The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-08-15
INFAMY OF The
BOY SCOUT PLAN
(By DIR. Edwin F. Bowers)

IL TIE Luitor VI Inc Fdrmer:
The institution of "Boy Scouts il
this country, as originally planned by
the naturalist, Ernest Seton-Thomp.
son, was a splendid conception and 6
highly praiseworthy activity
The impressionable growing youth
who is brought into contact with the
great ''out of doors,'' and instructed in
the science of woodcraft; who is
taught to respect and cherish his fur
red and feathered brothers Of the
woods and fields, is a better boy 70,
it, and will make. better man as
the result of this training.
When, however, the intent and plan
of the author was changed through
the Vaccinations of Gen. Baden-Pow-
ell; when the distinctly and avowedly
military spirit of the organization
was formulated, step in retrograde
was taken, and the effort become one
of the most insidious and iniquitous
that has ever disgraced a civilization.
Clean, sturdy boys, with innately high
ideals, are prostituted to a debasing,
degrading purpose; the study of eff
f1ciency in becoming potential murder
ers of their fellows.
Desperate efforts have been made
to maintain the physical status of the
the army and navy through deceiving
advertisements posted on every vacant
billboard, on the walls of pOstoffices,
government buildings, railroad sta
tions and wherever young men con-
gregate. Alluring prospects were held
out. See the world without cost
rapid advance in pay" liberal pen
sions," and all the other bait calucu-
lated to inspire an ambitious youth
of spirit with determination to do
or die; and still the recruits failed
to come into the fold.
Then the diabolical scheme concoct-
ed of educating the youth was through
military training and patriotic appeal,
to fit themselves for the reader recep-
ton of the idea that a soldier was a
man to be looked up to and respect
ed, instead of despised for the char
acteristics he exhibited in being will
ing for $13 a month land found" to
shoulder rifle and kill, or be killed.
Worst phase of all, it was found by
a ministry always ready to curry ia
vor in. high quarters, that boys
clubs could be formed and drilled as
a part of Christian church member
ship.
Anything more absurd and grotes-
que would be difficult to conceive And
yet the scheme worked. 1t is still
working. Shame, that a self-respecting
minister of the gospel who should lose
no opportunity in intoxicating the spir-
it of brotherly love and fraternity
should so debase himself and his
sacred office as to officiate as a drill
master to a lot of savages in en-
bryo.
When all the civilized world is unit
ing in the endeavor to drive into out
err darkness the cruel spirit of war;
when tribunals and councils all over
the world are petitioning and praying
for universal disarmament, 1t seems
incredible that the representatives of
the loving Christ should stultffy their
calling by developing opposition to the
very essentials of arbitration (Which
the best thought of the world deems
necessary and expedient for the de-
velopment and perfection of the race
Prof. William James, shortly before
his death. wrote an eloquent. and man
He claimed that the splendid bravery,
self-sacrifice, implicit obedience to
orders, and all that has gone to make
up the romance, glitter and glory of
war, was something which we could,
as a race, ill afford to lose.
The same spirit, however, Prof.
James pointed out, could be directed
into constructive efforts on behalf of
humanity; the drainage of swamps,
digging of irrigation bitches, build
ing roads, service with the fishing
fleets in the cruel winter months, work
on the "sky scrapers," and in the
and all the difficult and ardu-
Gus activities that could be engaged
in on behalf of the common good"
The young man would benefit most
by this effort as he would come back
to civilian life with broader human
ism developed and a more comprehen-
sixe knowledge of interdependence
with his fellows
Or some other philanthropist, having
this subject at heart, would print and
circulate a few million copies of Prof.
James paper. 1t would serve to has
ten the day when this Utopian dream
of a great philosopher will be ac-
tuality, and war will be waged against
our common enemies; cold, disease,
starvation, and the elements, so i'm
placable in their relentless inexorabii-
ity.
Therefore lay down your arms, go
back to your workmanship, your ma
ture study. your high conception of
the Fellowship of all created beings.
Flee, as you would a pestilence, the
unholy occupation of fitting yourselves
to become scientific murderers Come
back to the ideals of real Christianity
and magnimity of spirit. And may
Of oood he with uo1r in these xyoIIr