Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-10-29
E. URNER GOODMAN
On the Bow Scout Movement

TIME Boy Scout organization in America
stands on its record during its compara
lively brief existence, believing tnat actonS
rather than words count the most IN puollc
approval. according to r. orner Goodn.an,
scout executive. Philadelpha Souhch' boy
Scouts of America.
Mr.. Goodman asserts that no other move
mont reaches quite the same result as the
Roy Scouts. The fact that the average poy
will shy and run away II any mention IN ~
made of educating him, but that he VIII
take education If it Is so cleveriS ana p,eus
organization is one great factor in the sue
cess of the movement, according to fhlla-
delpha's scout executive.
Nearly 100 men in Philadelphia, he
SAYS, leading 1000 philadelphia boys
through the muscle building. mind develop
ing, character forming program OF scouting Sa
that is the record Of which one city mas
right to be proud TO the Philadeiphia
('ouncil of the Boy Scouts of America 1t Is
indicative of the fact that Philadelphia mas
adoptcd scouting as a permanent feature OF
it's civic endeavors.
Ten years ago few bands OF khaki
clad Youngsters began to make their appear
once on the streets of OUR city. George ID.
Porter. former director of public safety, led
ono of these groups and became the hrst
scout commissioner of the city. Charles
Edwin Fox who is the present scout COM
missioner, and who in his capacities as as
sistant district attorney, in touch with Juye-
nile Court work. and chairman OF the Big
BROTHER Association, is looked upon as one
of the best Informed leaders OF Juvenile
agencies in the country, was scoutmastcr Oh
the first mounted troop, Troop I.
"It remained for DIR. Charles ID. Hart,
tbe present chairman of the Boy Scout Coun-
eli. however, to develop the organization to
the point where 1t commands the respect OF
the citzenry at large and the support of the
earnest thinkers of the community.
Boy Scouts Make Friends
'Tbe Boy Scout movement is ever maker
| Of friends With perfect propriety 1t may
be said that in Philadelphia practically
| everybody is a friend of the Boy Scouts.
| This condition, we feel, is brought about by
several factors
First of all, scouting is absolutely non
nartisan, nonsectarian and democratic. There
| are Protestant troops and Catholic troops,
Jewish troops and Gentle troops: there are
| negro troops and even Chinese troop under
! process of organization at the present time.
| There are troops in st. Martins and Over
| brook among the most arstoCratic families
| and there are troops in the foreign and so
| called slum sections and those districts where
such a health giving program will count
! most.
1T would seem unlikely that such diverse
| clements could be fitted together, welded, as
| il were, into one great, unlned mass, Dul
| that apparent miracle has been accom-.
| plished. The best part about it is that al
| troops every scout in the country, are mem
| bers of the one great brotherhood
Then. again, scouting has demonstrated
| not by the mere recital Of doctrines, but by
actual performance, that it stands for tn,
| gospel OF service The tale of how thousands
| of Philadelphia boys have answered the cal
for innumerable good turns individual,
and collectively. in times of peace and II
| times of war. has been tod 80 frequently
that the reading public must be rather I'd
miiar with the situation.
That same public knows, too, ! think
| lust what the Boy Scout movement demands
of a boy that he be honest, brave and de
cent to his elders, his country, his country
| flag and to women. If boy il those thre,
things, no matter what else he may do o.
how else he may act, he has the makings o
real man.
Have Good War Record
Their war record Is n matter OF history
They raised millions for the Liberty ant
other loan drives they served efficiently a
messengers and In other work which necessi
tated quick, intelligent and faithful acting
Their part IL just as big in peace, aud the,
are playing that part as capably. Wheneve
the city or state executive asks them to len,
their aid they do everything that Is in thel
power to do that particular good turn
Certain II Is that no large convention
comes to town, no city wide project Is pu
into motion, no public endeayor launches