New-York tribune., 1919-05-19
Former Secretary of Treas.
ury Heads Campaign to
Enlist Scouts Because
They Helped Win the War
Drive to Start June s
Parades and Pageants to
Focus Attention on Move
ment to Swell Their Ranks

-~'
100000 feet of black walnut lumber
after experts had failed to uncover it
and performed many other wartime
tasks. are to be given their reward.
Early next month the nation will
drop other business to do honor to the
Scouts whose war work was carried on
so quietly and effectively that many
knew nothing of it. The period be
ginning June and ending with Flag
Day, June IA, has been officially set
aside as Scout Week.
Ostensibly, the purpose Of the week
is the carrying on of a membership
drive that is expected to add 1,OO0,0 900
members to the rolls of the organiza-
ton. But the real object is to call at
tention to the achievement of the boys
who forgot all personal interest to
serve their country in its hour of need,
thus living up to the highest ideals of
the body to which they belong. Scout
Week will be a seven-day demonstra-
tion of the nations gratitude to the
boy workers who but little while ago
were indulgently looked upon as mere
children
Parades and Pageants
Attention will be focused upon the
movement of the Scouts by parades,
pageants and unique stunts of thou
sand varieties. There will be special
movie programmes, speeches and SER
mons. In every city, town and ham
let in the United States the story of
the American Boy Scout will be told.
When the United States entered the
war the Boy Scouts of America, includ-
Ing its reserve corps" of ex-scouts
who had passed beyond the age limit
set for active membership, had total
numerical strength that was almost
twice that of the United States armv.
Marine Corps and the navy combined.
But their numbers were not counted
at Washington. because the fighting
strength Of the nation was numbered
only among adults. 1t was not con-
sidered probable that these boys would
be of material service to Uncle Sam in
war.
Those familiar with the work Of the
Scouts, however, looked at their armv
as an auxiliary organization, sec
ond line of defence, soldiers who could
DO invaluable work behind the lines.
They Were Just "Boys"
They met with numerous objections.
The word "boy" was the stun bling
block. A "boy" was not to be intrusted
with the serious business of supporting
the great American army.
Because of this the offers of Cb,ef
Tor
the heads of different departments at
Washington were politely but firmly
rejected. They used the Scouts for the
distribution of literature, for ushering
at big meetings and in other capacities
where the chief requisites were nimble
legs.
Then came the liberty loans and the
call for food conservation and produc-
tion. What the boys began to accom-
plish astounded those who were in
close touch with the situation.
During the first four loans, as
cleaners after the reapers," the
Scouts took 100000 subscriptions.
totalling more than s300,oOo,OOO. This
accomplishment presented obstacles
greater than the figures show, because
the Scout statesmen went out only after
the adults had cleaned the field. as
they thought, of every possible sale.
fheir work was to get only the sub
scriptIons that nobody else could get.
As consequence, the Treasury Depart
ment officials credited the Scouts with
making sales of bonds that otherwise
would not have been made.
100000 Possible Scouts
About 4o0,O boys took part in loan
oiives. 1nere are approximately 10,-
oOo,0O0 boys of Scout age in the United
States.
Since but one twenty-hfth of the DO
sentiai Scout strength of the nation
was used IN the loan drives, they argue
mat twenty-five times the result OBJ
famed would have followed the enlist
mens Of the entire boyhood Of tho
United States. If this had been done.
tney say, their loan sales would have
amounted to ST 100000 1000, or more
Inan twice the first two issues.
Inc Scouts also sold approximately
seo'ooO,o0O worth of War Sav;nos
Stamps. ''s
1nen' there came the work that tho
government called upon them to do
IN hndlng black walnut for tho r;ao
s.ocHs. There was an appalling dearth
.. sais necessary wood at the begin.
h'ns OF the war. 1t was known tha+
walnut was scattered about the cow
.ry IN small lots; but finding It was :.
Joo too great for any small orpan;za
ton. e"'i"@-
WHAT'S the matter with the Boy
scouts ?" somebody asked. "Everv
scout is an expert in woodcraft ~.
can scent out the kind Of wood Won
want quicker than any expert Won
have" Sou
So it was decided to call p,on w..
scouts. They found more than % oon
ooo feet Of walnut.
Some of the "Chores~
Among the little chores th.v a,d
between big Jobs was the collec+;nn
OF ioo carloads Of fruit pits. to he
used In making gas masks. They cu,,
Hvated more than $4,000 war gardens
and, when all other tasks were accnr.'
plished, they distributed moro than
e"0oo'ooo pieces Of literature TO the
readers the government wished to
xcach, and In way that tho postos,c.
department never could have dsliycred
them. ''''so
The enthusiastic "front" Of +hs
Scouts In all their work, their nm.
bounded patriotism, and their energy
probably did as much to keep up tho