Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-05-04
THE BOY SCOUTS
AID THE NATION
IN FOOD CRUSADE
Movement Mobilizes Its Quar-
ter Million Members to Help
Meet Greatest Need

Every Scout to Feed a Soldier is
slogan for the 25O,OO0 members of
the Boy Scouts of America express
ed by the executive board at it's
meeting at the national headquart-
ers, 200 Fifth Avenue, resolu-
ton adopted by this board after Of
ficials of the movement had been in
conference with officials of the Navy
Department. the Department of
Agriculture and the American Red
Cross, placed this matter of the en-
tension and development of gardens
at the head of the list of definite
services which scouts will give to
their country in the war. The eXecu-
tive boards resolution on this mat
ter of war service was as follows
Whereas, Congress has declared
that state of war exists between
this country and Germany, and
Whereas, Each member of the
Boy Scouts of America is definitely
obligated by the Scout Oath to do
his duty to his country, and
Whereas, The combined strength
of the Boy Scouts of America, now
including 100000 boys and $4,000
men, forms a potential asset to the
country for cooperative effort, be 1t
Resolved, That every officer and
member of the Boy Scouts of Ameri-
ca be urged, in addition to the serv-
ice they will render the police and
civic authorities in their home cities,
to definitely assist in the develop
ment of the plans which the national
council has made with the follow
ing organizations:
First, The Department of Agri-
culture and Council of National De-
fense. To cooperate in the eNten-
sion and development of home gar
dens, under the slogan, Every
Scout to feed q soldier"
Second, The American National
Red Cross. To cooperate with the
Red Cross through its local chap
ters in meeting their responsibilities
occasioned by the state of war.
Third, The Navy Department. To
cooperate with the Navy Depart
ment in organizing an emergency
coast patrol along the sea coast
towns.
The members of the executive
board are themselves setting an eX-
ample to their neighbors, to $4,000
adult officials and 200 boys who
are enrolled in the Scout Movement
throughout the country, by placing
their own lands under cultivation for
the production of food. Colin II. Liv-
ingstone, a Washington banker, who
is president of the National Council
of the Boy Scouts of America, haV-
ing no backyard, has plowed up
the big front yard of his beautiful
home in Washington for a vegetable
garden. 1t was disclosed at the meet
ing also that George d. Pratt, Con-
servation Commission of New York
State, and treasurer of the BOY
Scouts of America, will raise food
crops on the large estate surround
ing his country home at Glen Cove,
Lond Island. Dan Beard, the Nation
al Scout Commissioner. has arrang-
ed to produce food on all of his
property in Flushing, Long Island,
and at his country place ia Connect
cut. All of the other members OF the
board, among whom were DR.. Ern-
est p. Bicknell, Director General OF
the American Red Cross; Judge
Franklin Chace Hoyt, of New York;
DR.. Charles D. Hart, Of philadelphia;
c. Barrett Rich, Jr., of Buffalo;
Charles c. Jackson, of Boston, and
the chief scout executive, James E.
West, told of their plans for the
cultivation of crops on their prop
erty in city or country. Every Scout
official is expected to do likewise.
julius Rosenwald, of Chicago,
vice president of the Chicago Council
of the Boy Scouts of America and
a member of Council of National
Defense, told President Livingstone
that this plan was one of the most
hopeful resources that has been
brought to the attention of the coun-
Gil. Scouts everywhere will rejoice
in working with such a heroic char
acter as William c. Hoover, chair
man of the newly created food COM
mission.
In the beginning the Scouts will
get directly to the people with in
formation, instructions and prac-
tical help, thus making this phase Of
the movement to cope with the ma
tion's food problem unusual IN lts
,,L,racto, srope and perSOnnel