The Washington herald., 1918-06-15
PRESIDENT ATTENDS
OUTDOOR EXERCISES
Solicitor General Davis
filings German Challenge,
Ptedging All.
ELKS' HAVE ANNAU EVENT
WITH SISSON AS ORATOR
Mrs. Baker Sings and Representa-.
tive Saunders Speaks at Met
ropolitan M. E. Church.


feat on land or sea, was the pray
or that rose from the President
of the United States, and 10000
war workers gathered yesterday
at 4 o'clock in the Sylvan Theater
to reverence the emblem on its
I44th birthday.
1t was the first anniversary in
its history that the banner had
iloated over foreign battlefelds
overseas, and wrapped our soldier
dead who sleep in foreign soil.
Cray and serious was the day
on which such a solemn festival
was held, and the gray Washing
ton Monument in the background
seemed a lodcstone to draw to-
gcthcr the hearts OF the million
soldiers abroad, the hundred mil
lion war workers in America, and
especially the hundreds of war
workers from the big government
machine.
Baker PresIdes.
Secretary Baker presided. The ad-
dress os me Gay was ;iJe:. by JOHN
". Davis. solicitor general Of the
United States.
Dur.Es the address by Solicitor Gen.
traI Davis, Lieut.. Edgerton. OF the
aiTplane mail service. circled above
the audience dripping tiny flags
Thirteen flags around the back OF the
platform on which was the depart
mental chorus. rose slowly during the
playing of THE National Emblem
by the Marine Band. The last num-
her was the lowering Of the Same
flags to the music of THE Star
Span-led Banner"
Secretary Baker spoke as follows:
In ordinary times our flag repre-
Sents the traditions of history and
the aspirations of our nation. The
number OF its stripes is the number
OF the original States; the number OF
its stars the number OF that mightier
and larger constellation which now
makes up the United States. It Is al
ways to US the emblem OF our patri-
otic attachment to the nation and an
exhibition of the ideal purposes and
the high moral foundation upon which
We believe the nation should rest.
Has New Meaning.
But in these times the flag has
acquired a new meaning to US all.
Men are fighting under that flag on
foreign soil. and as we look upon
the flag here today. we can convey
with our glance into its folds some
Of the approval and some of the de-
votion we feel for those about whom
it is to be wrapped in that foreign
country after they have paid the
last full measure Of devotion to the
ideals which that flag typifies.
1T Is therefore especially appro-
pirate. in the midst Of a great na-
tional crisis and era of this sort
that we should assemble thus in
public and give to the flag and the
thing it represents the dedication OF
a new devotion, those of US on this
side remembering in affection those
on the other side. those on the other
side making common cause with
americans everywhere. soldiers al
home and soldiers abroad, having
the common purpose to place that
flag and keep it where our forefath-
ers intended II to be. in the very
forefront of civilization, character
lied by adherence to high ideals and
devoted to the 1oftiest causes which
can engage the affections and &C.
tivitics of mankind"
Solicitor General Davis especially
considered the debt we owe to the
thousands who are giving their al
for the nag.
solicitor Davis Address.
You are gathered to pay homage
TO the flag Of our country" said Mr.
Davis. One hundred forty-one year,
ago today the Continental Congress
adopted 1t as the national emblem.
Three months later It received IL.
baptism Of fire at Brandywine.
To-day we honor it. not as an image
or fetch, but as a symbol OF thing,
infinitely great and dear.
ut stands for independence now. as
II did then. 1t stands for an ordained
and established government of ouI
own choosing.
The flag stands now a $ IL did then
for a nation seeking nothing for itself.
1t Is a nation keeping faith itself and
compelling nations of the earth 10
keep faith with 1t.
Then, as now. our country op.
presses none and refuses to be op-
pressed by any other.
Then, as now, our flag stands for
liberty. To millions of mankind our
flag means protection. Huddlinc
wretches from the other side of the
globe find here protection. The per
secuted and down-trodden of the
world find here escape. from their
misery. and surcease from the bur.
dens that have weighed them down,
Opportunity to US and to ali
comers Is offered by the flag. Not the
opportunity offered by kings and des,
pots to their favorites. but an unim-
peded pathway TO our own desires.
The immigrant becomes the mer.
chant prince: the cabin boy stands
on the officers bridge in few years;
the private soldier may rise to the
stars Of general; a self-educated
country boy may become president"
A Challenge Flung.
The iipne has come when we are
challenged TO yindicate and defend
our Inheritance Instead of inde-
pendence we are invited Ito accept
CONTINUED on PACE THEE