Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1921-07-13

(Franklin K. Lane, secretary OF the
interior under President Wilson, died
May IS. The following address was
delivered by him Flag day, 1914, be-
fore the Washington employees OF the
department Of the interior. 1t has
since become a Flag day classic.)
This morning as I passed into the
land office, the Flag dropped me
most cordial salutation, and from the
ripping folds l heard it say: Good
morning, Mr.. Flag Maker.
q beg your pardon, Old Glory" |
said, aren't you mistaken? l am not
the president OF the United States,
nor member of congress, nor even a
general in the army. l am only a gov
eminent clerk"
Il greet you again, Mr.. Flag Max
err" replied the gay voice. Il know
you well. You are the man who
worked in the sweIter of yesterday
strengthening out the tangle of that
farmers homestead in Idaho, or per-
haps you found the mistake in that
Indian contract in Oklahoma, or help
ed to clear that patent for the hope
full inventor in New York, or pushed
the opening of that new ditch in
Colorado, or made that mine in Him
ois more safe, or brought relief to
the old soldier in Wyoming. No mat
ter; whichever one of these benefi-
cent individuals you may happen to
be, I give you greeting, Mr.. Flag
Maker"
[ was about to pass on, when the
Flag stopped me with these words:
Yesterday the president spoke a
word that made happier the future Of
10000 900 poems in Mexico; but that
act looms no larger on the flag than
the struggle which the boy in Georgia
is making to win the corn club prize
this summer.
Yesterday the congress spoke
word which will open the door of
Alaska; but a mother in Michigan
worked from sunrise until far into
the night, to give her boy an educa-
ton. She, too, is making the flag.
yesterday we made new law to
prevent financial panics, and yester-
day, maybe, a school teacher in Ohio
taught his first letters to boy who
will one day write song that will
give cheer to the millions of our race.
We are all making the flag"
But" I said impatiently, these
people were only working!"
Then came a great shout from the
Flag:
THE work that we do is the MAX
ing Of the flag. 1 am not the flag;
not at all. I am but its shadow. /
am whatever you make me, nothing
more l am your belief in yourself,
you dream of what people may be-
come. l live a changing life, life
of moods and passions, of heart
breaks and tired muscles.
Sometimes 1 am strong with pride,
when men do an honest work, fitting
the rails together truly. Sometimes
droop, for then purpose has gone
from me, and cynically l play the
coward. Sometimes l am loud, gar
ish, and full of that ego that blasts
judgment But always l am all that
you hope to be, and have the courage
to try for.
81 am song and fear, struggle and
panic, and enrolling hope. l am the
DAYS work of the weakest man, and
the largest dream OF the most daring.
Il am the constitution and the
courts, statutes and the statute max
ers, soldier and dreadnaught, dray-
man and street sweep, cook, counsel
Ior and clerk.
Il am the battle of yesterday, and
the mistake of tomorrow. 1 am the
mystery of the men who do without
knowing why. l am the clutch Of an
idea, and the reasoned purpose OF re-
solution.
81 am no more than what you be-
lieve me to be, and l am all that you
believe 1 can be. am what you make
me, nothing more.
81 swing before your eyes as a
bright gleam of color, a symbol OF
yourself, the pictured suggestion OF
that big thing which makes this ma
ton. My stars and my stripes are
your dream and your labors. They
are bright with cheer, brilliant with
courage, firm with faith, because you
have made them so out of your hearts.
For you are the makers of the flag,
and it is we'll that you glory in the
making"