The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1917-09-20
BOY SCOUTS A BIG HELP
These Well Disciplined Youngsters
Have Raised Gardens, Aided the
Red Cross and Performed
Many Other Services

The 100000 Boy Scout of America,
thoroughly organized and disciplined,
trained to obey orders cheerfully and
hardened to hiking and outdoor life,
have already been called on by Uncle
Sam to take part in several cam
paigns. Those that have not already
been brilliantly won are being driven
forward successfully.
The first of these is the gardening
campaign under the battle cry, "Ev-
cry scout feed soldier" Thousands
of Boy Scouts in backyards, vacant
lots and on country acres, nursed the
growths that will later enable the
American Army in France to enter
the fight fed on the good old Ameri-
can bean. The perishable articles
of the garden that the scouts will
raise for home consumption will re-
lease thousands of tons of grain for
the soldiers of the Allies.
The Liberty Loan Campaign was
another battle pursued by the scouts
with magnificent strategy and persis-
tence. More than Is million dollars
/ in bond signatures is recorded at ma
| tional headquarters, the result of
their drive. And more are to come.
The Red Cross has had faithful and
efficient ally from the first in the
Boy Scout; and while no national
campaign has been carried on by
them for this purpose, in hundreds of
cities and towns the young troopers
have collected money, have made pads
and bandages, have put up pound
packages of concentrated food, have
packed cases, and have done other
work ordinarily done by men.
Even Aid Exemption Boards
The latest scout undertaking is as
sisting Mr.. Hoover. The boys are
tabulating and checking up all the
homes, each house to make pledge
and exhibit> a window card that it
is following out the administrative
program. Then, too, the scouts have
proved mighty useful to the exemp-
ton boards.
All of this useful service cheerfully
performed by the Boy Scouts will
bring a new vision of scouting to the
general public. 1t will mean further
responsibility on the part of scout
ganization increases by reason of its
Leaders to maintain the ideals of
coming in the rate of 1880 a day.
broader appeal. Registrations are
scouting as the membership of the or
Fifty thousand have Joined since jan
uary. Another of the results will be
an increased demand for the service
of scouts though this does not mean
the abandonment of existing pro-
grams. The regular work of the
scouts remains important.
Anti-fly and anti-mosquito cam
paigns must depend, as they have in
the past, upon the activity of trained
scouts. "Clean up" and Safety
first" days will continue to be con-
Quoted. The scouts will distribute
literature on fire prevention, will be
employed for planting trees, protect
ing parks, painting fire hydrants, es-
tablishino town clocks. testing street
lights, helping in public Fairgrounds,
cleaning sidewalks. assisting in cam
paigns for good roads, cooperative
with the S. P. G. A., serving on re-
lief committees, aiding blind people,
providing seats for outdoor meetings,
reporting unsanitarv conditions, de-
ltilI
Thanksgiving baskets, taking flowers
to hospitals, gathering old clothes for
the needy, selling Red Cross seals,
searching for lost persons, ushering
at public functions, conducting first
aid, fighting forest fires, removing
furniture from burning houses, re-
moving unsightly signs from high
ways, and assisting in holiday and
civic celebration programs.
Teaches Duty of Citizenship
Another result of this activity will
be the realization on the part of ed
ucators and leaders in work for boys
that the Boy Scouts have demons
trated that their program of service
through organized effort is a most
practical method of training in duties
ingof citizenship. Scouts who take
part in these campaigns will secure
definite vision of their relationship
as individuals to the community and
to the nation, and in way that can
not but be helpful to them, and the
community and the country.
The Boy Scou t has proved his
value in time of war. The Boy Scout
is the solution of the boy problem in
war time. In London there has been
an increase Of SO per cent in juve-
nile crime because the Boy Scouts did
not have time ito prepare for the la
Dor problem, relaxed police regula-
L. Wn