Let's take a wild guess since most Americans would not have known what IHS stands for. They didn't want to offend any Muslims because of the cross on top?
In a related story, he asked that all mirrors, garlic, holy water, crucifixes, Bibles, and blessed objects be removed...since "the One" gets a little anxious around such Catholic regalia.
This would have made a great episode of Kolchak: the Night Stalker.