The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-10
SCOUT CAMPAIGN FOR WORKING FUNDS IS NOW LAUNCHED Plea for Financial Aid Is Based on Economic
 Investment LOCAL SCOUTS GIVEN
 HIGHEST PRAISE Boy Scouts Not Military Organiza- ton, But Composed of Young Americans Whose Slogan Is
 Service to Others"

posed or Blr1n1nSndIn iNSSI N'iS SS will begin a whirlwind campaign for the purpose of raising s15,0OO to forward the Boy Scout movement in Birmingham dur ing the next three years. Headquarters have been established on Twentieth street. a few doors from the Traders National bank, and the committees will meet here this morning The teams will make their reports at 12 o'clock at headquarters, where lunch will, be served.
 It is planned to secure the $l5,0oo with as little delay as possible, and the plea for financial aid from Birmingham Is based on the grounds that 1t will be an economic investment-that the young fel- lows of Birmingham who are Boy Scouts grow up and make better men than they otherwise would. It is the belief among the teams that the necessary amount of money to carry on the work here three years will be raised by Wednesday after noon of this week at the latest.
 All business men of Birmingham have heartily indorsed the movement, as one of sound economic wisdom, and most of them have pledged financial aid to it. The teams which will begin the campaign this morning are made up of busy business men-men to whom time is money. They are giving of their time freely, and ex-
 The Boy Scout has been proven one of the manifest of manly young Ameri- cans. His oath made when he becomes a member of the organization, is one to which every member and father and big sister and big brother in the land can sub- scribe with clear conscience, and is as follows:
 "On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country, and to at all times; to keep myself physically strong. mentally awake and morally straight
 The scout law, which the scout takes oath to obey, follows:
 "1. A scut is trustworthy. A scouts honor is to be trusted. If he were to vio- late his honor by telling lie, or by cheat ing. or by not doing exactly given task when trusted on his honor he may be directed to hand over his scout badge.
 "2. A scout is loyal. He is loyal to all to whom loyalty is due; his scout leader, his home, parents and country.
 8. A scout is helpful. He must be pre- pared at any time to save life, help in- jured persons, and share the home duties. He must do at least one good turn to somebody every day.
 "A. A scout is friendly. He is a friend to all and brother to every other scout.
 '5. A scout is courteous. He is polite to all, especially to women, children, old people and the weak and helpless. He must not take pay for being helpful of courteous.
 "6. A scout is kind. He is friend to animals. He will not kill nor hurt any living creature needlessly, but will strive to save and protect all harmless life.
 ''7. A scout is obedient. He obeys his parents, scout master, patrol leader, and all other duly constituted authorities.
 ''s. A scout is cheerful. He smiles when- ever he can. His obedience to orders is prompt and cheery. He never shirks or grumbles at hardships.
 "9. A scout is thrifty. He does not wantonly destroy property. He works faithfully, wastes nothing, and makes the best use of his opportunities. He saves his money so that he may pay his own way, be generous to those in need and helpful to all worthy objects He may WOih lOi pay Dul iliuSL lOC receive ups for courtesies or good turns.
 '10. A scout is brave. He has the cour- age to face danger in spite of fear and has to stand up for the right against the coaxing or friends or the jeers or threats of enemies, and defeat does not down him.
 T. A scout is clean. He keeps clean in body and thought, stands for clean speech clean sport, clean habits, and travels with a clean crowd.
 A ic toward God. He is faithful in his re- ligious duties and respects the convictions OF others in matters of custom and re- ligion.''
 The Boy Scout religiously follows the above laws. It is as much a part of his life as is the discipline in the regular army. The only punishment he receives for violation of scout law is dismissal from the organization, but that punishment in the Life of boyhood is terrible.
 The present organization of Boy Scouts in Birmingham has demonstrated it's use- fulness in many ways, and, aside from the future betterment of manhood for it's members, has justified it's existence many times over. Three lives have been saved from drowning by Boy Scouts in Birmingham and one from another cause. The scouts have assisted at three State Fairs, helping old ladies find their way about the grounds finding lost children and returning them to their mothers; finding lost packages and returning them to their owners; carrying messages and making themselves generally useful to any and everyone who was in need of assistance.
 The Boy Scouts of Birmingham aided greatly in the movement for ciry peau- tiful by removing more than 21,OOO un- slightly signs from trees and fences They removed or reported to the city authori- ties more than 1000 sewer inlet obstruc- tions. They guarded the State Fair buildings during the playground festi- val. They cleaned the monuments in the city parks. They have distributed numerous packages to the poor at Christ mas time. At the time of the old Steele Smith wall disaster. the Boy Scouts were on the scene serving coffee to the res cuers and distributed 50 gallons tf cof- fee during the night.
 The Boy Scout is clean young fel- low, who clings to his tenets as he grows older, who grows up into clean, moral right-minded, good citizen-an asset to any community.
 The Boy Scouts are not a miniature military organization. Not member of the organization is permitted to carry any kind of weapon. On camp hatche is the nearest approach to a weapon that anyone may carry. They are required to carry this, for it is very necessary in the construction of living quarters at the camp site.
 It is planned to have 2O00 Boy Scouts