Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-04

in Atlanta is already lined with dog
woods. OF course mere voting in a
referendum does not make the wild rose
the national flower. A bill in Congress
would be necessary. However, this wild
Hover contest has served a useful pur-
pose-it has directed the attention Of
the people toward the beauty to be
found in their forests and meadows"
THE wild rose, it seems" according
to the Geneva Daily Times, got 492,8I1
OF the l,O67.672 votes cast-l50. 900 votes
ahead of its nearest competitor, the
columbine. No other flower came even
close. Such favorites as the dogwood,
violet, goldenrod, daisy and mountain
laurel finished far down the list. Wen
all continue to have our favorites, of
course, no matter what flower is off,
clally chosen. But the wild rose. If a
cnolce muSE be made, is a good choice"
That this flower will do as well as
any is the conclusion of the Appleton
PoSt-Crescent, with the added comment:
We have a national musical setting all
ready TO go with this choice. Mac
DoWell'S To a Wild Rose is one of the
loveliest of American compositions. Brt
why ask Congress to 'ratify the selec-
ton? Did a Scotch parliament ever
oftlcially designate the thistle as the
national flower of Scotland or an Irish
parliament set its sanction on the sham
rock?"
X X X X
1.-THE only thing that could he urged
against the wild rose" in the Judgment
OF the Cincinnati Times-Star, SIS that
II is bit too shy to symbolic a proud
and self -assertive republic of continental
dimensions. We like the phlox very
much indeed. 1t is democratic without
being plebeian, is sturdy grower, and
turns friendly face to mankind. Be
cause OF the decorative masses that it
makes, we ike the magnolia, which is
native; and the buginvillaea. which in
origin, however, is East Indian: the
zlnnla and dahlia, which are MEXICAN.
the Gamma, which is tropical; the broom
OF the Northwest, which is Scotch.
scarlet sage, which is Mediterranean
and the gladiolus, which is perhans
African. When Congress takes I'D tie
matter Of ratifying the selection ALREADY
made, we apprehend the formation OF
mountain laurel, poinsettia and trailing
arbutus blocS: instead of the wars az
roses, series of regional vendettas
against the sweetest of their kindred"
The ballot" contends the Oakland
tribune, may have purpose in inter-
eSting more people in wild flowers If
dld not paint single petal" That
paper also says: 1T remains the same
wild rose by the roadside, and the
glories of the violet, dogwood, laurel
daisy and the rest are in no wav
dimmed." The Tribune also argues.
"One may say after the vote is taken
AMI the flower designated, What of it?'
Is anything gained by naming a free
flower to offlce?" On the fitness of the
choice the Oakland paper adds: There
are reasons why the wild rose should
lead the lists. 1t is found in so MANY
places, is so pleasing and gracious. The
violet perhaps is bit too modest for
honors so high; the goldenrod suggests
nay fever, and in Office would be en-
barrassed by a Sneezing minority: the
american beauty, though it carry the
Nations name, is too formal and is not
associated with the open spaces. Thee
are many parts of the country WIKI
the mountain laurel is never SEEM