The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1918-01-24
BOY SCOUTS TO BE OFFICIAL
MESSENGERS OF THE COMMITTEE
ON PUBLIC INFORMATION

President Wilson has sent the fol-
lowing letter to to Mr.. Colin II. Liv-.
ingstone, President, National Coun-
Gil, Boy Scouts Of America:
My dear Mr.. Livingstone:
II desire to entrust the Boy Scouts
Of America with new aud impor-
tant commission, TO make them the
Government despatch bearers In
carrying to the homes of their COM
munity the phamplets on the war,
prepared by the Committee on Pub
lie Information. The excellent SER
vices performed by the Boy Scouts
in the past encourages me TO believe
that this new task will be cherrfully
that this new task will be cheerfully
and faithfully discharged.
yours Scincerely.
49, Woodrow Wilson"
The Boy Scouts Of America, num-
bcring nearly 100000, have respon-
ded to the request Of the President
with hearty unanimity and will I'M
dertake, as their despatch-bearing
service. a distribution of copies of
the Presidents Flag Day address,
published by the Committee on Pub
lie Information in phamplet form on
September 10, 1917, and regarded as
the most comprehensive statement
that has every been issued by the
Government in regard to the funda-
mental issues Of the war.
IL is the desire of the Admins
tration. that this pamphlet have
careful study by the people OF the
country and the Boy Scouts acting
as despatch bearers directly under
command Of the President, will
1lace the document in The hands Of
I've million citizens Of every city,
town and hamlet Of the country.
with specific instructions that its
contents be- carefully considered
md that the reader then make Il
his personal responsibility to see
that at least one other citizen Of the
community also reads the copy. BY
'hese means minimum of ten mil
lions Of thoughtful citizens will
have hal this important message
impressed upon their minds or will
have been refreshed in memory as
to the principles Of the war as ex-
dressed by the President on Sep
tember IS.
The pamphlet will he sent through
the mails to the individual scouts
and in each package there will be
a manual for the guidance of these
young Government messengers. Act
ing under the local instructions oil
the Scoutmasters the despatch bear
ers will deliver such printed matter
as may be issued from time to time
by the Committee on Public Infor-
nation to citizens. carefully avoiding
duplication. They will accept signed
receipts from the persons visited and
also their personal assurances that
they will comply with the requests
made, particularly to aid distribu-
ton by passing the documents t0
others.
Each Boy Scout is provided with
an Identification card. bearing his
name. troop number, city and State,
ard declaring his appointment as
an aide TO the Committee on Publi1
Information to serve as despatch
bearer for the Government during
the period covered by his regis
tration, under the direction Of the
National Council. Boy Scouts of
America. President Wilson's letter
requesting the service is reproduce
ed in facsimile on the reverse side
of the Identification card.
IIIM J9JB9q q9ledsap lnooS Uoe9
have access TO franked postal cards,
returnable TO the Committee on
Public Information, by means Of
which any citizen may order mail
Ell to him any Of the various war
which the Committee on
Public Information has published
during the war.