The Republican journal., 1911-04-13
The Boy Scouts of America


The Organization is Growing Rapidly
in all Parts of the Country and is Max
ing Good Progress in Maine.
The Boy Scout Movement, which has
excited SO much interest throughout the
nation, is showing its worth by it's active
growth. This last month five hundred
Scout Masters received their certificates
from the National Office. The move
ment numbers 300, 900 boys and applica-
tions are at hand so that it is quite likely
that the amalgamations of the various
movements and the applications of new
patrols will bring the number of Scouts
up to 500, 900 by the first of April.
Pres. Taft has accepted place as the
honorary head of the movement, and
already there are associated with him
some of the most prominent men of the
country. The movement has been en-
dorsed by the National Playground As
ISOLATION of North America, the Red
Cross Society, and by such prominent
men as Clifford Pinchot, Felix Adler, DR..
Charles P Neill, the national comission-
er of labor, Ambassador Bryce and Mon
seigneur Shahan, the president of the
Catholic University of America. The
latter is a very enthusiastic supporter,
and he says: Il see no reason why every
boy in this country should not, sooner or
later, be enrolled in this organization, or
why every citizen should not encourage
it, cooperate with it and help make it
the success it deserves to be-
The movement has been growing quite
rapidly in Maine Mr.. A. A. Head of
Waterville, one of the State Department
Secretaries of the Y. M. C. A, has been
appointed by the National organization
as the Scout Commissioner for the State,
with authority to form both State and
local councils. lie reports that already
several of the cities have formed Scout
Councils, and that some of the leading
business and professional men are inter-
ested in inaugurating the work. The
most recent community to enter the list
was Rockland. Patrols have been in ex-
lstence in this city for some time but re-
Gently banquet of some of the most
prominent men of the place was held at
the Hotel Thorndike, and after an address
by Mr.. Head a council to govern the
development OF the Scout work in the
city was formed. EX-Gov. Cobb accept
ed the presidency of the Council and in
his speech emphasized very emphatically
the responsibility resting upon the citi
zens Of Maine for the boys of the State.
About all the different interests of the
city are represented in the council and
there is every indication that the work
will develop very rapidly.
Every day brings in reports to the
State Office at Waterville regarding the
ways in which the different patrols of
the State have accepted that part of
their obligation which requires Scout
to do good turn to somebody every day.
In one community, the patrols have
shovelled the snow from the sidewalks
in front of the houses of all the aged and
infirm and certain city patrol has cared
for many of the details relating to two
of the large conventions which have just
been held; another patrol has already an
nounced its intention of taking a part in
clearing up the brush along the high
ways of the town, another plans to in
spect the streets and to gather rubbish
that would otherwise mar the beauty of
the streets.
The new badges for the Boy Scouts of
America will be ready by May 1sr. The
new design is neither an arrowhead of a
f1eurde-lis, as was the old, but is the
sign Of the North on the Mariners Com
pass. The sign of the North has been
cut in two, the upper half being used for
the official badge. Next the American
eagle has been super-imposed so as to
make the badge thoroughly American
The use of the sign of the North is rath-