On this date in 1913, a controversy erupted in Sykeston over the whether an American flag had been used improperly. A news story stated, “When the M.E. Kremer & Co. auction sale was started, a government flag was hoisted over the building. During the night some one took down the flag and left a note protesting against the use of the old glory for commercial purposes and calling the action of raising it a disgrace.”

“The incident created considerable excitement here,” the article continued, “and different views are held by the people over the legitimacy of the use of stars and stripes in this manner. The general consensus of opinion was that there was at least no technical violation of the law against using the flag for advertising purposes.”

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