Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-09-11

Washington, d. c., Sept. S.-An i'm
portant defect in the structure of
American civilization has been brought
to public notice again. This great ma
ton, SO complete in most respects, has
no national flower.
There is no blossom that the political
candidate can stick in his b%uttonhole to
show that he is a patriot and TO which
he can point with pride as the living
symbol of his high ideals. There Is no
flower that can be carved into public
buildings about Washington to remind
the government worker of some inspir-
ing tradition. When the president
chooses a flower for his coat or his
wife selects decorations for a state
dinner, they must ponder the entire
list of flowers in the White House con-
s~ervatories. No national blossom comes
instantly to mind as the emblem which
fittingly represents the nation. This
catalogue could go on indefinitely. The
nation simply has no national flower.
Generally such things are arranged
for a country through accident. Some
gallant leader takes to wearing into
battle the flower beloved by his lady
and his cohorts follow suit. Eventually
the nation is saved by the hero and he
attributes everything to the charm of
the flower. Popular sentiment is
aroused. The story Of the flower that
saved the country becomes tradition.
IGradually the flower becomes the ma
tional flower without any arguments.
England acquired the rose as it's ma
tional flower through a series of ro-
mantle instances each of which deepen
ed the significance of the flower. The
thistle really saved Scotland when a
moat filled with thistles prevented the
enemy from reaching an important
fortress. The lily became the badge OF
Louis VII of France when he started
on his crusade to the Holy Land ano
all France accepted the kings choice.
But early American heroes were
strangely neglectful of this matter
They spent much time planning a suit,
able seal and flag. But they nevel
bothered to snatch up a spring of gol
denrod or snapdragon when they went
out TO fight. and their great. great
grandchildren are suffering today as 6
result.
In the recent war when the scarlet
Flanders poppy became so poignant {
symbol of Americas sacrifice the ma
ltional flower seemed about to appear
But the beautiful poppy, it was ex
planned by horticultural experts, was
weed in France and to introduce 1t int
the gardens of this country would b.
a mistake. So the poppy remains onl.
a memory except for the artificial
specimens that occasionally bloom OIL
national holidays.
Daisy Is Proposed
Now. Representative Kissel, of New
York. has introduced a bill in congress
which would raise the humble daisy Il
the official. post of the national flower
Ia purely aesthetic bill about a dais.
has as much chance of receiving serlou
consideration TO- as a bill to make al
representatives learn the Star Span
gled Banner" would. But q bill is a bill
1t is always potential legislation, ant
people are interested in it from tina
standpoint. Representative kissers bill
has aroused q number of inquiries, an
expressions of protest and approval.
Some people think that the nationa
flower should not be q common wee,
but a blossom that can be cultivate
and cherished. They want somethin
handsome that will do the natioI
credit. Others applaud the swee
simplicity of the daisy, but beIev
that we should choose a flower tina
is more capable of historic associa
ton. Others read into the daisy
fitting symbolism for national use
The heart of gold, the wilderness o
pure ideals, the green stalk suggestln
%fruitfulness of earth are pointed out
1t seems to be especially importan
to link up a complete set OF assocla
tions with a national flower If it i
to be arbitrarily legislated into exist
ence. The columbine, for instance
!. which was persistently pushed in a no
race for the national flower som
years ago, is said to be deeply signifi
cant. The name suggests Columbu
and Columbia. All three are, in fac
from the Latin word, meaning dow