Putnam County herald. (Cookeville, Tenn.) 1903-1922, 1916-03-09
PRESIDENT WILSON RECEIVES
BOY SCOUT COUNCIL.
Leaders in Session After the Sixth
Success 'ul Year of the Movement

On Feb. 10, 1916, Pres. Wilson, who
recently wrote, Whenever l see a
group of Boy Scouts l am proud of
their manliness and feel cheered by
the knowledge of what their organl-
zation represents" received the men,
bers of the National Council of the
Boy Scouts of America in the East
Room at the White House and spoke
to them of his high regard for the
work they are doing for the men or
tomorrow
The President learned that the rec
ords show an increase of 46 per cent
in membership in the past year AMI
that there were on December 81, 1872,
622 men and boys officially registered
at the National Headquarters in New
York. The figures in themselves
were a splendid testimonial to the W.
rility and the definite promise of per-
manence of the Movement which,
called by some another fad" when
it started six years ago, has grown
steadily ard solidly ever since. The
year just closed, as the records show
ed, was the most prosperous in the
movements history.
More encouraging than the in
/ crease in numbers and clearer under
standing Of the purpose Of Scouting,
is the evidence of the increased benz
fits to boys through the Scouting pro-
gram" said the Chief Scout Execu-
tive He quoted the report of the
National Court of Honor, which show
ed that in the past year Scouts had
earned 146,17S badges for proficiency
as compared with 1O1,197 badges earn
ed in 1914.
Scouts Enjoy Woodcraft
! Woodcraft as represented by many
of the requirements for second and
| first-class rank and the requirements
for such merit badges as camping,
bird study, pioneering, stalking, path
finding, astronomy, arcnery, conser-
walton, forestry, etc., is shown to be
well in the lead in the interest Of
boys engaged in Scouting. The Chief
Scout Executive continued
These Scouts not only learn to
appreciate the beauties or nature ana
to understand the fundamental and
most important processes OF nature,
but, following the Scouting program,
they learn the relation of these things
to humanity-to the enjoyment OF
life, to economies, to industry-and
in that way obtain a clearer idea than
they could obtain in any other way
of the opportunities open to all citi-
zens to use properly, and not destroy.
the country's natural resources.
Learning Citizenship
Equally significant" he continued,
"is the splendid record made in such
merit badge subjects as first aid, fire.
manship, conservation, public health
personal health, life saving and CIV
les, for this shows the fulfllment OF
the Scout Movements desire to equip
boys for efficient citizenship; while
the increased number OF badges a.
warded for proficiency in music, paint
ing, business, gardening nandicraft,
leather working, architecture, agrI-
culture, craftsmanship, chemistry,
blacksmithing. forestry, carpentry
and such subjects proves that the
Scout Movement is giving training of
real vocational value, helping the boy
to find his inclination and aptitude
and also to understand better what /,
nen and 1'achines do in the work |
of the world. This training, as all |
now know, is one of the distinguish |
ing features of the SCOUT program
and is commended everywhere"
Special emphasis was laid on the |
development Of character, patriotisin n,
good citizenship, and the required
daily good turn" Mr.. West gave
Interesting illustrations Of the SER
vice performed by scouts for their
communities.