The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-03-20
The BOY SCOUTS
Socialists Attack on Organization ls-
nored Expressed Purposes


/ would draw your attention to an
article published in last Sundays
Times concerning the Boy Scouts and
the menace that George r. Kirkpat-
rick, the Socialist, sees in them.
May | call your attention TO the fact
that Mr. Kirkpatrick is evidently lab
oring under a misapprehension and
has pronounced his convictions on
the subject without really taking time
to read the literature which the Boy
Scout movement is distributing?
In both Bulletins / and issued by
the Boy Scouts OF America emphatic
declaration Is made that there is moth
ing military about the Boy Scout
movement Both Mr.. Kirkpatrick
and the Boy Scout movement urge
the same idea OF peace.
Mr.. Kirkpatrick has also passed
judgment on the Boy Scout movement
in connection with the ideas of obedi-
ence and loyalty from the English
Scout law. He evidently has not seen
the American adaptation OF this. We
would suggest not only to the writer
OF the attack on the Boy Scout move
ment but also to all interested citi-
zens that they first read the most re-
cent literature that has been issued
by the Boy Scouts OF America.
The Boy Scout movement is not In.
terested in preaching capitalism OF
labor. Its business is not to open its
activities to the propaganda Of any
group OF specialized subjects or ex
perts. It's business Is not TO deal
with the problems OF production and
distribution or supply and demand i'm
portant though they may be; neither
has II a right TO deal with industrial
social or political questions. II has
no Interior motive in view as II does
its work. and its real purpose is tC
lay its finger on the life spring OF
the growing boy in such a way thai
by discovering the latent motive o.
service which turks in each boys liz,
he may evolve into the type OF citi
zenship that the Nation needs mos
that an intelligent and thoughtful
attitude may be presented to tn,
problems OF an industrial, social an,
political life.
The Boy Scout movement is not, al
Mr. Kirkpatrick says. an organization
crafty subsidized in any way what
ever. The movement was started il
this country last June by the repre-
sentatives Of thirtyfye different OF
, CARNATIONS that we're already at worl
among adolescent boys In this CON
| try. The men who formed the organ
ization We're already interested In IN
welfare OF the boyhood OF America
/ Representatives OF federated boys
: clubs. charity associations. the JuN
/ emile Court, the Big Brother NOV,
ment, the public schools, the Sunda
schools, the church clubs. the Youn
Mems Christian Association. IN
l Young Mems Hebrew Association. IN
: Young Mems Catholic Association
4 the Playground Association the Boy
D Brigade. the Sunday School Associ,
\ ton. the Social Workers Club, IN
Social Settlement movement. the An
erican Red Cross society, the Publ
Schools Athletic League. and like o
EXAMINATIONS voted that the Boy Scot
movement was an opportunity f
I each Of them TO meet on oommo
ground for the cooperative dcvelo
/. ment OF American boyhood m
y men also who have led this movemei
4 as It's employed officers are OF Natio
n al reputation in the boys work OF Il
d country.
4 James Z. West.
4 Executive Secretary Boy Scouts
, America.
n From New York Times Of Mar,
= 10.