The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1914-12-18
The Boy Scouts.

The Bow Scout movement originated
IN England. There, in 1907, under the
personal supervision OF Sir Robert 5.
s. Baden-Powell the first organiza-
ton was effected. Under his leader
ship the organization has had a phe-
nominal development. The first pro
posal for the introduction of the Boy
Scout Movement in America along the
lines similar to those of the English
Boy Scouts was made by Mr.. w. ID.
Boyce, OF Chicago. This was in the
beginning of the year 1910. 1t Is in
teresting to know that the attention Of
Mr.. Boyce was attracted to the gov
eminent by an actual service render
ed him in true scout spirit by Lon
don Boy Scout. When this Scout was
offered gift by Mr.. Boyce, he prompt
ly refused it. This he did because he
was under obligation to Do a good
turn daily and to observe the rule
against the acceptance of tips This
SO astonished and impressed Mr..
Boyce that he made extensive inqui-
ries concerning the movement. The
result was that upon his return to
America he secured the cooperation
of friends in Washington, y. c., and
proceeded to incorporate an organ
ization of the Boy Scouts in America
under the laws of the District Of Col
umbia This was effectually accom-
plished on February 8th, 1910.
Prior to this time number of
troops had been organized by men
who had been impressed with the pos
sibilities of the scheme, through read
ing Sir Robert Baden-Powell's English
handbook, Scouting for Boys" Be
tween hese troops there was NO or
ganic connection. There were, how
ever, at the time OF the organization
of the Boy Scouts Of America, more
than thirty other organizations for
boys. Happily, before the middle OF
July, 1910, all of these organizations
with the exception of the American
Boy Scouts merged with the Boy
Scouts OF America. Ii was largely
through the efforts Of Mr.. Edgar MI.
Robertson that the different organiza-
tions were brought together.
At the head of the organization Is
the National Council. This National
Council is composed of representative
and prominent men who are selected
for their positions by Local Councils
throughout the country. The admin
istratiYe work Of the National Coun-
Gil is done through a. Executive
Board This Executive Board IS com
posed of the officers of the National
Council That the efficiency OF the
Executive Board may be understood
the names OF the officers of the Ma
tional Council are here given: Hon
orary President, Hon. Woodrow Will
son; Honorary Vice-President, Hon.
William Fl. Taft; Honorary Vice
President, Hon. Theodore Roosevelt;
President, Colin H. Livingstone,
Washington, d. o.; Vice-President, 3.
IT, Dulaney, Bristol, Tenn; Vice
President, Milton a. McRae, Detroit,
Mich. Vice-President, David Starr
Jordan, Stanford University, Cal;
Vice-President, +. +. Seely, Asheville,
N. O.; Vice-President, a. Stanford
White, Chicago, ILL.,; Chief Scout,
Ernest Thompson Seton, Greenwich,
Conn; and National Scout Commits
sioner, Daniel Carter Beard, Flushing,
n. Y. This Board, having legislative
powers, makes its own rules, grants
charters to Local Councils and ere
dentials to Scout Commissioners ana
Scout Master, copywrights badges,
insignia, and other scout designs, ar
ranges for their manufacture and dis
tribution, selects designs for uniforms
and scout equipment, and appoints an
executive officer or Chief Scout Exec
utive and such other officers and em-
pIoyees as may seem desirable. These
latter officers and employees have
charge or the bulk of the national
business OF the organization and the
routine work OF the National Head
quarters, in New York City. They
hold their positions at the pleasure of
the Executive Board
Wv Local Council has charge Of the
work in each community. This Local
Council Is composed of number OF
representative citizens OF the COM
munity. 1t Is organized after the
same manner as the National Council.
1t appoints the Scout Master and -
sistant Scout Masters, and mas tne
general oversight of the scout work
in the community See this column
next week.
q. f. FORLINES, Scout Master.
~