Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-06-04
A MOVEMENT WORTH WHILE

Plans discussed last night for the boy Scout campaien
that is about to open all over the country indicate that PERM
Ambov expects TO fully uphold her end in this important orNe'
Former Judge Lyon has called upon the Liberty Loan organ
zaion TO assist in the work, feeling justified in SO doing De-
cause of the wonderful work the boy scouts did In ohereh'
parts of the country in selling Liberty Bonds. Iurh apou'
is fair play. 1t is only just recognition for services well per
formed.
And the boy scout movement is worthy OF everybody . sup
port. Perth Amboy has just begun to realize what N Doy
scents mean. A council has recently been organized mere
The real work of the organization has hardly begun. Is gen
erally recognized that there is no greater field in the country
for the boy scouts than right here in this CITY,
Boys are taught not only courage and seii-rellahce' u
they learn what honor means, the value OF being trustworthy
is impressed upon them and manliness becomes an estab-
lisbed principle. 1t is proposed to organize troops OF boy
scouts in all sections of the city. Before another year passes
il is expected to have several thousand boys enrolled. we
can only guess at what this will mean for the city.
Today we speak of gangs roaming about the city more
or less on mischief bent, some of it malicious mischiei' fio"-
ers are stolen from private yards, fruit trees are raided, shrub
herv ;s DESTROYED. Our park commissioners have found it diff
Gcult to keep benches, rustic bridges and drinking fountalnb
in even what parks the city can already boast OF, because OIL
the gangs of boys who seem to have no other means oil
Working off the vitality that is in them but to destroy such
things.
What q wonderful thing it would be to make each gang
q boy scout troop, learning the high ideals of scouting. 1t
would soon transform this city and at the same time greatly
improve its manhood. With all these boys properly organized
and under the direction of a competent scout master SO that
the boyish energy now directed toward destruction would be
diverted into channels of right living and helpfulness, a won
derful work would be performed.
And that is Just what is intended here in Perth Amboy.
But to accomplish this work funds are necessary. During
Boy Scout Week that is soon to open an effort will be made
here to build up not only a large associate membership in the
boy scouts, but to raise $4,000 in cash in order to see the
work of Organization through for a year.
Surely such a price is cheap, indeed, for the work 1T pro-
E-o.oa4 l. aooo,1;eb IF aaob M will olive n little as Judge
Lyon puts it, the amount will be raised easily. Doubtless there
are persons in the city who have suffered from the depreda-
lions of the gangs" who would give almost the whole amount
themselves to have the boys looked after in a proper manner.
But no one must get the idea that the boy scout organiza-
ton is a molly coddle affair. 1t is anything but that. When a
man like Theodore Roosevelt heartily endorsed 1T and gave IL
every assistance within his power during his lifetime 1t is
evident that there is nothing sissy about it. There is tramp
ing and camping; woodcraft of every description with all the
features of the life in the open. Then there is the spirit OF
service and helpfulness in a real manly way. The motto BE
Prepared" indicates a readiness to act on all occasions, M
Guiding rendering first aid in case of accident. 1t is all in
the knowing what to do on the spur of the moment and that
the scout is well versed in. Then we have the aim OF the
scouts to "do a good turn daily" The boy who keeps this in
mind and lives up to it is developing into the most useful kind
OF a citizen.
Yes, the boy scout movement is well worthy of the very
best efforts that the city can put forth. Perth Amboy ought
to be a banner city in this regard. With the right kind OF sup
port troops ought to spring up in all sections, enrolling the
boys without distinction by the hundreds. AT least we can
give it a chance to see what such an organization can do for
us. Six thousand dollars is not a large investment when the
stakes are considered. The money will be well spent even to
make the try. But once the trial is made there is no doubt
as to the outcome and the results will speak for themselves.
Without the slightest hesitancy Perth Amboy ought to
support the boy scouts to the limit. We cannot see how the
campaign can possibly fail.