The Washington times., 1915-12-06
THOMPSON SETON
QUITS boy SCOUTS
Declares Methods Of Chief Ex-
ecutlve Are RepuIslve to
Him.

NEW YORK. Dec. 6.-Ernest Thomp-
son Seton. former chief scout Of the
Boy Scouts OF America. has announced
he was through with this organization
and made public his reason in a severe
criticism of James u. West, the present
chief executive OF the Boy Scouts. Mr..
Seton describes him as "a good or
ganlzer. an executive OF ability. but
without knowledge Of boys or their ac-
tlvities" adding:
HE has never really seen the blue
sky in his life. and his office methods
as chief executive Of the Boy Scouts
are such that I do not wish to be as
ISOLATED with him"
Members OF the organization seen last
night placed n different construction
upon Mr.. Seton'g retirement. They said
the former chief scout got out because
he was not an American citizen and
would not take The necessary steps to
become one.
Still q British Subject.
The European war. It seems. brought
about an investigation as to the citizen
ship Of Mr.. Seton and the discovery
was made that. although he had taken
out his first naturalization papers years
ago. he Is still British subject
1t is said that at the February meet
ing Of the organization In Washington
Mr. Setons name was quietly dropped
from the list Of officers.
OF this charge Mr.. Seton said; ''It
did not seem right for me to take out
my full papers when my mother coun-
try was at war. SO l am waiting. When
the war ends shall become an Ameri-
can citizen"
Mr.. Seton says he forwarded his resig-
nation as chief scout last spring and
that 1t has been held without action
as unfair"
OF the executive board of the scouts
only high praise is voiced by Mr.. Seton.
| His sole target Is Mr.. West.
According to Mr.. Seton the Boy Scout
movement as launched by Baden-Powell
and himself was designed to bring the
| boys into closer touch with outdoor
life. Woodcraft. in its highest sense.
was the keynote.
"NOw Drills and Wigwagging."
"And now" says Mr.. Seton. there
is a deadeninR of all idealism, and a
loss of interest in trees and flowers,
and all that makes up the wonderland
of woodcraft. Now. the boys have
drills and learn wiE-wagging.
"a measure of preparedness is all
right for America, but this organiEa-
ton was not created for any such pur-
| DOSE"
Mr.. Seton paws tribute to Mr.. Vests
business ability. admitting that the Of
flee force Is splendidly equipped. and
that last years budget reached the
handsome total OF $4,000 or there
| abouts.
but 1t is all business" he adds.
"They forget the boys"
Mr.. Seton says he will hereafter de-
vote his attention 20 the development
of his woodcraft League from which.
he asserts. the Boy Scout movement
| grew. ~ - -.~--
Mr. west issued a reply late last
night through Colin II. Livingston,
president OF the organization. Mr..
Seton was not reelected chief scout
Mr.. West declared. because he had
| failed to respond satisfactorily as ia
what his intentions were about becom-
Ing a citizen Of the United States"
Mr.. West says that Mr. Seton's mo-
| tive in giving to the newspapers his
interview. on the eve Of the opening
| Of a campaign to raise 100000 for Boy
| Scout work in Greater New York was
Selfish and unfriendly." He adds that
the action taken in Mr.. Seton's case
reflects the unanimous decision of the
/ members OF the board"