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Show GOVERNOR SPRY PRAISED FOR FLAG DAY SPEECH i Smoot Organ Editorial Ridiculing Members of Elks Lodge for Passage of Patriotic Resolution Resolu-tion Is Bitterly Denounced. RECENTLY the local lodge oi' Elks passed a set of resolutions condemning the practice of playing "The Star-Spangled Banner" Ban-ner" as a portion of a medley of songs or of the use of only a portion of the national anthem in connection with other music. The passage of the resolutions was prompted by an address which Governor Gov-ernor William Spry delivered on Flag day, June 14, expressing the same sentiments. The speech of the governor as well as the action of the Elks lodge met with favorable comment in all parts of the state, and that favorable comment was enhanced to a large degree yesterday by the publication in the Herald-Republican of an editorial in which, by inference, in-ference, both the state's chief executive and the local lodo-e of Elks were ridiculed and belittled for their stand. The editorial was the subject of bitter denunciation at the Elks' club rooms yesterday, and members of the order as well as those who were on the committee that drafted the resolutions were outspoken in their expressions of opinion. Governor Spry last night reiterated his stand on the question as given in his Flag day speech. Citizens generally who were interviewed inter-viewed last night were unanimous in their support of the executive. Among these were members of the governor's staff, officers and stockholders of the paper that printed the editorial, Mayor Samuel C. Park and city officials, the committeemen who drafted the Elks resolution and members of the order, federal and state officials and business men. A few of the various expressions of opinion follow: GOVERNOR WILLIAM SPRY, stockholder stock-holder in the Herald-Republican and author of the suggestion followed by the Elks in urging a greater respect for the national anthem. 'When. I made the suggestion that the Elks take the lead in a movement to educate edu-cate the public to a greater respect for the national anthem and to urge upon musicians and others the need of preventing the cheapening of the national air by eliminating it from medleys of inferior air6, I was speaking speak-ing extemporaneously at the Flag day exercises of the Salt Lake Elks. I spoke what were my sentiments then and what still are my sentiments. senti-ments. I did not say, as I was quoted as saying by the Herald-Republican, that I would take the matter before the legislature. It is largely a matter mat-ter of public sentiment, and I believe be-lieve the Elks are doing a noble work in molding the sentiment of the people peo-ple of the country toward a greater respect for the flag and for the dignity dig-nity and reverence of the national anthem. I believe the resolutions adopted by the Elks were needed, and that they will go a long way toward to-ward correcting the evil to which attention at-tention has been called. I wish to say to the Elks that I am in hearty accord with them in this movement, and that I stand ready to aid them in their crusade in behalf of the national na-tional anthem at any time that they may wish to call upon me. With reference ref-erence to the Herald-Republican editorial edi-torial on this subject, I would rather not be quoted. E. W. KELLY, exalted ruler of the Salt Lake lodge of Elks. In adopting adopt-ing resolutions calling attention to the misuse of the national anthem, the Elks did not attempt to assume any proprietary interest in "The Star Spangled Banner' but merely to do our part as a patriotic order in attempting to preserve the anthem from desecration and to prevent it from being cheapened when plared in combination with irreverent music. mu-sic. I take it that our resolutions were a step In the right direction, and I hope they may be the means of arousing public interest to the extent that our national anthem will mean more than merely a tuneful air played with variations in a medley. In adopting these resolutions, the Salt Lake lodge of Elks, and especially espe-cially its officers, felt confident that the newspapers of the state would assist us greatly in educating the public to the same view that Elks hold of the sanctity of our national anthem. Imagine our surprise when we discovered that the Herald-Republican, instead of supporting the movement, apparentlv attempted to ridicule and belittle it. To my mind the editorial in the Herald-Republican was wholly uncalled for aid entirely en-tirely without justification. Its sole purpose, it appeared to me, was to belittle the governor and the patriotic patri-otic suggestion which he made to the Elks. W. ECCLES BAIRI, esteemed loyal ' knight of the Elks and chairman of the committee which, drafted the resolutions ridiculed by the Herald-Republican. Herald-Republican. Governor William Spry, in a patriotic address delivered at the Elks' club on Flag day, June 14, 1914, called attention to the lack of patriotism evidenced in "the playing of the national anthem in connection with medleys of inferior airs indiscriminately indis-criminately selected, and suggested that the Elks lead in a movement to bring about a more dignified treatment treat-ment of the national anthem. At the next meeting of the Salt Lake lodge No. 80 of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, I made a motion that we follow the governor's suggestion, and proposed that the ex-all ex-all erl ruler name a committee to draft suitable resolutions covering the suggestion. sug-gestion. The motion prevailed, and the exalted ruler appointed -a committee com-mittee consisting of mvself as chairman. chair-man. Colonel M. M. Kaighn and H. S. Joseph. The committee drafted the resolutions and thev were unanimously unani-mously adontod bv the Salt Lake lodge of Elks. The committee, and T presume other Elks as well, resents the attitude of the Herald-Republican in ridiculing the purpose of these resolutions, and also in singling out for ridicule one member of the committee com-mittee and of the order, when the resoonsibilitv for the resolutions rests not onlv upon the entire committee, com-mittee, but upon the entire member-shin member-shin of the Salt Lake lodge of Elki. HARRY S. JOSEPH. The editorial in the ITerriM-rJcpul'lirnii yesterday sn-vors sn-vors of ' ' svncnnn ted ' ' nonsense not quite as euphonious ns ragtime music, but with a familiar melange, prolific of "heap words but no meanum, " as the Indian says. Probably our resolution reso-lution was too dense for the Herald-Republican Herald-Republican editor to appreciate its true import. Why I am given the full credit for the resolution and subjected to criticism is beyond my comprehension. I was merely one of , three Elks who framed the resolution at the order of the Salt Lake lodge No. 85, B. P. 0. E., and the resolution was unanimously passed and will be presented to the grand lodge in Denver Den-ver this month. Who they meant by "the Han-y Josephs," I am unable to fathom. If there are any others beside myself they must be counterfeits, counter-feits, and I claim to be the only "original "ori-ginal Harry Joseph. " I guess the H.-R. H.-R. meant to give me some free advertising ad-vertising in my congressional race-Nit. race-Nit. COLONEL M. M. KAIGHN, stockholder stock-holder in the Herald-Republican, prominent Republican and receiver of the United States land office. I am a stockholder in the Herald-Republican, but in this matter that is not the question. This is a matter of principle. That editorial was entirely entire-ly uncalled for. I never was more astounded in my life than when I read it this morning. MAYOR SAMUEL C. PARK. I have talked the matter over with the governor gov-ernor and I heartily agree with the stand he has taken on the question. There is entirely too much fivolity in connection with the national anthem. an-them. In my opinion, the anthem should be played by itself in order that it may receive the reverence due it by its hearers. GEORGE A. EATON, principal of the Salt Lake high school. The governor's gover-nor's attitude is right in line with my ideals on the subject. We should keep both the flag and the anthem sacred. There is too much frivolity regarding both. I hope the governor's gover-nor's attitude will result in the pass-I pass-I ing of laws, if necessary, to keep the anthem out of the hands of those who would profane it with cheap sentiment. HEBER M. WELLS, former governor of Utah and city commissioner. I think The Tribune and Governor Spry are dead right in the stand taken. During the Spanish-American war, w-hen I first observed audiences standing: when the national anthem was pla3Ted, I was moved by the reverence rev-erence displayed by the audience. Since then I have been so annoyed when it was played in the theaters, Eandwiched in between ragtime and sometimes sung to ragtime, that I persisted in keeping my seat. I have heard people say, "Oh, look, the governor keeps his seat." I knew that if I stood up, it would only be in answer to a cheap trick of the performers. I think the governor is entirely right, and I earnestly hope that the stand he has taken will be of nation-wide significance and result re-sult in the passing of laws prohibiting prohibit-ing the cheapening of the anthem. NEPHI L. MORRIS, prominent Progressive Pro-gressive and candidate for governor on the Bull Moose ticket at the last election. I am opposed, unalterably opposed, to the cheap tricks of vaudeville vaude-ville performers and other singers in their efforts to gain applause by treating the national anthem as they do. I am heartilv in. favor of the stand taken by the governor. We should all strive to keep the anthem out of the cheapness of the age, and should treat it with the reverence it deserves. E. O. LEATHERWOOD, district attorney attor-ney and federal bunch candidate for congress as a running mate for Senator Sena-tor Reed Smoot. I am not in the habit of expressing an opinion on any question until I have given it considerable thought. I rend the Herald-Republican editorial this morning, but tonight do not care to give an opinion. 0. F. ADAMS, of Gardner & Adams. I have too much respect for the national na-tional anthem to wish to hear it as a part- of a medley. 1 believe wo should treat it with more reverence. I am heartily in favor of the governor's gov-ernor's stand on the matter. JOSEPH GEOGHEGAN. I thine it is an outrago to allow the national anthem an-them to bo used in the vaudeville shows and cheap cabarets. I am right with the governor heart and soul on the question. W. H. SHEARMAN, city commissioner. I am entirely in sympathy with Governor Spry's stand. 1 believe the ' national anthem is played entirely too often and too lightly. It should never be sandwiched in between medley med-ley and ragtime. 1!' played in the theaters, lot it lie played so that the audience may give it its duo' reverence. rever-ence. R. W. YOUNG. I quite agree that our national anthems are wrongfully treated. You feci chagrined to stand up ami then to sit down after but a few bars arc played. I am quite in sympathy with anything that will lend the dignity and respect the flag and anthem deserve. I am heartily in favor of the governor's stand. E. D. THOMPSON, prominent Re-. Re-. publican and register of the United States land office. The movement started by Governor Spry and furthered fur-thered by the Elks, which has for its : purpose the education of the public j to a greater respect for the national anthem, is all right. Unquestionably the use of the national anthem in connection with medleys of inferior airs tends to cheapen the national ! air. I am in hearty accord with the resolutions adopted by the Salt Lake lodge of Elks. I do not know what the Herald-Republican editorial said, because I did not read it. I did read the resolutions, however, and am i strongly in favor of the movement. WILLIAM CTtOME, prominent G. A. R. leader. The suggestion of Gover- nor Spry and the resolutions of the i Eiks are mighty good. The use of 1 the national anthem in the manner described by the governor and the resolutions of the Elks should be emphatically em-phatically decried. Playing the national na-tional anthem in connection with ragtime rag-time music is a slur on the patriotism of the public. The editorial in the Hereld-Ropublican was ridiculous and unpatriotic. I. E. WTiLE, manager of the Semloh-Louvre. Semloh-Louvre. I have often wondered why the American people allowed such liberties with "The Star Spangled Banner." I have yet to hear the French national anthem or the German Ger-man " Wacht am Bhein " played with variations. Yet musicians continually continu-ally take the American songs and put' them in a medley or play them alone, first as a waltz, then as a two-step, I then as a funeral march, etc. The cabnret musicians and the vaudeville performers do it only as a means of winning applause. I have often protested pro-tested against this with musicians with whom I have come in contact, and it is forbidden here. In the future fu-ture I shall certainly not allow it at all. , I am in hearty accord with the governor in his attitude, and believe that ho is absolutely correct when he says that the anthem has been cheapened by its too frequent or too free use. LOUIS KAHN.-I am certainly in favor fa-vor of the idea of separating ragtime rag-time tunes and the national anthem. When ''The Star Spangled Banner" is played between snatches of ragtime, rag-time, it lessens its sacredness its solemnity. It is not at all in keeping keep-ing with the author's intention that the anthem should be used by a few third-rate performers to get an ovation ova-tion from their audience. DR. M. I. MEEKER. I feel that there should be federal legislation to prevent pre-vent cheap actors making their presence pres-ence on the stage known bv the use of medleys which have as their only excuse for existence "The Star Spangled Span-gled Banner. ' ' ROBERT A. MARSH.- All this cheap clap-trap makes me sick. If you want patriotism read President "Wilson's "Wil-son's address at Philadelphia. BILL CRAVTORI of Provo. It is very evident from the Herald-Republican 's editorial that the editor is working off a little of his spleen. This is more apparent when you observe the comparisons made. The governor is right. W. F. SMITH. I am heartily in favor of the idea promulgated by Governor Spry. The Herald-Rapubliean has the wrong idea. I understood the governor gov-ernor to mean that the performers should not play a few bars of the national anthem then a few bars of some ragtime tune, then switch back to "The Star Spangled Banner." THOMAS HOMER, secretary of the Salt Lake lodge of Elks. What has particularly impressed me as a misuse mis-use of our national anthem is the use of a few bars from the anthem in connection with a medley of other airs that detract from the national na-tional anthem. Frequently an audience audi-ence no sooner rises to its feet out of reverence to our national anthem, than the orchestra changes to another an-other air. I am entirely at a loss to amount for the Herald-Republican editorinl. cannot, understand what - called it forth or what purpose it was i nt rTi iled to srvp. HENRY W. LAWR-F.NCE, city commissioner commis-sioner and prominent member of the Socialist party. 1 believe that Governor Gov-ernor Spry is right. DR. E. S. WEIGHT, member of Governor Gov-ernor Spry's staff. I am heartily in svmpnlhy with Governor Spry and the Elks in the position they take relative to the rendition of the national na-tional anthem, and believe there is no t nier rjunt atinn applicable than the old one, "familiarity breeds contempt. con-tempt. " ' LAWRENCE GREENE, member of Governor Spry's stn-ff. 1 am of the ' opinion that (ioveruor Spry 's position posi-tion is rrrtainly the correct one. R0DN3Y T. BADGER, stockholder in the Herald-Republican and a member of Governor Spry's staff. Unquestionably Unques-tionably Governor Spry is correct. The ' ' Star Spangled Banner ' ' is al-wavs al-wavs a good enough musical number to he rendered aloxe and not gurbled with other airs. H. E. BOOTH, former United States district attorney, president of the Herald-Republican and a member of Governor Spry's staff. I am heartilv heart-ilv in favor of the "overnor 'n position. posi-tion. 1 do not object to bands and orchestras playing the anthem as a part of a general programme, but it should not be played as a portion of one number. I have been out all day t and have not read the Ilerald-Repub- liean editorial, but their opinion would not change mine a bit. FRED P. NELSON. As a member of the Elks' lodge I voted in favor of the resolution at the time of its adoption, and I believo that anyone else would also had he had an opportunity op-portunity of hearing Governor Spry's Flag dav address. I never did agree much with the Hernld-Eepublican, and consider their editorial on about the same plane as the governor does the playing of the "Star Spangled Banner' as a partof other music "too much like cheap vaudeville." JEERY SHAUGHNESSY. Whether wo will admit it or not, we are judged by our associates, and when one hears the national anthem sandwiched sand-wiched between ragtime, we unconsciously uncon-sciously feel that, the anthem is out of place. I am heartily in favor of the position taken in the governor's speech. H. P. MYTON, deputy sheriff and prominent Republican. 1 have been very much disgusted with the way that the "Star Spangled Banner r' has been sung by the cheap vande-villians. vande-villians. It is not the poor singing, but the manner in which it was rendered ren-dered was sacrilegious. The only thing that, could have prompted the editorial in the Herald-Republican was a scarcity of inspiration. EDWAED CARTER, Republican. Seems to me that the whole thing was inspired because the lerald-l?e-publican has some personal grudge against Harry Joseph and the Elk lodge. The editor's reasoning is as sound as to say it would not cheapen the doxology if it was sung in a cabaret cab-aret between "Everybody's Doin It" and "This Is the Life." ' |