The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1923-09-11
"OFFICIAL MOURNING"

Visitors to Washington are alway'
impressed by the number OF flags
which not only wave from the flag
stats on all public buildings, bu
which also appear on large number:
of private buildings. Washington
might well be called the Flag City.
There was something strangely op.
pressive in having all these flags al
half-staff during a period OF thirty
days in conformity to the custom OF
Official mourning" for the late Presi-
dent Warren G.. Harding. By an ex-
traordinary coincidence the news OF
the great disaster in Japan telling OF
the terrible loss of lives, in which
many Americans were included. reach
ed Washington at the very time when
the flags were being replaced at full
staff
There are some things that people
feel deeply but do not discuss, but
the keen interest shown regarding the
exact time when the period OF mourn
ing would terminate gave mute testi-
mony to the general desire that the
flag should not continue as a reminder
of sad event in American history.
During the period OF mourning for
Warren G.. Harding all OF the leading
officials. including President Coolidge,
wore black bands on their coat sleeves.
However, none OF the public buildings
carried any signs of mourning, and
black crepe was not used extensively
even on the day of the funeral. After
that day most of it disappeared en-
tirely.
At the time of the death of Presi-
dent Mckinley everything that could
add to the somberness OF the sad event
was displayed. 1t was not because
William Mckinley was more beloved
than Warren Harding. but because
mourning customs were more gener-
ally observed then than now. People |
are drawing more and more away |
from the belief that they should dis
play their sorrows, and the form OF
official mourning" is due to be re-
vised.
Studious Senators
News items have been telling all
summer of Senators sailing ito study
European conditions" Finally most
Of them seem to round up at Geneva,
and a popular Photographer in Wash
ngton observes that having voted for
the League OF Nations the Senators
now want to find out what the heck
il is" 1t may be that there is more
truth than humor in that little phrase,
since it is becoming more certain as
the time approaches for Congress to
reassemble that something of dehn-
tie nature is going to happen con-
the official relations of the
United States with the rest OF the
world. Those Senators who have al
'eady returned from Europe agree,
With one or two exceptions, that the
United States has not completed the
work. that the young soldiers of this
ountry undertook to carry out And :
therefore, 1t is not strange that the
senator's should be found congregat-
lg at Geneva, where some OF them
re searching "for the stone that was
elected" !
Meanwhile there is growing evil :
ence that the proposal of the late I
resident Harding to have the United
tate join the World Court is becom-
ig less and less party issue among
ur leading statesmen and thinkers
nd if a prophet might venture a
uess at this time il would likely indi-
ate that the Senators are getting
lady to effect compromise, and
lat the halfway ground between the
ivocates Of the League of Nations
nd the "keep-outers," who do not
zen want to be on speaking terms
18th Europe, would lead to accepting
e World Court as our way OF par
cipating in world affairs.
Radio and Japan
The cables break" and in the past
c world has waited for news until
ey could be mended But such has
Il been the case in the present great i