The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1916-11-16
MEN
To ACTION
On MAT TER
Sixteen Year Old Boy Scout
Leaders Speaks for Half
an Hour Before the Mem
bers' Council at MONDAY
Luncheon Today.

A senior in the Hammond high school
and for i've years an enthusiastic Boy
Scout. Emerson Burke, the I6-year old
son of Mr.. and Mrs. John Burke of
l67 Fayette street. spoke for half
nour to the members council OF the
Hammond Chamber of Commerce at the
weekly noon luncheon today
The heads Of banks. representatives
Of the bar and bench. physicians
clergymen. manufacturers and merch-
ants who listened to the interesting
talk Of the boy were impressed by the
moral he expounded. that the Boy Scout
movement is the solution OF the boy
problem
Young Burke spoke from five years.
active experience as a member of one
of the three Boy Scout troops in Ham
mond and he took the men of means
and affairs IN Hammond to task for not
supporting the cause. He stated It
has suffered from neglect and that the
efforts Of the few men who are inter-
ested have not been sufficient because
the community as whole does not dis
play the proper spirit.
It was in the hope Of awakening in
terest that the young man spoke to the
council on invitation OF Chairman Nc
Daniel Burke was introduced by Levi
Golden. a scoutmaster. After the boy
had completed his talk Mr.. Mcdaniel
stated that although there have been
many excellent speeches delivered be-
fore the members it was doubtful IL
there had ever been one more inter-
esting that that by Emerson Burke.
Judges Reiter and Hardy. A NJ. Turn
er and many of the other leading men
Of the city were present
An Unusual Coincidence.
Burke opened mis- talk with the state
ment that the scout movement Is the
solution Of the boy problem because it
furnishes proper environment, good
companionship and things TO do. 1t is
the antldote for the gang on the street
corner. He gave as a recommendation
Of tne worth of the movement the en-
dorsement of President Wilson who acts
as honorary president, and Taft and
Roosevelt, who act as vice presidents
and the character and reputation of
James E. West, the active president
At the close of the talk Jesse VIII
son. president of the Chamber of Com
merce, read telegram he had receive
ed from James E. West, a personal
friend OF his. which carried the sad
news OF the death of the scout presi-
dents eight year old son. This came
as a coincidence to the talk of Emer-
son.
Men of Importance, education and
real genuine character are back of the
scout movement" stated Burke.
Among these sponsors is Ernest
Thompson Seaton. the author. There
are scouts in Egypt, Australia and
every country in the world. In the
United States there are $4,000 Boy
Scouts The scouts are taught first
aid. the history Of the flag. habits Of
animals. about trees and birds, and
they make good students in the schools
and efficient employees in the business
world. They have their oaths and
laws. they work with the schools and
churches and their movement is
community benefit"
Burke. to illustrate what the boy
problem IS in Hammond, told how boys
who were not scouts. gather in an old
brewery at Oakley avenue and Fay
cite street to smoke cigarets. shake
dice and swear The Boy Scouts of the
city are learning how to become good
and useful men. They have to do a
good turn daily, ne said.
There are three troops OF Boy Scouts
in Hammond and all are in need Of the
support Of the community. The boy
stated that these troops need men OF
various endeavors to lecture before
them on their respective trades or pro-
LESSONS, and above all the scouts need
meeting place.
a motion was passed as suggested
BY Burke and seconded BY Attorney
John NJ. Stinson that a committee of
three men be appointed by the Chamber
of Commerce to meet and confer with a
committee of three Boy Scouts con-
corning ways and means Of aiding the
movement in Hammonds
It was announced after the meeting
that the luncheon Is not restricted to
members only. and oil are welcome.
The meals are good and the rate Is 80
cents.