The New York herald., 1921-05-26
STARS AND STRIPES
SOLE PARADE FLAG
Grand Army Decides No Other
Will Be Carried Decora-
ton Day.
LEGION FAVORED ALLIES
But Finally Submits After
Talk of 'Knuckling Down
to Sim Fein.'
LEGION FAVORED ALLIES

| There will be only one kind Of ma
tional flag carried in the Memorial
Day parade in New York-the Stars
| and Stripes.
| That decision, which is peremptory
and final, came from national head
quarters of the Grand Army of the
Republic in Washington yesterday. It
was made public last night by Col.
Christopher A. Farrell, grand marshal
Of the procession, and Col. George w.
Stokes. Ad1utant-General Of the g. A
r., who were present at a dinner OF
the parade staff and committee in the
Hotel Breslin. Neither Of these G. A.
r. officers made any comment upon
the announcement, except that Col
Farrell, when he was asked whether
veterans of the American Legion who
had fought under the flags of our allies
| in the world war would march without
their colors, replied: "1f they are
patriotic they will"
| This determination to exclude all for
| eign flags settles q controversy which
has been waged bitterly in some sec
tions OF the city and which has threat
ened to mar the harmonious relations
between the veterans OF 1864 and those
of 1913. The order has been Issued by
the Grand Army authorities despite the
fact that meeting in the Hotel Penn
sylvania on Tuesday night. at which
moro than 200 Manhattan posts of the
/ A taI t,nA
recorded itself as favoring the carrying
of allied fags. but directing that their
committee take UP the question with the
Grand Army in diplomatic manner.
That resolution was adopted by the
young veterans with only one dissenting
vote. When Henry w Buxton and Col.
Robert NJ Watkins OF the legion's New
York conlr1sttee got into touch yester-
| day with Col. Stokes they learned that
Washington had spoken unreservcdly.
In the Pennsylvania Hotel meeting
Tuesday evening storm of protest
greeted Col Watkins's announcement
that the British and French veterans
and the contingent from a Brazilian
bastieship had been asked to march
without their own flags and had con-
scnted to do 30. Col watkins said the
trouble had started with denunciation
OF the British flag in certain news
papers. Various posts Of the legion In
1 tho Bronx which are dominated by Sim
Fein elements he said, had taken the
matter I'D and passed resolutions asking
that the American flag only be permitted
70 appear.
| Col. Watkins said the Sim Fein sym-
pathizers had been asked whether thev
| Intended to break up the Manhattan
parade II foreign flags. including the
British. were displayed. and that they
had replied contemptuously that their
women would do that
Col. Reginald Barlow protested that 1t
was an outrage that the American Le-
gion should have to knuckle down to
the Sim Fem" He was applauded ve-
hemently when he said we have to
stand by when the Sim Feln flag Is
/, carried down Fifth avenue and reviewed
by the Mayor. Are we going to stand
by now and let alien elements dictate to
us that the men who were our comrades
in the war shall not be allowed TO carry
their flags7''
Capt. Horace NJ. Graft. who is to be
4 marshal of the legion's section OF the
procession. pointed out that. after all.
the Memorial Day parade IL a Grand
Army affair and that the legionnaries
are really the guests OF the older SOL
diers. Col Barlow's resolution serving
notice that the New York county posts
OF the legion would withdraw from the
procession unless the foreign flags be
countenanced was voted down and the
! adopted