Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-04-12
THIRD LIBERTY LOAN HONOR FLAG
CONCEIVED BY LONG ISLAND MAN
j. H. Burton, of Cedar
hurst, Invents Emblem
to Put "Pep" Into the
Drive for u. S. Dollars

Cedsrhurst, Y. l., April i2.
About eight weeks ago John Howes
| Burton, OF this village, placed red.
! hordered square Of white muslin with
three blue stripes sewed across It's white
field In his travelling bag end went down
TO Washington to interview the Secre-
tary Of the Treasury OF the United
states. In addition 10 this modest
sample OF dry goods Mr.. Burton incl
dentally had a headfui Of ideas concern
ing the most effective method whereby
his Uncle Sam might collect from his
numerous family the loan Of a little mat
ter OF some $4,000. 100000 IN a 70 ther
brief space Of time. Secretary McAdoo
being the proper man 10 see on such
matters. Mr.. Burton saw him.
Mr. Burton showed the Secretary his
sample Of muslin with it's curious ar
rangement Of the red and white and
blue and explained that this was his
notion OF what service flag for Ameri-
can dollars ought to look like. MIR.
Burton suggested to the Secretary that
the flag be adopted as an official
emblem Of the third Liberty Loan and
thereby creating badge of honor which
would cause every city, town and VII
lRge in the nation to sit up nights to
win. In his long and extremely sue
cessful career as a man Of business MIR.
Burton had learned much OF the psy
chology of the American people. lie
knew the value Of competition, of
arousing the spirit of friendly rivalry
among people you wish to Interest In
somo particular proposition.
During the second Liberty Loan cam
paign there had been rivalry among
cities and towns, but Mr.. Burton be-
lieved that there was a weakness in the
plan in the lack Of a tangible trophy Of
achievement, such as an honor flag
would provide. Mr.. Burton Is a convinc-
ing salesman, and before the Secretary
Of the Treasury had listened long to his
callers enthusiastic unfolding Of his
plan he gave his assent and Mr.. Bur
toms plan and Mr.. Burton's flag were
officially adopted. His payment has been
his satisfaction In witnessing the re-
markable success Of his idea in the very
first week of the campaign
II was during the second Liberty
Loan campaign that Mr.. Burton discov-
cred the yllue Of competition In putting
pep" into the drive II wac then that
he originated and attained remarkable
success with the daily honor roll, which
was inauguratcd In the local drive in
the section known as the Rockaway
Branch, including the villages Of CEDAR
| hurst, Lawrence, lnwoOd, Woodmcre
and Hewlett. At that time MIR. Burton
was one of the leaders Of the local Lib
erty Loan committee. The first honor roll
carried sixty names. The completed honor
roll carried more than $500 names. The
original quota OF $4,000 was SUBJ
scribed seven times over, aud the Rock
away branch took FIRST place among all
Of the cities, towns and villages in the
United States. This remarkable success
was largely attributed TO the Inaugural
ton Of the honor roll, which in the pres
ent campaign is an important and et-
feCtivS auxiliary to the honor flag.
1t was toward the close OF the sec.
ond Liberty Loan drive that Mr.. Bur
ton first conceived of the hOnOr-fiag
idea. but was unable to put the idea
TO work at that time. During the
months which elapsed between the
close Of the second and the opening
OF the present drive Mr.. Burton gave
his entire time 70 the development OF
his plan and the designing Of an APP
propriate flag,
Secretary McAdoo not only accepted
Mr.. Burton's nag, but its originator as
a member Of his immediate staff ir
'-direeting the campaign throughout the
country. He has proved one Of the