The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-09-11
BY FREDERICK J. HASKIN

WASHINGTON, D. c., Sept. IL
An important defect in the structure
of American civilization has been
brought to public notice again. This
great nation, so complete in most re-
spects, has no national flower.
There is no blossom that the politi-
cal candidate can stick in his button
hole 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 Washing.
ton to remind the government worker
of some inspiring 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 Conservatives. 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. Eventual
ly 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.
Gradually the flower becomes the ma
tional flower without any arguments.
England acquired the rose as Its
national flower through a series OF TO
mantle instances each of which deep
ened the significance of the Hover.
The thistle really saved Scotland when
a moat filed with thistles prevented
| the enemy from reaching an important
| fortress. The lily became the badge
| of Louis VII of France when he start
| ed on his crusade to the Holy Land
| and all France accepted the kings
| choice.
| But early American heroes were
strangely neglectful of this matter
They spent much time planning suit
able seal and flag. But they never
bothered to snatch up a sprig of gol
denrod or snapdragon when they went
out to fight, and their great, great
grandchildren are sufferig today as {
result.
Flanders poppy became so poignant ;
symbol of Americas sacrifice the ma
4 tional flower seemed about to appear
But the beautiful poppy, it was ex
planned by horticultural experts, wa
a weed in France and to introduce
into the gardens of this country woull
be a mistake. So the poppy remain
, only memory except for the artificial
~ I,4f ciN poI1 ~
national holidays.
Daisy is Proposed
BY Representative
Now, Representative Kissel, Of NeN
; York, has introduced bill in congress
! which would raise the humble daisy t
, the official post of the national fiowel
A purely aesthetic bill about a dais
) has as much chance of receiving ser
) Gus consideration now as a bill t
make all representatives learn tn
) Star Spangled Banner" would. But
bill is bill. 1t is always potentis
t legislation, and people are intereste
5 in it from that standpoint. Represen
/ alive Kissels bill has aroused a nun
D Der of inquiries, and expressions {
' protest and approval.
' Some people think that the nation;
: flower should not be a common wee
J, but blossom that can be cultivate
! and cherished. They want somethin
handsome that will do the natio
credit Others applaud the sweet sin
plicity of the daisy, but believe tina
| we should choose flower that is nor
capable of historic association Other
read into the daisy a fitting symbolisl
e for national use The heart of gol,