Norwich bulletin., 1917-07-20
BOY SCOUT PLAN
 ENCOUNTERS A SNAG
General Organization Machinery
 Which Is Vet Unexplained.

Who is the scout assistant aid for information?
 What has the Brooklyn navy yard got to do with the Boy Scouts of the state of Connecticut?
 And why should the scout assist ant aid for information, apparently in charge of the Third Naval district and located at the Brooklyn navy yard, be authorized to prevent the Boy Scouts of Connecticut from helping the mili- tary emergency board and the com mittee on state protection of the Con- necticut State Council of Defense as channels of information on any sus- picious activities which may be going on in the state when that proposed action is approved by the board and the council and the local scoutmas- | sters?
 These are questions in which the state council, the emergency board and other leaders in state affairs are vitally interested, and for which they appear to be able to find no answer. The crux of the matter is that the state protection committee wanted the Boy Scouts to assist them in follow ing up certain doings of a suspicious nature and all was going well until
 the person with the long title in the Brooklyn navy yard put a, stop to the whole proceeding by refusing to let the boys do anything of the sort or helping the state authorities in any way, without consulting the aforesaid Third Naval district.
 |. Burpee's Idea.
 The whole matter started several months ago when somebody suggested 10 Judge Lucien F. Burpee, who is both president of the military emer- gency board and chairman of the com mittee on state protection of the state council of defense, that the Boy Scouts could be made useful in state protec-
 
 to both bodies of certain actions in various localities which seemed of doubtful nature and not in accord with the highest patriotic principles, and it was emphasized that boys would be valuable to follow up cer tain lines of investigation. The local and state police were incapable of dealing with the situation as they were too well known and the federal secret service authorities had their hands more than full already.
 It was likewise urged that boy was everywhere and into everything, was observant and resourceful and could be made into a pretty effective sort of detective. The idea appealed to Judge Burpee, who acted in his ca pacity of chairman of the committee on state protection, then and not as president of the military emergency board. and he talked it over with sev- eral leaders in boys affairs. To them also, the scheme of an auxiliary force working for the good of the state and the nation appeared a good one. It was decided to form some sort of organiza- tion among the Boy Scout troops to work in connection with the Home Guard and the committee on state protection to get information on all suspicious activities in localities which needed investigation.
 Scoutmaster in Accord
 Judge Burpee then called to his of flee a scoutmaSter whom he describes as an unusually enthusiastic and pa triotic man, and a former member of the Connecticut National Guard. He was astonished to find that this man, while approving the scheme cordially, said he could not take any action un- and appeared reluctant to give any details. He said he should have to consult with a man in the Brooklyn navy yard before he could promise that any steps should be taken
 The scoutmastef then wrote a let ter to the Brooklyn man, naming the suggestion which Judge Burpee had made and saying, 'If this is agreeable to you I would be glad to organize such a unit having in mind your ad- monitions," and then making reference to certain paragraph in a letter which had come to him from the Brooklyn man.
 Several days later he went to the office of the military emergency board with letter from the man who styled himself the scout assistant aid for in formation. in which he was peremptor- fly forbidden to cooperate with the state authorities, but only with the Third Naval district.
 Are you under some form of dom nation from the Brooklyn naval yard which prevents your allowing the boys to join in a movement for state and national pfotection?' ?' asked Judge