One interesting thing:
The flag shown in the photo appears to have its stars arranged in a uniform grid of rows and columns.
Although there are only 7 columns clearly shown (the flag is not flat) there are clearly only 6 rows of stars.
The only official US flag that ever had this configuration of uniform star rows and columns, with 6 stars in the first column, was the 48 Star flag from 1912 to 1959, adopted after the admission of New Mexico and Arizona.
The official flag in July 1900 would have had 45 stars (1896-1908), adopted after the admission of Utah - but the stars in the first column were not in a line, as shown in the photo.
So, I don't know what to make of this?!
Going strictly by the 6 rows and 7 columns that are clearly shown, that would be 42 stars. (6 x 7 = 42).
There never was an official flag with only 42 stars. We went from the 38-star in 1877 to the 43-star in 1890.
And both of those flags pre-date the "July 1900" date you provided.
The Dakotas were admitted between 1877 and 1890, and some flag manufacturers believed that the two Dakotas would be admitted as a single state.
IF the two Dakotas had been admitted as a single State, then that would (presumably) put us at 42 stars.
Although it's still at least 10 years prior to July 1900.
Now, whether the above observation helps or not....??
My thinking is party leaders, somehow connected to North or South Dakota.
But that's not much more than a guess, really.
I've seen that Hand Signal Before.
Masons ? Or he flipped the wrong person the bird & they shot it Off
View attachment 1530105
