Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-01
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS
BY PAUL Y. COLLINS.

A hearing was given yesterday by
subcommittee of the Judiciary com
mittee of the House upon the bill in
troduced by Representative J. NJ
Wainwright OF New York to penalize
Dissertation Of the United States flag
Spokesman of several patriotic or
CARNATIONS were heard in arguments
for Federal action on this subject
notwithstanding that all States except
Virginia and Kentucky have adopted
State laws making an offense against
the national flag a misdemeanor II
was pointed out that while DC States
have flag laws, there is lack of uni
formity in their provisions and penal
ties, and a general lack in the scope
which they cover-especially as to lin
iting the bette noir of collegiate and
paciflstic free Speech" of a sub
versive or reasonable nature.
The crime of mutilating the flag, ii
committed in Louisiana, would bring
a penalty Of $25, or 80 days in prison
or both; If in Tennessee it might cost
5000; in Maryland it would cost 81 900
or Imprisonment for year, or both
and in Arizona $4,000, or imprison'
ment for 365 days, or both.
In Connecticut to display a flag
which. has lost one or more of its
stripes or stars costs 81. In all the
States having flag legislation it is un-
lawful to attach any advertising or
other extraneous reading upon a flag
and at yesterdays hearing one speaker
called attention to the yellow fringe
sometimes added to flags, and regis
tered a protest against it-'or any
thing else that is yellow
VV AY1lx nr1n 10 "A II a N &c
dissertation by word of mouth penal
lied. There it would cost 500, or &c
days Imprisonment, or both, to "ir
any manner mutilate, deface or, by
word or act publicly exhibit contempt
for the flag, colors, coat-of-arms OF
other insignia Of the United States
or the State of Arkansas, or any rep
resentation thereof
n X X X
There is nc such penalty in New
York, where whether by laxness OF
enforcement of what law exists, or q
glorificatfon of free speech') the in
cident could occur which occasionet
the following resolution of the George
Washington Post, No. /, American
Legion, of Washington, adopted at the
last meeting. The resolutions were
presented at the Wainwright hearing
yesterday, and have been Endorsed by
the District executive committee OF
the American Legion for considera
tion by all the District posts:
Whereas it is reported in the
press that a so-called committee or
military education, at a public meet.
| ing in New York City, January 10
attacked all patriotic reverence OF
| the flag of the United States, de-
nouncing national patriotism and
military training in schools anc
colleges:
Whereas, at the aforesaid meet
| ing, Prof Carlton j. II. Hayes OF
| Columbia University is reported as
| having declared that 'nationalism Is
| religion with a special. brand OF
worship and provoked laughter by
| ironicaI reference to the cult OF
| paying homage to the flag and re-
vering the national anthem, saying
! We come to the flag, the Stars and
| Stripes. We have a cult for the wor'
| ship of the flag, with very curious
| liturgical forms, such as barring the
| head whenever it passes and drap-
| ing the bodies of dead soldiers wher
| they are about to be~buried:'
| Therefore, Resolved by the George
| Washington Post, No. l, American
Legion of Washington, ID. c.:
| THAT while we recognize freedom
| of speech and, in. time of peace We
| tolerate verbal treason, we resent al
(! such disloyalty to the United States
as Nation, and to the flag as ar
emblem of love of Countrywide
country which gives us opportunity
| liberty and safety of home and OF
| loved ones of our families, such as
the world has not known except II
/ America-and we protest against Tho
disrespect expressed by this Column
/ bia University professor for our fiae
and our national anthem;
THAT we denounce subversivt
sneers of traitors, especially wher
they hold strategic positions of In.