The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1916-04-05

Washington, April 5.-Newton d.
Baker, new Secretary of War, has
written a letter which says emphati-
cally that he is not opposed to the
Boy Scouts of America, as reported
in a recent interview which has ap-
peared in all parts of the country.
He explains that he is opposed to
the Juvenile cadet organization which
calls itself THE United States Boy
Scouts" and that the reporter mis-
understood his statement against
that body to refer to the Boy Scout
Movement itself, which he "enthusi-
astically approves"
When the interview was publish
ed, Colin H. Livingstone. of this city,
President of the Boy Scouts of Amer
lea, wrote to Secretary Baker to as
certain if he had been correctly
quoted and if so, what were the rea-
sons for his objections to the Scout
Movement. The Secretary replied
Immediately, and his letter is here
given:
My Dear Mr.. Livingstone:
You have called my attention to
an interview in a newspaper IN
which l am quoted as in opposition
to the Boy Scouts of America.
did decline membership in the Unit
ed States Boy Scouts and the error
in name in the interview is most
likely mine, but the fact is that l
have enthusiastically approved the
movement of the Boy Scouts OF
America from the first. 1 believe
that it inculcates manly virtues and
high principles in boys and my ap-
proval is so practical that I have
formed a junior order of Boy Scouts,
in which my little boy of eight and
| are the only members, so that l can
keep him interested in and ambitious
| for membership in the real Boy
! Scouts of America as soon as he is
old enough to graduate from "our
order" into it.
| Il hope my slip in the name will
do no harm to so splendid cause
and hasten to correct the error.
| Cordially yours,
Newton D. Baker"
| In this connection the opinion of
Secretary of the Navy Daniels is also
interesting. In expressing his opin-
ion of the work of the Boy Scouts of
America, Mr. Daniels said:
Il am in hearty accord with the
Boy Scout Movement, and believe it
deserving of encouragement in the
great work it has undertaken. The
men behind this movement-men
who are planning that boys as they
go out in life shall have fine purpose
and a noble spirit-are proceeding
on the theory, which is the only
sound theory, that you cannot tell
boy to stop doing something he
ought not to do. You must show him
something better You mus; crowo
out of his life the things that tend
| to keep him from the highest thing
by pouring in something better
But even greater than the physi-
boys minds is the spirit of the Boy
Scouts-cleanness of life and clean
ness of thinking. I sometimes think
that if anything could make me
doubt the goodness of God, it would
be the fact that He gave to boys in
| their teens all the passions of man
without a mans restraint and judg-
ment. So those of us who have sons
and want to see them grow to siren
| 9Th, wish to safeguard them from
| yielding to temptations that mar
! their lives before they are old
enough to know what they mean.
! The Boy Scout movement provides
/ this safeguard. 1t puts into boys a
love of the country and gives them a
splendid obligation in their oath
an oath that is as wholesome and ele-
waiting as the old oath of the Athen-
ian States, an oath, which, l think,
gives them something splendid and
ideal to live up to.
Il believe that we shall find evolv-
ing out of the Boy Scout movement
new generation of men; men fit in
mind, fit in body and fit in moral fib-'
er, and after all, If a man has no
moral fiber what is everything else
WORTH"