The sun., 1919-05-12
WILSON PROCLAIMS
BOY SCOUT WEEK
President Calls on Citizens to
Join Campaign for 1,000,-
600 Leaders.
TELLS OF WORK IN WAR
Says Notable Service Has Been
Rendered and Body Deserves
the Support Of All.


to-day. recommended that the period be-
ginning June s to Flag Day. June II,
be observed over the country as BOX
Scout Week" to the work OF the Boy
Scouts Of America
Under plans announced by James z
West. chief scout executive. a nation
wide campaign will be conducted for
100000 associate members to act as
scoutmasters. assistants and other
leaders OF the scout troops. The country
will be divided into twelve districts with
headquarters for each IN Boston, New
York. Philadelphia, Cleveland, Richmond,
Atlanta, Chicago. st. Louis. Minneapolis,
Kansas City, Dallas and San Francisco.
Each district will be given quota OF
associate members to enroll.
President Wilson's proclamation fol-
lows:
"By the President Of the United states
Of America.
A PROCLAMATION.
"The Boy Scouts OF America have
rendered notable service \to the nation
during the world war. They have done
effective work in the Liberty Loan ana
war savings campaigns. in discovering
and reporting upon the black walnut
supply, In cooperating with the Red
Cross and other war work agencies, In
acting as despatch bearers for the COM
mittee on public Information and In
other important fields. The Boy Scouts
have not only demonstrated their work
to the nation, but have also materially
contributed to a deeper appreciation by
the American people OF the higher con-
ception Of patriotism and good citizen
ship.
Deserves support of All.
1.-The boy scout movement should not
only be preserved. but strengthened. 1t
deserves the support OF all public spir-
tied citizens. The available means for
the boy scout movement have thus far
suiiiced for the organization and train
Ing OF only a small proportion of the
boys Of the country. There are approx
mately 100000 boys in the United
States between the ages of ~ and 81.
OF these only $4,000 enrolled as men,
bers of the Boy Scouts of America.
America cannot acquit herself COM
mensurately with her power and In
iuence in the great period now facing
her and the world unless the boys of
America are given better opportunities
than heretofore to prepare themselves
for the responsibilities OF citizenship.
Every nation depends for It's future
upon the proper training and develop
ment OF It's youth. The American boy
must have the best training and disci-
pline our great democracy can pro-
vide II America is to maintain her ideals,
her standards and her influence in the
world
The plan. therefore. for a boy scout
week during which n universal appeal
VIII be made TO all Americans to supply
the means to put the Boy Scouts OF
America in a position to carry forward
effectively and continuously the splen-
did work they are doing for the youth
of America should have the unreseryed
support Of the nation.
Urges Local Committees.
Therefore. I,.Woodrow Wilson. Presi
dent of the United States OF America
do hereby recommend that the period
beginning Sunday, June S, to Flag Day
June ~. be observed as Boy Scout
Week throughout the United States for
the purpose OF strengthening the work
of the Boy Scouts OF America
81 earnestly recommend that in every
community a citizens committee. under
the leadership of national citizens
committee. be organized to cooperate in
carrying out a programme for a definite
recognition of the effective services rem
dered Ivy the Boy Scouts of America, for
survey OF the facts relating to the
boyhood OF each community. in order
that with the cooperation OF churches
schools and other organizations definite
ly engaged In work for boys. ADEQUATE
provision may be made for extending
the Boy Scout programme to n larger
proportion Of American boyhood.
The Boy Scout movement offers I'M
usual opportunity for volunteer service
1t needs men to act as committeeman
and as leaders of groups of boys. l hope
that all who can will enlist for such
personal service. enroll as associate
members and give all possible financial
assistance to this worthy organization OF
American boyhood. Anything that is
done to increase the effectiveness of the
Boy Scouts of America will be a Renu-
inc contribution TO the welfare OF The
nation.
I'm witness whereof have hereunto
set my hand and caused the Seal of the
United States to be affixed.
Done this first day of MAY in the
year of our Lord one thousand. nine
hundred and nineteen and of the indie
pendence of the United States OF Amer
lea the one hundred and forty-third.
WOODROW Wilson.
by the President
Robert Lansing