The Man Who Wanted to Redesign the Flag
While Congress struggled with the logistics of adding new stars to the American flag, a Tacoma resident claimed to have a permanent solution.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
The field of stars on the United States flag is becoming overcrowded with stellar emblems. As new states are added, the difficulty increases of placing the stars in a graceful manner on the field and still leave room for others to be added. A bill has therefore been introduced in Congress to rearrange the stars so as to make it possible to add the stars from time to time without disturbing the general plan. This idea has been anticipated by a private citizen, Henry Vogt of 5168 Viola St., this city, who has designed a flag for which the thanks of the War Department have been extended. Vogt's design is shown in the accompanying photograph of his flag, which decorates his house on all public occasions. He would place the stars in a circle, with a keystone design in the center, leaving room for the addition of stars around the circle.
“He would place the stars in a circle, with a keystone design in the center, leaving room for the addition of stars around the circle.”
Henry Vogt’s design proposal highlights the periodic civic anxiety surrounding national symbols and statehood during the early 20th century. While his circle design was never adopted, it reflects the era's boosterism and desire to leave a mark on the rapidly growing nation.
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