The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-09-14
WAR is THE ISSUE RESPECT OF FLAG
Campaign County Attorney Warn
ters Around Conflict. ing to Topekans.
Democrats To Uphold Wilson Stars and Stripes Being Mis-
O. P. a Few Complaints used by Many Here
FOOD IS BONE OF CONTENTION LAW IS STRICT ON SUBJECT
Fixing PrOfeering Ignorance VIII Not Excuse
Republican "Big Stick" Anyone Guilty Dissertation
"He Kept Us Out Of Fine Imprisonment Pen.
War" Will Be ChOrused. atty May Be Imposed.
County Attorney Issues Warn.
ing to Topekans.
Stars and Stripes Being Mis-.
used by Many Here.
LAW IS STRICT ON SUBJECT
Ignorance win Not Excuse
Anyone Guilty of Dissertation.
Fine and imprisonment Pen.
atty May Be Imposed.

A warning has been issued by Hugh
Fisher, county attorney, to everyone
in Topeka and Shawnee county re-
garding the use and misuse of the
Stars and Stripes. The dissertation
of the flag Is going to bring severe
punishment upon the heads of those
who are guilty, and the county author.
tiles have stated in no uncertain
terms that the matter is going to be
taken up with a vim.
Ignorance Of the laws relating to
the flag will not. excuse anyone guilty
of it's Dissertation, according to Mr..
Fisher. In other words. when you are
in doubt about it, don't do it. II you
are using, or contemplating the use OF
any flag, standard, color or ensign OF
the United States and are in doubt
as to whether your action Ii right or
wrong, get copy OF the laws and
read them, or consult the county at
torney or some other authority. is
the advice of Mr.. Fisher.
Chapter 208 of the State Laws OF
1905, entitled IAN Act to Prevent the
Dissertation of the, Flag of the United
States. Defining the Same and to What
it Shall Apply, and to Punish Parties
Convicted Thereof" will explain the
matter fully.
This law provides that any person
who, in any manner. shall place or
caused to be placed, for exhibition or
display, any word, figure, mark, Pic
ture, design, drawing or any advertise
men of any nature, upon any flag.
standard, color or ensign of the United
States. or who shall expose or cause
to be exposed to public view any flag
so marked, shall be deemed guilty OF
misdemeanor and upon conviction
thereof shall be punished by q fine not
exceeding 500, or by imprisonment
for not more than thirty days, or both.
~ q a rlro ie, g
manner, or any attempt to sell 1t or
give it away, is punishable in the same
manner.
/ The statutes are especially strong
against using the flag in connection
with advertising. 1t Is unlawful to
manufacture, SELL give away, expose
for sale or have in your possession
for sale. or to give away any article
of merchandise or receptacle Of mer.
chandise on which is printed, painted
attached or otherwise placed a repre-
sentation OF any such flag. standard.
color or ensign to advertise. decorate,
mark, call attention to or distinguish
the article or substance on which SO
placed.
The law further provides that any
one who shall publicly mutilate, de-
face, defi1e or defy, trample upon or
cast contempt, either by word or act
upon any sitch flag. standard. color or
cHSiSh OC puiiiSiAOo 90 0OosN'
upon conviction.
The words ''f1ag, standard, color or
ensign" as used in the act are intend
ed to include not only the flag, stand
| ard. color or ensign itself. but any pic
ture or representation of any of them.
made OF any substance or represent
ed upon any substance, Of any size.
evidently purporting to be any of
them. The terms include any repre-
sentation upon which IS shown the
color. the stars and the stripes, any
number Of either. by which one seeing