Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1911-10-26
Is the Boy Scout Movement Of
4 Military Nature ?
BY R. a Dague.

asm for the army will operate against
the spread Of seditious socialism
among the youth of Russia.
Dispatches from Berlin last July
stated that Emperor William -.1 mil
itary men of Germany have taken
steps to inaugurate the Boy Scout
movement in that country. They are
quoted as saying that "Germany's
fighting efficiency can thus be aug
mented greatly, and the war spirit
strengthened. The Socialists through
out EI. are, as well as non-Socialists
who oppose war, are strenuously con-
tending against the Boy Scout scheme.
1t would seem that no one in Europe
questions the object of the movement
as being to develop the war spirit IN
the boys.
Some of the more cautious and con-
serVative inonarchistS have raised
warning voices "to remind the gov
eminent that the juvenile militia thus
created may, unless proper precau-
lions be taken, develop into q revolu-s
tionary army, SO that, instead of being
a national asset, the boy soldiers
would become serious danger to the
safety Of the empire" In the face of
these well known facts, published in
Europe and America, it would seem
that Commander C. de Vidal Hundt
and others are presuming much on
the gross ignorance of their readers
when they claim that the Boy Scouts
are organized to make little fun Tor
the youths and to teach boys now to
cook, sew buttons on their garments
and to excite the admiration OF their
girl friends, 5a-S.S I
The solemn truth is that Gen.
Baden Powell, themonarchs of Europe
and the plutocrats of America invent
ed and are promoting the Boy Scout
organization for the purpose OF de-
feating the worldwide movement fDr
peace and for International courts OF
arbitration and to raise up an army
with which to suppress all efforts OF
oppressed peoples who may make q
struggle to improve their conditions
of living, The scheme was adroitly
planned and its real object hidden
while the supposed advantages aecru-
ing to the youths are painted in bril-
liant colors. The lads are told about
the bright uniforms, the grand picn1css
the fun and good times, but they will
be taught to implicitly obey the orders
of their officers. Little do they sus-
pect that they are to have the killing
instinct in their hearts cultivated and
strengthened until they can go forth
with torch and gun and hayonet and
mercilessIy wound and murder their
fellowmen, whom they do not know
and who haEe done them no harm, and
who, like themselves, are delhded vic
Tins and slaves of. designing; ambi-
tious tyrants, of selfish millionaires,
who care nothing for the common sols
der except to use him to burn, de-
stroy and murder.
The Boy Scout movement was in
vented by professional man-killer.
It is wicked and unchristian and
hope that no boy who reads this will
Join the cunningly. devised plan to
convert innocent boys into fighting
machines" Gen.. Sherman said: war
is hell" MY advice to boys is to think
good thoughts, do kindly deeds, speak
friendly words, stand up manfully for
peace and good fellowship, and II the
kings and nabobs Of Europe and the
grating monopolists Of America want
to- get up killing bees and wars and
thus raise he'll" by wholesale MUIR
der, let. them do the killing them
selves. -