The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-03-17
BOY SCOUT WORK
Young Americans VIII Help ii
L. S. Gets Into War.
Duties, However, Will Not Be of
Military Nature.
PLANS ARE ALL OUTLINED
Rendering Aid to Sick and In
iured One of Their Tasks.
III. Il. Fink Tells of Good Or.
ganiZatiOn Does Members.

Persons laboring under the delusion
that the Boy Scouts make up a mill
tary organization of boys too young
for actual military service should get
over the idea, according to II. B. Fink.
cashier of the Santa Fe railway, who
is one of. the business men connected
with the organization. The prime
purpose of the organization is to help
the young fellow from boyhood 20
manhood under the most advantageous
conditions.
1.-The Boy Scouts of America, as an
organization. will not change its pro-
gram or policy which it has followed
since its founding in case of war,
says the official announcement made
by the national council of Boy Scouts
of America, which is seated in its an
nual meeting at New York.
II war is declared the service rem
dered by the organization will not be
Of military nature. More than $50,
900 boys between the ages of IL and
Is years, will offer their services to
the country in ways of unmilitary
nature.
Duties in War Time.
What the Boy Scouts will do in case
of war is clearly set forth in the last
issue of Scouting" their official pa
per. The national council points out
that no distinctive or definite part will
>
operations. and that no local organi-
cation will have authority to involve
scouts in such service. 1t is stated in
the article that it will be privilege
and pleasure of each member to
volunteer his services for cooperation
with the local civil officers and that
training which the scouts have had
will make them efficient and depend
able in doing such work as the fol-
lowing:
Il
injured.
Sending messages by wire. wireless
or Semaphore.
Cooperating in the protection Of
property by accepting definite assign
ments for the purpose of giving alarm
in case of danger.
Acting as messengers and co-operat-
ing with agencies organized for relief
work
Volunteer Services.
Every scout center where there are
local scout councils, and in all COM
munities. committees will be formed
for the purpose of volunteering. thru
the mayor, the services of the Boy
Scouts of America in the lines of
operation mentioned above.
To further prepare for emergencies.
it is suggested that in every commune
ty, where there are two or more troops
of scouts, plans are to be made thru
duly constituted authorities. and actual
practice be had in mobilization of
scouts in the shortest possible time.
The national council which con-
vened in New York Wednesday elected
the following officers: Honorary
president, President Wilson; honorary
vice presidents, William H. Taft, Theo-
dore Roosevelt and Daniel Beard
president, Colin H. Livingstone, of
Washington; vice presidents, Mortimer
L. Schiff, of New York; Milton Nc
Rae, of Detroit; B. L. Dulaney, of
Bristol, Tenn; Arthur Let's, of Los
Angeles, and A. Stanford White, of
| Chicago; treasurer, George d. Pratt,
state conservation commissioner of
New York; national scout commission
er, Mr.. Beard. James West remains
chief scout executive.