The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-04-04
AMERICAS CREED
AWARD TO w. T. PAGE
Several Thousand Creeds Were Present
ed, But a Very Brief Declaration
Won the Prize.

WASHINGTON, April 4.-'The Amer-
cans Creed for which the city Of Balti-
more offered a prize of $1,000 was made
public here today. It's selection was the
result of National Citizens Creed Con
test approved by President Wilson,
Speaker Clark and host of famous Amer
leans The author OF the creed, who wins
the 1000 prize is William Tyler Page, of
Friendship Heights, Maryland, near Wash
ington. 1t reads
The Americans Creed-I believe in the
United States of America as a government
of the people, by the people, for the peo-
pie; whose just powers are derived from
the consent of the governed; democracy
in a republic; a sovereign Nation of many
sovereign States; perfect Union, one and
inseparable; established upon those prin-
ciples of freedom, equality, justice, and
humanity for which American patriots
sacrificed their lives and fortunes
Il therefore believe, it is my duty to
my country TO love it; to support its con
sttution: to obey its laws; to respect it's
flag; and to defend it against all enemies. :"
| The idea OF laying emphasis on the duties
and obligations of citizenship in ma
| tional creed originated with Henry s.
Chaplin and was first announced by him in
! September, 1916. The idea was approved
| by the President and endorsed by The
| Nigilantes, nom partisan organization
Of authors, artists and others for patriotic
| purposes
! Baltimore. as the birthplace of the
Star Spangled Banner, offered, in March
1917, through Mayor Preston, sl,00C
prize Committees We're appointed to pass
upon the creeds submitted, including a
| committee on manuscripts, consisting o.
Porter Emerson Brown, Henry :. Chaplin
Hermann Hagedorn and representatives Of
| magazines; d committee on award. com
prising Matthew Page Andrews, Irwin 5
Cobb, Hamlin Garland, Ellen Glasgow
Julian Street, Booth Harrington. anC
Charles Hanson Towne; and an advisory
committee consisting of COMMISSIONS
i Claxton, of the federal bureau of education
and other national and state officials.
Several thensand proposed creeds wer,
submitted and fifty of them were turned
over by the manuscripts committee to tn
committee on award and the creed framed
by Mr.. Page, in an envelope opened IL
New York City March 6, last, was selected
as the best
The creed awarded the prize was selected
because it was not only brief but remark
ably comprehensive Of the best in Ameri
can ideals. history and traditions. 1t
language is composite OF ideals taken iron
, the constitution of the United States, tn
Declaration OF Independence. the Fedora
! hist the federal oath of allegiance, Wash
ingtons Farewell Address. Lincoln
Gettysburg speech, Webster's speech in tn
J Senate January %, 1880; Edward Everett
{ Hale's A Man Without Country, Tn
t Star Spangled Banner, the army and nav
regulations, a war department circular O.
} flag etiquette of April Il, last, and tn
great seal of the United States.
e William Tyler Page, the committee o
awards announced, is descendant of
; president of the United States John Tyler
r and of signer of the American Declare
D ton of Independence, Carter Braxton. II
5 was born in Frederick, Maryland, tn
r birthplace of Francis Scott Key, and
attended the public schools of Baltimor,