The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1930-05-30

its use for the President was hardly
one complimentary to the highest Off
Ger in the land.
In 1869, however, the national en-
sign was again designated as the
Presidents flag and it remained thus
until 1882, when William e. Chandler,
secretary of the navy, issued an order,
which was approved by President
Chester Alan Arthur, that "the flag of
the President Of the United States
shall consist of blue ground with the
arms of the United States in the
center" 1t was not until 1G years
later, however, that the army followed
the lead of the navy by adopting a
distinctive flag for its commander in
chief, and when it did it's action
marked the beginning of series Of
controversies which were to last for
nearly two decades. Under general
order, issued March IS, 1898, from the
adjutant generals Office by direction
of the secretary of war, the Presi-
dents flag for the army was desig-
mated as a flag of scarlet bunting with
white stars in each of the four cor
ners and in the middle Of the field a
large blue star. outlined in white and
bearing in the center the United
States coat of arms. Around this CEN
trail star were other white stars rep
resenting the states of the Union.
During the Spanish-American war
the army Presidential flag was hung
upon the wall of the cabinet room in
the White House, symbolizing the po-
sition of President Mckinley as CON-
mander in chief of the army and was
the first war flag of its kind that had
thus ever been used. But for some
unknown reason the navy Presidential
flag, which would symbolic his posi-
ton as commander in chief of the
navy, was not thus displayed. The
army Presidential flag was first ex
hibited publicly at the peace jubilee
celebration in Chicago in 1899 and
again at similar celebration in Phila-
delphia. Later both the army and the
navy flags were twice hung in the
main hallway of the White House
during army and navy receptions but
the army flag was never hoisted until
March 4, 1901, when it flew over the
Presidential reviewing stand at the
second Inauguration of Mckinley.
The first controversy over the Pres
idential flag came up in 1899. The
War department order Of 1898 had
definitely directed that the official
coat of arms on the central star
should be las determined by the State
department. and the arms referred
to are those shown on the great seal
of the United States, which is in the
custody of the Department of State.
The shield thereon had always dis
played seven red and six white bars,
alternately red and white, which was
strictly in accordance with the act Of
congress of June 20. 1852, establish
ing the great seal. In 1899 when the
equipment officers at New York and
Mare Island, where flags for the navy
are made, were furnished their flag
ton to the fact that the shield on the
Presidents flag enormously displayed
seven Write and six red stripes, in
stead of the reverse. 1t was discov-
cred that the design had been copied
from publication of the State depart
ment, entitled 1.-THE Seal of the United
States"
The matter wa" taken up unofficial
~ with the State department end
ended with an admission from officials
of that department that "there was
no logical reason for the reversal of
the colors which was presumed to be
the result of an arbitrary heraldic
license" In 1902 the acting secretary
of the navy issued memorandum
that "the State department certifies
that the shield has seven white and
six red bars, alternating white and
red, and it is ordered that such shall
be the seal on the Presidents flag"
Meanwhile the army continued to
make its flag with the seven red and
six white stripes on the shield. In
November, 1902. 1t was decided that