Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1920-08-11
AMERICUS TO Be
SCOUT CENTER IN
new MOVEMENT
Boy Troop for Every
Hamlet Is Program
Contemplated

A pledge of cooperation on the
part of the leading business men Of
this community in new and broader
Boy Scout movement, which is being
developed in an experimental way in
Georgia, was iven to Stanley A Har-
ris, of Memphis, Southern Director
of the Boy Scouts, by a group Of
Anfericus men at a luncheon yester-
day at the Tea Room. The meeting
was in the form of a conference at
which Mr.. Harris outlined to those
around the table the plans that are
in the process Of development. He
asked for criticisms and suggestions,
and when there were none, solicited
offers of cooperation in putting the
program over. These were freely and
whole-heartedly given.
Today Mr.. Harris is in Atlanta,
meeting with E. R. Galloway, of La
Grange, and Fred A. Paxson, of At
lanta, leaders of the program IN
Georgia, for a conference at which
the final decision relative to the pro-
gram will be reached, Mr.. Harris
having just completed tour of the
state on an errand of feeling out the
sentiment of the leading citizens and
learning whether the program was
wanted. He stated here yesterday
that is was apparent it is wanted and
would be put over.
For All Boys.
Briefly summarized, the program,
as outlined by Mr.. Harris, contem-
plates extending the Boy Scout
movement into every nook and co.'s
ner of Georgia The state has been.
divided into eight districts, broadly
followingly the lines of the congress
ional districts. The Second and
Third district lines are followed pre-
cisely. Results and experiences hav-
ing proven that the Scout movement
is more successful where the troops
are organized systematically rather
than spontaneously by the boys
themselves, it is proposed to employ
a salaried scout executive TOR eacn
district who shall reside in the chief
citv of the district and have charge
of the organization and general
supervision of the work IN all OF the
counties of the district. 1t is expect
ed that one troop may be organized
in every village or community OF 4oO
Inhabitants, which would give some
thing over 80, Mr.. Harris reported
his survey showed, for this district.
The city of Americas would nave
probably seven or more troops. Only
trained men would be put in charge
of these districts, and the districts
would be expected to raise a budget
for ovnenses the bulk of which would
he the salary of the manager. A man
worth at least $4,000 to $500 would
he desired. Mr.. Harris stated tnar
the budget worked out for the entlTe
district was approximately S6,5OOI
for the year, which, those at the con-
ference agreed, would be compara-
lively easy to raise.
Clubs Behind 1t.
prasident 7. E. Hightower, OF the
po+arv club. offered Mr.. Harris the
services of the Rotary CLUB IN Put-
ting on campaign for the raising
of Sumter's share OF the puugst
whenever desired, cooperating WlCn
one of Mr.. Harris assistants %n4
would be sent here, and Presldene
lewis Ellis, of the Kiwanis ciun
stated that he knew the klwanls
club would measure up 10 eApereI reaI
tions in this opportunity to 40 10 a ho1al rgal
;n5 to build men out of its boys.
7.We realize" said he, "that when
oil of the city's boys have become
%nod CO. citizens, through the Boy Scout
train training, n as they will, the city's prob
lens will have been solved
Others who expressed tneInSvnera a,la ,,,ore
definitely behind the movement were elI e
pf 6otlrs ths Chamber of Commerce; John
Sbefeld, 81 fife past president of the 3.i,91 Cham
% ber Of Commerce; Joseph r Perkdms 6nn.
secretary Of the GKiSEnafricR G9amefri * of the
Tin TlTnes, nes,,Recorder. S The dinner was ar;
ranged r.nes by Rev. silas Johnson siOGa local
sco9tmaster, and Assistant S scout out
master Herbert Moon, who We're pre-
seat' sent representing the local scouts