South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-07-06
WOMAN ASKS THAT
CONGRESS SELECT
NATIONAL FLOWER
Katherine Doris Sharp Sug
\ gests That Indian Plume
. Be Given Honor.
BY LOUIS LUDLOW

. OF the United States proclaim a ma
tiosal flower and she has introduced
8 the Indian plume. or American bee
balm. as a candidate for that honor.
As Exhibit A. 20 -yfn the favor Of
the solons at Washington. she has
sent a box OF the beautiful red
bloom TO Representative Simeon D.
Fess. They are admired by many
callers at his Office. these days. and
their fragrance permeates the ad-
Joining rooms.
Miss Sharp has sent the following
Interesting letter 10 back up her
claims for congressional recognition
OF the Indian plume as the national
flower:
The question OF national tree
~ readily be settled by the selec-
ION OF the shellbark hickory. our
best native nut and profitable lum-
Der tree; but. in addition. we should
also settle OF a national flower.
The red columbine and the gold
en- rod have both beer seriously con-
sidered and rejected on account Of
defects. though each has much beau
~ and many merits.
borrowing in my garden for many
years Is a wild flower which begins
70 bloom about the middle Of June,
continues in abundance for more than
a month. then gradually ceases. II
is a magnificent flower any soil may
produce IL. II is indigenous 10 Amer
ica from Maine 20 Georgia and viii
probably grow in any state in the
Union. II spreads generously, there
fore. II is easy TO propagate. 1t is
popularity known as Indian plume.
mOnarda didyman, the scarlet beT-
gamot. Another popular name is
American bee-balm, indicating its
favor with bees. Merely TO brush
against IL, a delightful odor is given
forth suggestive of that friendly
courtesy which has it's root in kind
heart.
As"It is by right Of seasonableness
Prhe flower for he national holiday
= the Fourth OF July. Flowers of
the springtime may be too early or
too late for Decoration day. but this
flower / have never known to miss
the glorious Fourth
Suggests Bee Balm.
"Our fOrerunners on this Conti-
nent, whom we never want 10 for
get. are here remembered. Amer
lean bee-balm-a truly American
flower OF beneficial qualities. Against
this flower no charge of i'm can be
brought. The Century dictionary re-
marks. the leaves are said 20 pos
sess tonic virtues One OF the old
time names is Oswego tea.
Upon brewing some OF il on the
stove. the house was filled with a
pleasant odor. can foresee, should
this become the national flower, tea
drinking Of it will become popular
and give our ailing folks new lease
( on life"
FROM time TO time various bills
have been introduced 20 create na-
tional flower. but SO FAR congress
has not taken action. Nearly every
weu-known flower has it's champions
for this honor. Miss Sharp's move
ment I'm behalf of the Indian plume
already has encountered rough sled
ding
Il do not know enought about
flowers to become sponsor of any
particular one as our national flow
err" replied Representative Tess Il
would have 20 have reasons which l
do not possess to urge upon congress
such action. Had I your informa-
ton and your enthusiasm, Is dis
PLAYED i'm your letter. I think I could
the case of the sdiana plume
with great vigor. but / do not have
either and I fear ] shall not have
time 90 secure them. 1 am avecse
10 merely introducing bills for the
sake Of calling attention TO any
item OF legislation. hope you viii
understand
White Stories.
In the storm and stress OF putting
the kibosh on tho beer business the
hard life OF the anti-saIoon league
leaders is softened somewhat and
made more endurable by the stories
told by James A. White Of Colum-
bus. SUPERINTENDENT Of the Ohio An
,d-Saloon league. Here IS one which
Mr White has brought with him
Gee She looked worried.
a Columbus young man was
spending the evening with his fan
Gee She looked wrrried.
why. what's the matter. darl-
inc2" he asked. sitting up with a
Jerk and lookins into her tear-dim-
med eyes.
She gave a low sigh.
- "Tm afraid We can't get married
II tel YOU. she answered.
Nothing can prevent our mar
r.age ne replied rcassurlngly but
with a sinking heart
Il am a somnambulist, she gasp
Ell.
"shucks." ne said. patting her low
ingIy on the cheek. That's moth
ine 20 be worried about. II we can't
frd a minister Of that denomination
We'll go 20 q justice Of the peace 10
have the knot tied
While the fight over the no-beer
bill was being waged In the house
Mr. White told this story TO a group
OF "drys" in the gallery and for a
time they forgot all about the ac-
cursed brew.
Represent native John c. Speaks OF
the Columbus district. who has been
interested IA military affairs all his
life. has taken a very positive stand
IN favor OF spending more money on
internal improvements and less on
the army and navy.
Just think. he said. what the
expenditure of one billion dollars
would co for che highways OF this
country! The benefits that would
!. have come 20 the country II one bill
kyIon dollars OF the enormous sum
hat was wasted during the war
EcouId have been devoted 20 highway
construction are almost beyond be-