The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1912-06-21
THE BOY SCOUTS
Not a Military Observation-Disclosures.
es Carrying FIREARMS and Train.
ing Bows to he Soldiers.


The Boy Scouts of America must
not carry fire arms. and any boy in a
scout uniform who carries a revolver
or a rifle is dlsobeying instructions
OF the leaders of the organization.
James E. West. Chief Scout Exec
utive OF America, says that he has
been authorized by the executive
board Of his organization to take
such steps as may be necessary to
make it clear to the public that the
real scout movement is not military.
and is distinctly opposed to having
the boys carry fire arms.
For many months the scout leaders
have been sending out word to the
scout masters to avoid military drills
and to use every measure possible to
prevent the boys from CARRYING fire
arms. The popularity of the scout
movement, however, has led many
mens and thousands of boys to initiate
the Boy Scouts of America. There
are organizations of boy scouts who
do carry fire arms, and the fatal shoot
ing of Henry Luckhardt, 8 years old.
by Russell Maitland Jarvis, a boy
scout II years old in New York city.
recently, has convinced the leaders of
the Boy Scouts of America that they
have an important duty to make clear
to the public and especially to parents
that the Boy Scouts of America do
not carry fire arms.
"Such "a duty" says Chief Scout
Executive West, "devolves upon US,
not only because the popularity of
the scout movement has caused many
organizations in imitation of the Boy
Scouts of America to spring up, but
becase of the reputation which our
organization already has attained.
Many parents who do not know much
about the scout movement have learn
ed IN a general way that President
Taft, Col. Roosevelt, Lieutenant-Gen-
eral Sir Robert S. S. Baden Powell.
and many prominent educators and
phllanthrOpists are backing the BOy
Scouts of America. When boys wish
to o a boy scout parents said
all right. not knowing there are diff
terent organizations. That was the
way with Mrs. Jarvis, the mother of
the boy who did the shooting. She
SAID after the tragedy that she did not
know that her son was supposed to
carry a rifle. Furthermore these imi-
tatlon organizations have been devot-
ing themselves to line of work. such
as military drill and target shooting.
or to going into camp without follow
ing the scout program or going out on
hikes.
las all these things tend to throw
discredit or the main organization the
executive board has authorized me to
make clear, first .sof all to the pnblic
and to the parents the true nature of
the Boy Scouts of America. Accord
ingly | shall write to s~coutmasters of
'H~ VI oIlLdtloIo IOt cDl1-
nected with the Boy Scouts of Ameri-
ca explaining the situation to them,
and | have been authorized if neces-
sary to insert advertisements in news
papers to make this clear. = want all
parents to understand that they can
tell readily whether an organization
is affiliated with the Boy Scouts of
America by examining the boys
badge or his uniform. The badge is
copyrighted. and therefore. can be
worn only by a boy whose troop is
authorized by the Boy Scouts of
America. The uniform also has the
stamp Of the Boy Scouts of America
on it and a be bought only through
a scoutmaster who is registered with
the Boy Scouts of America.
The aim of the scout movement is
through peace scouting and whole
some outdoor activities, to build the
character of the boy"