Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1919-05-16
For Boy Scout Week.

President Wilson. in a proclamation
made public in Washington last Sunday,
recommended that the period beginning
June s to Flag Day. June IA, be observed
over the country as Boy Scout Week for
the purpose of strengthening the Boy
Scouts of America. The President urged
that in every community citizens COM
mittee be organized to cooperate to carry
ing out a program "for extending the Boy
Scout program to a larger proportion of
American boyhood."
Under plans announced by James E.
West. chief scout executive, nationwide
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
IL districts, with headquarters for each at
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 control.
President Wilson's proclamation, fixing
the campaign week, follows:
By the President of the United States Of
America,
A PROCLAMATION.
The Boy Scouts of America have rem
dered notable service to the nation during
the world war. They have done effective
work in the Liberty Loan and War Saw
ines campaigns, in discovering and report
ing upon black walnut supply, in cooper
ating with the Red Cross and other war
work agencies, in acting as dispatch bearers
for the Committee on Public Information
and in other important fields. The Boy
Scouts have not only demonstrated their
worth to the nation, but have also mate
rally contributed to deeper appreciation
by the American people of the higher
conception of patriotism and good citizen
ship
The Boy Scout movement should not
only be preserved. but strengthened. 1t
deserves the support Of all philosophical
citizens. The available means for the Boy
Scout movement has thus far sufficed for
the organization and training of only
small proportion Of the boys of the coun-
try. There are approximately 100000
boys in the United States between the
ages of IL and Fl. OF these only 5000
are enrolled as members of the Boy Scouts
of America. America cannot acquit her.
self commensurately with her power and
influence 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 fog its future
upon the proper training and develop
ment of its youth. The American boy
must have the best training and discipline
our great democracy can provide if Amer
lea is to maintain her ideals her standards
and her influence in the world
The plan, therefore. for a Boy Scout
Week during which universal appeal will
be made to all Americans to supply the
means to put the Boy Scouts of America
in position to carry forward effectively
and continuously the splendid work they
are doing, for the youth of America should
have the unreserved support Of the nation.
Therefore. |. Woodrow Wilson, President
of the United States Of America, do hereby
recommend that the period beginning
Sunday. June 8, to Flag Day. June IA. be
observed as Boy Scout Week throughout
the United States for the purpose of
Strengthening the work of the Boy Scouts
of America.
| earnestly recommend that in every
community a citizens committee, under
the leadership of national citizens COM
mittee, be organized to co operate in carry
ing out program for definite recognition
Of the effective services rendered by the Boy
Scouts of America for a survey of the facts
relating to boyhood of each community. in
order that with the cooperation of churches,
schools and other organizations definitely
engaged in work for boys. adequate pro-
vision may be made for extending the Boy
Scout program to larger proportion of
American boyhood.
The Boy Scout movement offers unusual
opportunity for volunteer service. 1t needs
men to act as committeeman and as lead
ers of groups of boys. 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. Any
thing that is done to increase the effective
ness of the Boy Scouts of America will be
genuine contribution to the welfare of
the nation.
In witness whereof have hereunto set
my hand and caused the seal of the United
States to be affixed.
Done this, the first day OF May. in the
year of Our Lord, one thousand nine hun
dred and nineteen. and of the Indepen-
dence of the United States of America
the one hundred and forty-third.
tSigned) WOODROW WILSON.
By the President
ROBERT LANSING,
Secretary of State.