The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-05-07
BEING REAL americans
is new DUTY Of SCOUTS
DIR. Douglas Freeman, Addressing
Closing Session of Scouts Confer
cncc. Outlines Plans for Future
Work OF. Organization.
EVERY MAN AN AMERICAN
Franklin X. Matthews, Chief Scout
Librarian, Tells Boys the World
Now Is Looking to Virginia for Aid.

work for the nation during the war
with Germany. is the new call to
the Boy Scouts of America, declared
DR.. Douglas Freeman, of the Rich
mond council of scouts. in addressing
the mass meeting. terminating the
scout officials conference, which was
held yesterday afternoon in the audi
torium of the John Marshall High
school. He impressed upon the
scouts the fact that they are nor OF
any state, division or section Of the
country, but are scouts of the ma
ton. and that they should perform
every duty of the country during the
war that Is possible for them.
Dr. Freeman declared to his audi
ence that IL Russia withdrew from
the war, which is at this time prob
able. the great conflict will drag on
many years, and that thousands of
the boys who are scouts today will
doubtless be called upon to serve
with the American army on the bat
ueHeld of France, People. he stated.
are Indifferent and rhoughtless re-
garding the gravity OF the presens
situation. and have not come forward
with their support for the nation.
DR.. Freeman declared that the scouts
must step out of the trenches OF in
difference and by working in the
fields live UP to the recently adopted
slogan. Every Scout Feed Soldier"
Every Man an American.
Think in terms of nation" said
DR. Freeman. in addressing the
scouts. and his advice would also be
applied not only to this organization
of young America, but to all the peo-
pie. This is not a time when man
should say that he is Virginian,
or a Southerner. or a person Of any
other section or state; this is a time
when every man. woman and child
should be an American DIR. Free
man declared, and he added that
when the American troops are sent
will be known as a part Of the United
States army, and be given number.
rather than be known as regiment
or unit. Of any state.
DR.. Freeman pointed out the value
of the scouts this summer in work
ing in the fields. All over the state
the demand for farm labor is in
creasing. and when the crops are
harvested. beginning the latter part
Of June, much more labor VIII be
needed than can he secured. The
Boy Scouts, he said. can 60 TO the
fields and render assistance of con-
siderable value by assisting in gath
ering the crops, and planting others
Blowing Out a Boys Brain was
fne SUBJECT OF an duhEtSS bt L
lin X Matthews, chief scout librarian,
who was here attending the confer
ence Mr.. Matthews declared that
daily the value of the boys mind is
being blown out by the reading of
books which are being written by
persons who would furnish thrills and
excitement by impossible stories OF ad-
ventures Of boys. He said that there
were many ways in which boys were
through books Of wild and impos-
sibIe nature his mind was being
rnined. his lima gination destroyed. The
speaker asked the boys to coop
crate IN refusing to purchase such
books. AND when they were sold to
them without their knowledge or the
contents. 10 return the books TO the
seller. and demand a refund OF the
purchase money,
World Looks to Virginia.
Mr. Matthews told the Boy Scouts
that at this time the country expected
great things from Virginia. and that
they should not fail to do their part
In the conflict. In other words, and
at critical periods in the life OF the
nation, il was from Virginia that AID
came to the country. he pointed
out that IL was in Virginia that the
foundations Of the country's govern =
ment were laid the declaration OF
independence was written here, the
constitution, and that the state had
furnished heroes in our wars, ana
statesmen for the government. At
this time, therefore, there viii be no
falling on the part of this common
wealth
/ With ihe mass meeting yesterday
| a fternoon. which was we'll attended.
| the conference Of scout officials.
which has been in session here for
| three DAYS. came to close Many
prominent members OF the scout or
| ganiza ton We're here, and they were
entertained by the scout council OF
Richmond composed OF John Stew
| art Bryan chairman; DR.. Douglas
Freeman. Scout Executive {. l. 'Wea
! Yer and others.