies have taken on a
new significance. When 1.-THE Star
Spangled Banner, "God Save the
King" and the "Marseillaise," are be-
ing played or sung all must rise and
stand at strict attention. II there are
men they must uncover and remain
uncovered until the last note Ia reach