The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1929-05-31

! : !: J ::
fortieth anniversary of
i~ the series of events which
led to the establishment
of June IA as a day for
~ national observance in
honor of the Stars and
Stripes. The story of how a New
York newspaper had a part in bring
ing this about is told by George II.
Brennan in letter TO Editor and Pub
Usher as follows:
The observance of Flag Day this
year has revived the mooted question
of the origin of the public display of
the national colors on public buildings
and on public schools of the United
States. Who was responsible for this
glorious gesturing? What impetus gen.
Grated this universal waving of the
Stars and Stripes?
/ feel emboldened to attempt an an
swer in your columns as to who start
ed the patriotic bah a-rolling and the
patriotic flags a-fying. 1t is just thirty
eight years ago this summer since the
old New York Press aroused this coun-
try with its flag propaganda ] have
recently, TO fortify my memory, ex-
amined the bound files of the New York
Press for 1888 now in the New YORK
Public Library. Frankly, j was aston
ished at the conditions of public neg
| lect therin set forth and the una nimity
of distinguished public opinion de-
Press.
The New York Press was then owned
| by a group of which James Phillips, Jr.,
! of Fitchburg, Mass; James R. Doudge
of New York, and George West of
Ballston, n. Y, were leading figures
Mr.. Phillips had induced Clement NJ.
Hammond. assistant managing editor
of the Boston Globe. to become man.
aging director of the New York Press,
and MIR. Hammond had brought with
MIN Thomas c. Quinn, also of the Bos-
ton Globe, as managing editor of the
Press. Fred F. Burgin was city editor
of the Press. and Louis J. Lang. later
the biographer of Thomas c. Platt,
and now a valued member of Mr..
Hearsts forces, was acting Washing
ion correspondent
As was aware at the time, the
| flag display idea was Mr.. Quinn's and
the work of convincing the Washing
ton authorities for official sanction as
to public buildings was Mr.. Lang's.
| The propaganda encompassed the en-
| tire country with expressions of exult-
ant cooperation from governors, con-
gressmen, clergymen, school teachers,
and other influential characters of the
| day. In July, 1889, William Window,
secretary of the treasury. and John
| Wanamaker. then postmaster general,
were convinced, and from that day to
this the Stars and Stripes have been
displayed on every public building in
| the United States every day during
| Office hours. In the rules of the Navy
Department there had been from early
| times a rule for the display of the
! flag on public buildings Of that de-
partment but this rule had fallen into
more or less disobservance following
| the Civil war.
Such dissimilar characters as Rev.
DR. Macarthur and Father McGlynn
| were aroused to leadership for the dis
play of the flag on public sehoolhouses
| that glorious practice that is now
| daily Inspiration. The Press was not
wholly satisfied evidently with the way
| that the then board of education of the
! city at first carried out its flag idea
! for on Tuesday. September 10. 1883.
| the day after the opening of the schools
| that year. its news story carried this
! significant paragraph.
AT every sehoolhouse in the city
| the day was honorec by the display
of the American flag, either on the
| f1agstan or draped above the principals
desk The one notable exception was
at the board of education in Grand
street where there is a flagstaff on
| the top of the building supplied with
| all the rope necessary. In spite of
this, the flag did not float there yes
| terday."
| This hint was effective Soon after
wards public school boards through
out the nation followed suit, usually
/ one newspaper in each vicinity claim
| ing the honor of causing the action.
| but the credit in the first instance