Fiery Cross, Volume 3, Number 40, Indianapolis, Marion County, 1 August 1924 — Page 4

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EDITORIA L

Th fI KRY cnoss U published vry Friday by Tne Fiery lUnin Company. Indianapolis, and will maintain a policy or sts stant Americanism without tear or favor.

Kdlted. not to make up peoples minds, but to shake un neoDle'n mind-

to help mold active public opinion which o live in

.1. tv" nt truth kills more false news and shrivels up more "bunk" than 11 the earnest arguments In the world. Truth helps to clarify opinions on serious questions bv serious people. vT,he J'1 CHOss will strive to slve the American viewpoint on pubL? .J "T1 nd ePar-te the dross from the pure gold in the current news of the day.

The Fiery Cross PublUkrnc

Entered as second-class matter, July 20, 1922. anspolls, Indlsna, under the Act of March 3, 1879.

AdvrtUIn Rate, will Be 8ubfrlpll.in Hate, by

Bend all News Items and Address all Inquiries to 707 Century Building. Telephone Lincoln 5331. '

KLAJf'S PROGRAM FOR 1924 Militant, old-fashioned Christianity and operative patriotism. Back to the Constitution. Enforcement of the Eighteenth Amendment. Enforcement of present Immigration laws and enactment of more Ktrlngent laws to prevent the smuggling of foreigners Into America.

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"The World" Again About ten days ago there appeared In the New York World a purported statement of a man who, according to the World, was at one time a member of the Klan. The New York paper withheld his name, however. The article was most lengthy and dealt a great deal with the situation in Indiana. It would appear that Indiana was chosen to write about as this state is understood to be the strongest Klanstate in the Union. To the writer of this editorial the whole was really more or less humorous, but to the many hundreds of thousands who are not familiar wTth the Klan, the article, which was most cleverly written, no doubt would have an effect. The writer of this editorial knows the many statements which are absolutely without foundation and are an insult to the true Christian men and women who compose the Klan. However, those unfamiliar with the workings of the Ku Klux Klan do

uoi kdow now unrair tne statements contained in the article are. Therefore, the reason for this editorial. Space can not be given here to make a resume of the World's article, but just how ridiculous some of the statements were should be put before the eyes of our readers. If parts of the article were not true, can dependence be placed iu any of it? "Now," says the anonymous writer, "I am submitting this one conclusion to the reader, that the Ku Klux Klan is for driving out of America the negro a.nd the Klan's method is exclusively mob rule and we know full well that mob rule is not successful in dealing with reform movements." The foregoing is what nn anonymous writer says about the Klan. Now

will follow the first paragraph of an Associated Press dispatch out of Mound City. Illinois, under the date of July 22, and there are few who do not know that the Associated Press can hardly be called friendly to the Klan. Following is the paragraph printed verbatim: "Two negroes suspected of slaying Daisy Wilson, IS, in an attempted holdup of her father's store at Villa Kidge shortly after midnight, were brought to the county jail here at noon today for safekeeping. A mob of several hundred men apparently intent on a lynching was nuieted when H. F. Moreland, a Ku Klux Klan organizer, spoke and prayed in front of the city halt." The reader can draw his own conclusions. At another point the Klan is criticised for an utterance of one of its speakers who said: "The Ku Klux Klan is organized but for one purpose, and that is to pnt the Government of the United States into the.hand3 of none but Americans." To show to what depths of depravity klansmen will descend, the writer added that "this remark was greeted with loud appjause." It would be interesting to know into just whose hands he would like to put the American government if not into the hands of American citizens. If the Klan is to be condemned for such utterances let it be condemned. The most rabid elements opposed to the Klau in Indiana, about which most of the article was centered, have never yet accused the Klan in this state of violence. Yet this anonymous writer would have his readers be

lieve that acts of violence are continually practiced by Klansmen. The World's article has all the appearance of a brand new method of propaganda against the Klan. Cleverly written, it will confuse those who" are not familiar with the Klan organization and not in intimate touch with the great good it is doing. To one, however, who wishes to find out for himself, articles like the one under discussion are soon found to be groundless. In the long run, they are an aid to the Klan, as it continues to grow and to reach into new territory. Propaganda by those opposed to "putting the Government of the United States wholly into the hands of American citizens" rebounds and strikes the perpetrators in the face when a community becomes familiar with the activities of the Klan organization.

A Beneficial Study

The continued increase of daily vacational Bible schools is most encouraging. According to reports these Bible courses are growing in number throughout the United States and this can only mean that more persons are beginning to take up the study of the Bible. While it is true that the vast majority of persons attending these courses are already students of the Bible, the vacational school is gradually bringing, more and more people into closer touch with the Bible. The study of the Bible is not only interesting but quite naturally, is most beneficial. One of the greatest curses has been the studied effort to keep the Bible out of the hands of the people at large. Peculiar as it may seem, the most devout Roman Catholic knows nothing of what the

Bible actually contains. Generally speaking, the Bible is a closed book to followers of the Roman ehurch. While it is to be regretted that the millions of followers of that faith know nothing of the teachings of Christ except through others, the attempt of the leaders of the Roman church to keep Protestant children from hearing the Bible read in the public .school can be classed, without a show of prejudice, as more than "regrettable." How many of the criminals, does one suppose, who are caught up each day in the meshes of the law, are Bible students? How many of those persons engaged in the sale of illicit liquor, the peddling of narcotics, the pandering of womanhood, the robbing of safes and the many other crimes committed, study the Bible? On the other hand, those most earnest in the attempt to create better civic conditions, the leaders in moral uplift, the charity worker and those who have made for themselves a name by righteous living and charitable acts are almost invariably close students of the Bible. When the Bible becomes an open book to all humanity and proper study is given it, crime will then be at its lowest ebb. The inspiring thoughts created by a close study of the Bible and the understanding of Christ's teachings push from the mind all thoughts of and all desire to commit unjust or criminal acta. May the teaching of the Bible, and the study of the Bible by individuals Increase. Every person should do all in his power to aid the vacational Bible courses and encourage all movements in which the Bible is placed before an ever-increasing number of people.

The Iron Hand

The child labor amendment to the Constitution Is having hard sledding when it comes to state ratification, and this is to be expected because the power of selfishness in big business is as ghoulish as can be imagined. The Georgia senate recently voted 34 to 0 and the lower house 170 to 3 against the amendment This fact presents a stubborn obstacle to theorists and forecasts a terrific battle in the north and east. In little ways, here and there, are evidences of the manner in which the white race will eventually destroy itself if the thing be possible. The iron hand on the child's throat is one of the numberless ways in which the low murder of the race may be accomplished during the coming centuries.

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Sparks front the Fiery Cross

By JOHN EIGHT POINT 'The noblest motive is the public good." virgil

No Klansmen is lost unless he loses himself The spirits that" move the world neTer came out of a bootlegger's bottle or a lawbreaker's flask. In some American socalled universities they still say it this way: "A feast of reason and a flow of bowl." It never hurts Klan truth to be slapped in the face, but It is always bad for the stopper's fist. The Klansman's school is day and night. open Emigration and Immigration Several European countries have as much worry over the problem of emigration as the United States has over immigration. Italy is seriously embarrassed about the disposition of her surplus population. She is also dependent to a certain extent upon the amount t money her loyal sons and daughters can earn in a foreign country and sent back home ,to the mother country. Putting the matter less diplomatically and more truthfully, she is frankly concerned because she can not send huge numbers of her brood and breed to America, that they may earn and give to Italy many good American dollars. The new immigration law may be inelastic and all the other things the carping critic calls it, but it came none too soon and it will ease American troubles to a certain extent. Let Europe worry on about things that bother her. The sentimentalists in America will weep buckets of tears in their reckless sympathy. Morning Talks and Politics Frederick II, writing In 1797, certain "morning talks to his nephew," naa a poor opinion of what he called "politics." His cynical and sarcastic observations interest the normal American because they show so clearly the old and royal attitude, something which free people have at least partially outgrown. Among other things, the old curmudgeon remarks: "As soon as menjiad come to the conclusion that it was sinful and base to deceive their fellowmen, they began to hunt around diligently to find a word that would condone such actions with a pleasing title. They hit upon the words 'politics' and 'statesmanship' to designate them. Those terms are appropriate only for sovereigns and rulers, for who would presume to call us liars and scoundrels? I understand, my dear nephew, by the word 'politics' the supreme effort of men to cheat other people. Don't be ashamed of making treaties and alliances with the idea of getting all the benefit from them jourself." If, in modern America, politics could be thoueht of onlv as the supreme effort of some men to cheat other men, particularly to favor the leaders, it would be time for the Klan to delve even more anxiously into the problems that involve the public conscience. Fortnnately, in spite of some bad political tendencies which have been put for ward by selfish and scheming men, the mass of Americans is honestly striving to exemplify good govern ment. The Klan has had its own part in endeavoring to educate peo pie to thoughts that make for right morals and ethics in the nation. When you go away for your summer vacation don't leave your Klannishness at home take it right along and use it a little every day to make tne world better and brighter. Bathing Girl Revues Shall the divorce and remarriage laws be modified? Setting aside the opinions on divorce and remarriage as somewhat clearly promulgated in the New Testament, what shall we do about the question in America? , The General Federation of Wom en s Clubs believes that a constitutional amendment should be made providing for uniform divorce and remarriage laws, and the thought nnas an echo in many Klannish hearts. As Mrs. Franklin White deputy attorney-general of Indiana, says: "Causes for divorce now range from nene in South Carolina to fourteen in New Hampshire." But this state of affairs should be done away with. It does not harmonize with American tradition or principle. And an amendment, as favored by the federation, would not only reg ulate and bring uniformity to d vorce laws but even legitimatize children born out of wedlock, and specify the care and custody of chil dren at present affected by annul ments and divbrces. Strictly in harmony with Klan ideas that is to Bay, true American ideas the club women attacked, in the recent Los Angeles convention the tendency to lax morality as fostered by beauty contests and the so-called "bathing girl- revues." De ploring "such immodest displays of physical charm," Mrs. Clayton Lee of the New Jersey federation, led the .protest, contending that the "bathing beauty is not representative of the best .type of American womanhood. Such contests, sheheld contests depending on the beauty of form "are creating false standards of value and have a distinct tendency to lower respect for womanhood." The Klan has always deplored any "wave tendency" in American life that detracts from the early idea that American womanhood should be elevated to the highest and purest standard, and has insisted that our race-mothers be protected in every possible way from the European influence, whereby women are held to be little better than goads to

THE FIERY CROSS

passion and playthings of lust. A uniform divorce' law would aid the country in preserving the best racial instincts toward safe propagation and consequently increase of racial strength and preservation as well as development of type. An Iron will and stony heart make a poor combination for building Klaukraft. A good many people who are anxious about the recognition of friends in neaven still shake hands with only two fingers in lodge or church. The army of drunkards is passing away,. but there are still a few cohorts of bootleggers waiting to be mowed down by righteous judges. -A good man on his knees weighs more than the biggest Goliath of the anti-Klan army. Taking the Bible out of a single schoolhouse spoils the whole scheme of American education. Measure the Klan with a yardstick that will reach across to the next world. An argument can not be dark if you light it up with the fiery cross. A Klansman's noble thoughts are the pigment with which he colors and brightens the portrait of life. TWO ROADS Two roads there are across the world, White in the blaze of day; Both roads are fringed with promises. Both are well-trod alway: Both roads wind in and out across The deserts of mankind. And both great roads are filled with hosts Who seek what they may find. One of these roads is built to lure The simple, guileless soul : And one is hewn to serve the hosts That toward perfection stroll. One road is packed with dust of hate, concealed by promised good: One road is lined with cruelty. One flowered with brotherhood. One road is paved with age-old lies That look like living truth: One road is shaded well with trees Green with eternal youth. One road is cold with cunning lures, one warm with timeless love: One keeps its wolves to harry men. one calls power from above. One of the roads across the world Controlled is by one head. And one is owned by all the souls That o'er its pave are led. One of the roads runs far and fast To the ghostly gates of Rome; But one thank God! leads to the Klan And the heart-lit lights of home. A humorist says he wouldn't join the Klan because it's the only secret society mat has a cover charge, Thnt isn't strictly true some of them have their charges covered up. More Toise Than Information A good many magazines you pick up and most newspapers are not sources of information but mere noise. What you read on the printed page, more often than not, is mere hired propaganda of Rome. And it is necessary for the wise Klansman to weigh all words well before ac ceptmg them as true. A clever writer can so mix truth with falsehood that only the most careful and wary reader is able to detect the ef ion. tnat nas been made to sow the tares of wicked, lying thought in the wheat of honest opinion. On all hands are signs of the bitterness of the hirelings of the anti-Klan forces. Most large newspapers are' controlled by Roman dollars and influence. Their editorials are filled with slurs and slush, calculated to destroy confidence in the American organization. Even their headlines breathe sarcasm and ridicule, built to color the opinion of the casual reader. Knowing this to be true, the wise Klansman will fortify himself against assaults upon his com mon sense, and, incidentally, he will buy magazines and newspapers that do not outrage and antagonize his sense of truth, patriotism, and sin centy his duty to his fellowmen and to his country. Diogenes may have left many of our cities in disgust, but the Klan win bring him back. a The French executive committee on the Olympic games used good judgment. The Filipino athletes will not carry the Filipino flag at the top of their pole whenever a Filipino wins. The stars and stripes will float above the Filipino flag. As some one shrewdly remarked about the action: "Perhaps it does not amount to much, after all, but it has its meaning." Youll have a bard time reading the inside of the Klau heart so long; as you try te keep some other Amer lean from getting there. During the Democratic convention the Roman-paid press declared that Al Smith was the most idolized man in New York and that every waiter wore his pin on his coat lapel. But it seemed to take more than the love of New York and the loyalty of the waiters who knew their stuff to get the Catholic fair son across Other Americans knew their stuff. tool

The

OutpQtSt OUB PLATFORM LIFE PRESERVERS FOR SINKING FUNDS It would seem that the chief reason for having two political parties is that each can lay all the blame for crooked politics on the other. According to a newspaper item . Babe Ruth Intends to be a detective after he ' quits the diamond. In view of the number of ' bases he has stolen, some bright humorist should be able to build a pun around the old saying that it takes a thief to catch a thief." Time Will Tell "Man Wins Wife on Wager," says a newspaper headline. Too early, no doubt, to learn whether or not he won or lost the wager. Null: I notice that Simkins always nses opera glasses when attending the Follies." Yoid; "Yes, he is very modest." Nail: "Modest! How on earth can that denote modesty V Void: He cant bring himself to look upon the yonng ladies in the show with the naked eye." . Those aviators who have been more than three months on their way around the world in airplanes, should read Verne's "Around the World in Eighty Days" and find out how to pick up speed. "Blind Gem Thief Sought," flares a headline. The culprit, at the least, is not stone blind. Seeing the Scenery "I hear Rothbone has left for a motor trip out west." Yes, I received a card from him this morning." Is that so? How far has he gone?" "He has passed his first one hun dred thousand billboards." FROM ALL APPEARANCES THE GOVERNMENT OF BRAZIL WILL FIGHT THE REVOLUTIONISTS TO THE LAST CABLEGRAM. The pope has refused to ODen a church for the-marriage of an Ital ian count to an American girl from Illinois unless the girl becomes a Roman Catholic. As persons from Illinois are known as "Suckers" it will be interesting to watch whether or not the Vatican permits the church to be opened for the marriage. The Cleveland Plain Dealer says that there are more than a million persons in New York who believe "Sidewalks of New York" to be the national anthem. Those persons are the ones who thought Al Smith could be nominated for president, no doubt. The Reason Susan: "Why do you sunnose they chose this year to form a third political party?" Electa: "Because, no doubt, of the announcement of the big surplus ir the United States treasury." At a convention of beauty experts in Chicago, a machine which elimi nates extra- chins was exhibited. If the Inventor would go just a step larrncr ana nave it eliminate chin music, it would, no doubt, be a huge success. A taxicab war has been declared in New York City. It will, no doubt, De very easy to remain neutral in this particular war. With the news that divorces , can be obtained in Russia for one and one-half dollars, many persons will regret that Russia isn't doing a mail order business. Maizie: "Where is the Bridge of signs Marjory: "Which particular one do you mean? You know, there-are now so many bridges of great size." Scalper Is Sought "Man Who Held Up Theater Pa trons sought," says a headline. It can not be that the much-heralded war on theater ticket speculators is now on. A "hard winter" has "been pre dieted. This being a presidential yeari some party will experience a hard fall daring the opening days 01 Aovemoer. With the ever-increasing number 01 blocs in Congress, we are looking forward to a cement bloc during the next session. THE ORIGINAL BLOC IN CON GRESS, HOWEVER, WAS THE IVORY BLOC. Now Quite a City A headline in a Detroit newspaper says, "l.ns.ooo Live in City Proper. In view of the vast thousands who live in Detroit improperly, the home of the flivver must be fast approach ing the two million mark in popula tion. The girl we lika 13 Sally Crumm, You'll never find Her chewing gum. Des Moines Register. The girl we admire x Is Bertha Green, She doesn't paint Like a movie queen. Toledo Bee. The girl we adore Is Myrtle Rush, She hasn't forgotten How to blush.

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Why Is a Mason a Heretic and Klansman a Bigot? Proposed Information Bureau Will Clear Away Many Puzzling Questions and Tell Why Tammany Hall Has Never Been Denounced as an . Invisible Government

(By Wingfoot) In commenting on the proposed Catholic bureau of information, the Indiana Catholic and Record says that it "can not be started too soon." More than a column of space is used in the Catholic publication advocating the distribution of information and news concerning things Roman Catholic.

We must reach the nonCatholic citizens of Indiana," declares the Roman Catholic publication, "Ito combat misrepresentation." That the Roman Catholic publication is sincere should possibly not be questioned, although on the face of matters it would appear that what the bureau is really meant for is to dispense propaganda favorable to the Roman Catholic church and suppress that which is not favorable. In the same issue of the Indiana Catholic and Record in which the editorial mentioned appears, is an account of the convention of the Knights, of Saint John held in, Buffalo and telling of the meeting being addressed by Mayor Frank X. Schwab of that city, and who is supreme president of the organization. The dispatch was sent out by a Catholic news service but it failed to mention some very important things which the mayor said in his speech. Things which other trained newspaper men considered of enough importance to be "played up" in the headlines and in the story. Among - these things were assertions by the mayor that "Catholic men and women without question make the best American citizens," and that the military department of the Roman Catholic order should be given preference over all others so that it might be ready to make war on "un-American organizations." In cluded in these so-called un-Amer ican organizations was the Ku Klux Klan, an organization embracing more tnan six million Protestants. Not for Non-Catholics Just why should a publication such as the Indiana Catholic and Record, which uses more than column of space to advocate getting the truth before the people, take such great care to avoid printing su-ch statements as the Roman Cath olic mayor of Buffalo heralded to the world? These assertions of the su preme president of a Roman Catholic order, it would appear, the Roman Catholic publications do not care for the non-Catholic to read. Inconsistency marks the columns of all Roman Catholic tmblications and the one quoted in the foregoing paragraphs is no exception. In the editorial under discussion, the Ku Klux Klan is called the "forces of bigotry.' On the same page adver tising by churches is discussed and in the article is found the following: "There is only one church that could state a plain fact, and the others would be advertising falsely while other denominations might woo the ear more winningly or cry their wares more loudly, the Catholic church will outlive all others." Can any broad-minded person conceive of a man who advocates or holds the sentiment shown in the foregoing paragraph calling another man a bigot? Give a little thought to the quoted paragraph and when you have done so you will know the attitude of the Roman Catholic to ward the Protestant churches. One of the first bits of informa tion which the new bureau should give out, and which would no doubt be appreciated by many persons would be the definition of the word "bigot" Webster and other authorities, it would appear, have given the world the wrong explanation of just what the over-used word means. What Is a Bigot? While most persons know that all Protestants are bigots, all Klansmen are bigots, all persons who opposed Al Smith for president are bigots and all persons who opposed the spending of public funds (as was done in New York and Chicago) to make a Roman holiday for two socalled Americans who were made princes by a Roman ruler, are bigots, it would be interesting for the American to learn from such an authoritative source as a Roman Catholic information bureau just what is a bigot. Frankly, we are anxious to have this proposed bureau get into oper ation as we wish to ask a question which has been bothering us for long time, namely, why has the Ro man Catholic press never charged Tammany Hall (ruled by Roman Catholics), which has just fizzled in trying to name the president of the United States, and which has ruled New York from the days of the Tweed gang, an invisible govern ment? Why did the Roman Catholic press wait until Protestants formed an organization (nothing like Tam many, however), .which spends its time teaching Christianity and aiding in bettering civic conditions, before it brought out the cry of invisible uvc'rnmeni : Another matter on which much light could be thrown by the pro posed information bureau is tha Roman Catholic church's attitude to ward the Masonic order. Of course we understand that they disclaim all hostility toward Masons, but what we would like to know is why on May 20, 1924, before a meeting of the St. Joseph State League, held in Indianapolis, Rev. Philip Marke, 0 F. M., called the Masons heretics, and' said: "Freemasonry dictates its terms to those who rule." And

Friday, August 1,1924

also, accused the Ku Klux Klan of doing the same thing. That "Spiritual Domain" Another puzzline oupjHnn onnif be quickly answered, no doubt, by this proposed bureau of Information, which could tell us Just what to "spiritual domain" of the Roman Catholic church is. The president's annual message to the league mentioned above read in nart: "Thn question may be asked 'la tha Church in Polities'; the answer is, the Catholic church is not and may ue tuncernea m politics as such but when the state exceeds iu powers and encroaches on her spiritual domain, as it 13 often tempted to do by passing measures dangerous to the welfare of souls, then she has every right to speak." It is easily seen that the state may "exceed its rights" whenever the state naoaeo law that does not meet with approval me noman catholic hierarchy, but an explanation by the proposed bureau would clear away the smoke. To quote the Rev. Marks again, it would seem that the Volstead act was one of those "measures dangerous to the soul." as h snirt And if they are afraid of tnn mnnv amendments, then let them strike out the unnecessary eighteenth amendment." Yes, the establishment of Rllfh an information bureau would be of great benefit, even thoueh more than why it is that a Klansman is a bigot, while a Mason is a heretic. The Cruel Brain-Box It is a significant fact that note criminologists now endorse an opinion long held and promulgated by the Klan to the effect that aliens luuiffiii more murders than our pure American population. Dr. A. W. Stearns, of Boston, a famous nriml inologist, addressing the closing sesBiuu ui tne eigntietn annual American Psychiatric Associated, produced statistics showing that an alarming number of murders could oe iracea to aliens who were newly arrived in this country. "The mm.ders were committed," he said, "be cause these men were of a low cultural level, primitive and uneducated. They auarrel eaailv then fight and killing results." Dr Stearns found in a study of a group of 100 murders that practically all of them had been committed by foreigners and all the foreigners were uneducated. What the learned doctor did not say was a further Klannish contention, that no amount of education could ever change the vicious and cruel brain-box of the majority or this southern Europe progeny that infests the eastern seaboard states. Perhaps he did not dare to say that so long as we leave these people in our country they will serve as a plague and no amount of capital punishment, social salve, or mixed-race breeding will ever take the criminal madness out of their heads. America can onlv keep safe and sane by sweeping Europe's refuse out of our life. Now that nationally-great psychiatrists, armed with tons of statistics, warn ua, we snouia stir up enough energy to look the trouble squarely in the face and even give it a right hook to the jaw. A has the lousy alien! The Flag Our first flag under the constitution contained thirteen stars and thirteen stripes, representing the original thirteen colonies. The constitution provided for the admission of new states into the Union, but no provision was made for representa-:. tion of the new states on the flag. in 1791 Vermont was admitted into the Union, and in 1792 Kentucky was admitted. Both these states wanted representation on the flag, so a star and a stripe was added tor each. Tennessee in 1796; Ohio, 1801; Louisiana, 1812; Indiana, 1816; and Mississippi, in 1817, were th. Ti 11 v f a' n.nn . 1 ... . . ,. . utAi oiaica iu ue trajmitea into the Union. After the' admission bt these states it became apparent that to increase the number of stars and the number of stripes for each new state would increase the size of the flag out of all proportion, so in 1818 congress passed an act tlfat "on the admission of every new state one star be added to the Union in the Oar" TViio ,1.. first flag act which stated that the stripes should be horizontal. Since 1818 the Union of the -flag has bee.tt altered twenty-two times by the addition of stars. A. star for Illinois, in 1819; Alabama and Maine, In 1820; Missouri, in 1822; Arkansas, 1836; Michigan 1837; Florida, 1845; Texas. 1846; Iowa, 1847; Wisconsin, 1848; California, 1851; Minnesota, 1858; Oregon, 1859; Kansas, 1861 West Virginia, 1863: Nevada, 1865? Nebraska, 1867; Colorado. 1877; North Dakota, South Dakota, Mon tana, Washington and Idaho, 1890; Wyoming, 1891; Utah, 1896; Oklahoma, 1908; New Mexico and Arizona, 1912. The flag in Its present form was authorized in 1912 by President Taft, who ordered that "the arrangement of the etara forming the Union on the blue field shall be in six horizontal rows, with .eight five-pointed Btars in each row." "o. T Ci IUB