The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-02-28
offscIaI statement Is Forthcoming as
to Just What This Or
sanixation Will
IS NOT MILITARY BODY
Neither VIII Boys Appear in Miii-
tary Service or organiza-
tion OF This Char
aeter.

NEW YORK, Feb 28.-In an ofnclal
statement given in the issue or
"Scouting," just out, telling what the
boy scouts will do in case OF war, the
national council Of the boy scouts o.
America makes it clear that no dis
tinctive or definite part will be taken
by the boy scouts III any military op-
erations, and that no local organiza,
lions, will have authority to involve.
scouts in such service. It Is stated
that it will be the privilege and
pleasure OF each member to volun
teer his services for cooperation
with the local civic authorities, anu
that the training which scouts have
had will make them efficient and de-
pendable in doing such work as
Rendering first aid to the sick Or
injured.
Sending messages by wire, wire.
less, or semaphore.
Cooperating in the protection OF
property by accepting definite assign
ments for the purpose Of giving
alarm in the case Of danger.
Acting as messengers and CO.
operating with agencies organized
for relief work.
May Offer Services.
It Is advised that in every Scout
center where there are local scout
councils and in all other commun-
tiles, committees be formed for the
purpose of volunteering, through the
mayor, the services of the boy scouts
of America in the lines mentioned
above.
With view to further preparing
for any possible emergency, it Is sug
gested that In every community
where there are two or more troops
OF scouts, plans be made through
duly constituted authorities, and act
ual practice be had in mobilization OF
scouts In the shortest possible time.
Program Not Changed,
| The boy scouts Of America, as an
organizatiOn, will not need to change
| Its program and policy which has been
! followed since its foundation. Its re-
peatedly announced primary concern
| is the character development OF the
}adolescent boy will stand the test.
| Troops will continue to meet and to
| carry out the program exactly as II
| is outlined in the official handbook
AS a national organization no dis
tinctive or definite part will be taker
| in any military operations. No local
organization will have such author
| ity Indeed for any local organiza-
ton to commit the boy scout move
ment to any distinctive military
operations would be in violation OF
the trust reposed in US by the pa
rents of the boys who have permitted
them to enroll with US for character
and citizenship training.
It will be the privilege and pleas
ure OF each member to do his duty as
he sees it according to the facts
peculiar to his case. There must,
however, be no uncertainty of pur-
pose, no opportunity for hysterical
and ill-advised action on the part of
any OF our troops or local councils
The stability of the splendid move
lnent to which we are all pledged
alike is perhaps about to be tested.
The loyalty to those in authority al
exhibited in the past is, we believe,
guarantee Of the support OF every
officer and scout no matter where he
may be.
Keep the Troops Going.
An important duty will devolve up
on those scout officials who remain at
home. Under NO circumstances
should any troop be allowed to dis
band or be without adult leadership
because a scoutmaster or assistan,
scoutmaster has periodically respond
ed in the present emergency. The
troop committee, or the patrol lead
ers in case the troop committee is in
active, should see to 1t that a canvass
is made, first through the institution
with which the troop is connected
and then through the parents OF the
members of the troop. until someone
is found who will assume the leader
ship of the troop so as to have adult
supervision until the return Of the
scoutmaster.