Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-02-26
Did Not Resign, But Was De-
Iiberately Dropped, Says
Official Announcement

. II. bOOQlnS ftei0, OCOul. COiiHllS
sioner for the district of Honolulu, Il
in receipt OF the following official eX
plantation OF the difficulties which have
led To the severance Of all relations by
the Boy Scouts and Ernest Thompson
Seton. who recently claimed to have
resigned:
NEW YORK, n. Y.-The executive
board OF the National Council of the
Boy Scouts OF America, after consider
ing the statements issued by Ernest
Thompson Seton, in which he alleged
among other things that he had re
signed as chief scout, made the fol
lowing announcement for the informa
ton OF scout officials and the general
public;
"Mr. Seton did not resign; he was
deliberately dropped by the National
Council of the Boy Scouts of America
on the question of Americanism. He
is not an American citizen. He not
only resented suggestions and requests
made by many of his friends in the
scout movement that he become an
American citizen, but went further and
objected to the Boy Scout Hand Book
including chapter On patriotism. The
national council at its annual meeting
in February, 1915. did not re-elect him
because of the belief that in move
mcnt for making manly Americans
there should be no doubt as to the
citizenship and patriotism of its lead
ers. Any statement that the dropping
of Mr.. Seton or his alleged resignation
was due to anything else than this is
not true.
: Consideration Shown Him.
I'm fairness to Mr. Seton the office
was left vacant until he could be af-
forded a reasonable opportunity to de-
clare his intentions as to becoming a
citizen of the United States. This he
refused to do.
In response to Mr.. Setons attempt
TO resign, he was informed that mas
much as he had not been reelected,
there was no office from which he
could resign, and the matter was
finally closed last July. Scout-like, in
order that Mr.. Seton might be spared
the embarrassment of a public an.
nduncement Of the failure Of the Boy
Scout movement to re-elect him to the
position of chief scout. it was decided
TO say nothing about the matter. Mr..
Seton voluntarily promised explicitly
by letter that he would quietly pro-
coed with his own work without rais-
irg any issue publicly. He has seen
fit TO violate this promise without any
notice to the executive board OF any
OF its officers at a time and under
conditions which make necessary this
statement of fact.
Executive Board Unanimous. ~.
'.Ths natiohaI executiye board has a
membership of twenty representative
American citizens. aThe action of
these men in dealing with Mr.. Seton
has at all times been unanimous.
Mr.. Seton's references to Mr. West
are so unreasonable as to require no
comment. Mr.. West is the executive
officer of an active executive board
which meets monthly for the purpose
) OF determining the national policies of
the Boy Scout movement.
Mr.. Seton Advocated Scouting
In November II.
"Mr. Seton's action at this time is
Inconsistent with the fact that as re.
Gently as November ~ he filled lee
rure engagement at Worcester. Mass,
at q fee of 800, to urge people to
contribute to fund of $4,000 for the
support of the Boy Scout movement
In Worcester, under chartered coun-
Gil Of the Boy Scouts of America.
Nc Change in Aims Since 1910.
The aims of the Boy Scout move
ment are today exactly the same as
they have been since the organization
OF the movement in this country Feb
Iuary 5, 1910. Character development
and good citizenship through whole
some outdoor activities is the objec-
tive.
'Woodcraft is an important factor,
but not the most essential in a pro-
gram for making men fit for the duties
and responsibilities of American citi.
zenship. The hand book now used was
compiled in 1910, under the di-
rection of an editorial board OF
which Ernest Thompson Seton was
not a member. This hand book con-
tains some interesting information by
Mr.. Seton, but nothing essential to the
program of scouting. The compare
lively SiIidll uuuluct Vi PAGES VI ma
terial from him personally can be
easily replaced in future editions of
the official hand book by eminent
American citizens. The first chapter
completely covers the scout program
and the scheme of organization. Mr..
Seton had absolutely nothing to do
with the preparation of this chapter,
Ror did he contribute any ideas in
Ncluded therein. The scheme of or
ganization follows very closely that
contained in the book. Scouting for
Boys by Sir Robert S. S. Baden
Powell, differing essentially from any
other program for boys ever pro-
NOTED.
Eminent American NaturaIists
Cooperating.
"The movement has among its act.
i've supporters American citizens who
are the highest authorities on subjects
of woodcroft and scouting in all of its
phases, and will proceed vigorously
with the cooperation IF these men in
its efforts to help boys to be more
happy and healthy, and yet more eff