Evening star., 1923-06-14

tive GeIeGEGu TO lne Shall HulHDGi VI
persons in the audience by saying
1T is a jov to come before body
rather more limited in numbers that
the Pres dent is generally called
upon to address. with a consciousness IS
cf a working body here for a definite
purpose.
Presidents speech.
The Presidents speech follows in
full:
Ladies' and gentlemen of the cen
Nention. This is really a most pleas
ing experience for the President. 1t
is joy to come before a body rather
more limited in numbers than the
Pre- sident is generally called upon to
address, with II consciousness of a
working body here for a definite
purpose. | am delighted to come and
in an official way express commenda-
tion of the work YOU are under
taking to do.
Il can understand how the flag
ewes considerable more to the serv-
ice men of the republic than it does
to the ordinary citizen. but [ cannot
understand why the soldier, or the
sailor, or the service man in national
defense owes any more to the flag
than anybody else in the United
States of America. and so everything
VIC uo " bilhs tHC nag tillo proper
consideration by the citizenship of
the republic is entirely commendable
and deserves 10 be cordially indorsed.
Cites Omcer's Example.
II saw this last week. very pleas
ant manifestation of the impressions
created by proper respect for the flag.
1t was during the first parade of the
visiting Shriners. Opposite the re-
viewing stand in which l sat 1 saw a
young naval officer quite apart from
any others in the armed service of
the government, and. as you will re-
call--those who witnessed the parade
every Shrine temple carried the
colors of the republic-and call for
pretty frequent salutations. Every
time the flag came by. in the review
ing stand on the north side of the
Avenue, appeared this young officer
in white. promptly rising to salute
one performing that service we no.
ticed in the large company assem- d
in that reviewing stand. 1t made a
very definite impression and it re-
called 10 my mind the satisfaction
that comes to the American people in
for the cClors-
Il do not suppose there is any law
to punish the President should he not
stand at salute when the colorS pass.
but L would not be happy in my off :
cial capacity if I did not do it. l know
/ am not going to feel the same when
l salute the colors in an unofficial ca
pacity, and I would like to say to you
ladies and gentlemen that every salu-
tation makes my conservation to the
country and the flag a little more Sc
cure.
Tribute to g. 4. II.
'I have seen the flag raised abroad
you have on so many different occasions
i have often wondered where | like
it best. / am not sure that / know.
1t is a beautiful picture in patriotic
procession and in pageant. 1t is an in
spiration when it is unfurled over the
American schoolhouse as a guarantee
of the liberties and opportunities of the
schooling youth of America. 1t is a
wonderful picture over American off,
cial carriers aboard ship, to the Ameri-
can who is hungering to see something
of home and to feel his attachment
somewhat emphasized. 1T has been a
beautiful picture as the emblem of
brotherhood and sympathy, when it has
been unfurled from the flagstaff of re-
lief ships which have carried American
bounty, as an expression OF our gener-
osity to the suffering peoples of the
world. But somehow, 1 have concluded
recently that about the dearest picture
of the fiag-we shall not see ii long
yet when it is presented or carried by
the old veterans of the civil war. You
had 1t mot been for them
in the field of blue. / like to say, there
fore, that somehow the flag appeals to
me more strongly when it is presented
by those who made this now invincible
Union possibility, who made their sac
,G- f1t,
pect when their ranks are completely
gone, then We will come to think of
those who made the great sacrifices in
the world war as those who present the
flag at its best, when we introduce it
to the world as the emblem of the rep
resentative of democracy and liberty
and justice for which this republic
stands.
Hopes for Flag Code.
But our point and your purpose
is to bring to the flag the becoming
use by civilians of America. / hope
you will succeed in formulating a
code that, will be welcome by all
Americans and that every patriotic
and educational society in the repub-
lie will commit itself to the .indcrse-
ment and observance and purposes
of the code that you adopt here to-
day. That ought to be the result of
the convention.
Il WISH you would go little FUR
ther while you are doing it and I
hope / am not asking too much of
you. While you are doing it don't
you think we ought to insist upon
America being able to sing THE Star
Spangled Banner" 1t is a rather in
teresting experience to me. / have
noted audiences singing our national
airs-that Is not the way to put it
/ have noted them trying to sing
our national airs and outside of
about 2 per cent. nearly all were
mumbling their words, pretending to
sing.
Somehow. / would like the spirit of
American patriotism and devotion en-
abled to express itself in song. Mr.
chairman, if that is not unseemly 1
hope you will include it in your code
as one of the manifestations of rev.
erence to the flag. One word more
and ] will return to the tasks of the
executive. We have an obligation
quite apart from the consideration for
the colors; we have greater obliga-
tion to maintain an America unim-
paired for which the American flag
stands. That is the obligation while
we are doing that it shows reverence
to the colors. Let us also always be
mindful of doing the things that make
US all we are represented to me. That
is an American task. that is pa