The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1930-03-14

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have chosen the wild
rose as the national flower in a voting
contest, conducted by the American
Nature association, which closed re-
Gently. When the ballots were counted
it was found that out of total of !, 067,-
676 the wild rose had polled 492,S11
votes, almost twice as many as those
received by the columbine. the near
est contender. So there seems to be
no doubt as to the wild roses pre-em-
inence in popular favor.
The columbine received 261 451
votes, which in turn was more than
twice as many as those received by
the runner-up-the violet, which had
96,403. Fourth place went to the gold
enrol with SHIP votes. The big
four" in this contest simply ran away
from the other candidates. For the
phloX, which early in the campaign
was listed with the goldenrod as a
strong contender, received only So
942 votes. The American Beauty rose
received 30,4S2, the daisy 1850, the
mountain laurel 13,0S2, and the dog
wood 1924. A total of 32,509 votes
are listed as scattering" since they
were cast for various other flowers
not named by the American Nature
association in announcing the result
of the election.
The wild rose won in every state eX-
cept Colorado, Florida, Minnesota and
Washington. Without any group ac-
lively working for it, with no cam
paign committee" in any state, and
with a number of organizations active
ly trying to defeat it, it withstood ev-
cry assault upon the lead gained ear
ly in the campaign. The columbine.
supported vigorously by the newly or
ganized Columbine society during the
last days of the referendum, had 261,-
451 hackers, who threatened, during
early December, to sweep under the
rose in a flood of votes. When the
contest closed, however, the leader
was still gaining.
How decisive was the choice of the
people," says Arthur Newton Pack, ed
itOr of Nature Magazine, the official
publication of the American Nature
association, sis indicated by the stand
ing of the seven other leading candi-
dates. More than CD per cent of t.
vote was divided between the two lead
ers and there is no question of these
being the national favorites. The vio-
let, goldenrOd, American Beauty rose,
phlox, daisy, dogwood and mountain
laurel, which finished in the order
listed, never had a chance of victory.
All the other flowers, grouped under
scattering" received but 31a per cent
of the total.
1.-THE National Flower campaign was
begun late in 1928, first to engender
an interest and love for wild flowers
secondly, to promote their conserva-
ton, and thirdly, to direct attention
to nature generally. The association
had no candidate. 1t likewise felt
that, though a national flower should
be chosen, it's choice was secondary
to the other interests involved"
Mr.. Pack also points out the fact
that this referendum accurately re-
fleets the sentiment Of the nation in
the matter of choosing a national
flower since the millior votes cast
probably represent as large proper
ton of nature lovers as do the totals
in a Presidential election in represent
ing the grand total of eligible voters.
He regards it as significant that the
proportionate vote cast for the lead
ing candidates varied little after the
100000 ballot mark had been passed,
except in the last days of the cam
paign.
In addition to crystalliZing senti-
ment In favor Of national flower, the
referendum had other beneficial re-
suits, he believes. Concerning these,
he says:
1.-The referendum has been eminent
~ successful. A large proportion Of
school children voted, along citizen
ship lines suggested by the associa-
ton in such q manner that there is
no question of the benefit they de-
rived A typical campaign is the one
conducted by the Franklin Junior
high school of Green Bay, Wis.,, where
all the state flowers and candidates
were illustrated on the school bulletin
board, and discussion preceded the ac-
tual voting by a month.
Educators, who assisted the voting
in more than a dozen states, have as
serted that the campaign has fostered
citizenship, by giving the school chill
dren opportunity to vote in national
event. 1t also created knowledge of
history and nature. both of which had
ia he studied TO arrive at an intelli-
gent opinion.
"While the tracing Of adult educa-
tion is much more difficult. tile asso-
citation feels confident that the inter
est expressed through the votes was
not merely for the moment. In more
tim thirty commemorative. state
wide campaigns were conducted BY