Hickory Daily Record

FLAG OF REPUBLIC NOT KNOWN IN ALL GERMANY
Berlin, Sept. 21.--The black, red and gold flag of the German republic is less in evidence than any other of the dozen or more official emblems which wave from houses of every town and city of the country.

The most popular banner is the black, white and red of the former empire.

In some provinces and in a number of towns the republican flag has never been flown, is not recognized, and cannot be purchased.

Even in Berlin seat of the government, the flying standards of the empire outnumber those of the republic which appear generally to be restricted to necessary official use or to popular demonstrations in favor of the new regime.

The red flag of the Communists usually flies side by side with the republican colors during any popular parades or manifestations.

In some quarters this situation has caused agitation against monarchical propagandists and here and there has resulted in fights between the police and adherents of the monarchy or between monarchists and republicans, but on the whole it has passed unnoticed.

The only definite effort to prevent the use of the flag of the republic has come from the mercantile interests, which are strenuously seeking authority to retain their old colors- the flag of the empire with the outline of an iron cross in the upper right hand corner. It is argued this flag was known in nearly every port of the world before the war and that its abandonment would handicap German shipping, which is seeking with all available means to regain its pre-war prestige.

The government has indicated that a referendum may soon be held to permit the people generally to decide whether the demand of the mercantile interests should be granted.

Each German state holds proudly to its old colors-the black-white of Prussia, the blue-white of Bavaria, the green-white of Saxony, and, among the German residents, the yellow-white of Upper Silesia. East Prussia flies the flag of the empire, and declares it will have no other.

Supporters of the republic profess confidence that the great majority of the people would willingly support the republic in an emergency, notwithstanding the wide spread attachment to other flags.