The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-05-03
BOY SCOUT MOVEMENT EA WONDERFUL
INSTRUMENT FOR GOOD SAYS COOLIDGE
Organization Is Based on Fun
damental Rules of Right
Thinking and Acting and
Embraces Almost Every
Needed Virtue, the Presi.
dent Says.

dent Coolidge, for the influences Of
the home and religion.
Addressing the National Council
Of the Boy Scouts of America here
Saturday night. he said the Boy
Scout movement "can never be a
success as substitute but only as
an ally of strict parental control and
family life under religious influ-
ences."
Parents cannot shift their re-
sponsibility," he added. "If they fail
to exercise proper control, nobody
else can do it for them"
Reminding his audience that much
talk is heard of "the decline in the
influence Of religion, Of the loosen
ing Of the home ties. Of the lack Of
discipline all tending to break down
reverence and respect for the laws
Of God and of man." the President
continues:
"Such thought as have been able
to give to the subject and such
observations as have come within
my experience have convinced me
that there is no substitute for the
influences Of the home and Of rcl-
gion. These take hold Of the inner
most nature Of the individual and
play very dominant part in the
formation Of personality and charac-
ter.
Parents Must Act
This most necessary and most
valuable service has to be performed
by the parents, or it is not perform
ed at all. 1t is the root Of the
family life. Nothing else can ever
take its place. These duties can be
performed by foster parents with
partial success, but any attempt on
the part of the government to function
in these directions breaks down al
most entirely. xxXx
"The more ] have studied this
movement, its inception, purposes. or
ganization, and principles. the more
have been impressed. Not only is
it based on the fundamental rules
of right thinking and acting but it
seems to embrace in it's code almost
every virtue needed in the personal
and social life Of mankind. 1t is Il
wonderful instrument for good.
If every boy in the United States
be tween the ages Of II and II could
be placed under the wholesome in
ffuenccs Of the scout program and
should live up to the scout oath and
rules, we would hear fewer pcssimis
tic words as to the future Of our
Nation"
Recognizing the training the Boy
Scout and kindred movements give
for community life. Mr.. Coolidge ex-
pressed the opinion that it has been
necessary for society to discard
some of it's old individuahstic ten
dencies and promote larger liberty
and q more abundant life by co-opcra-
tive effort"
All Must Function
"This theory" he said, "has been
developed under the principle Of the
division Of labor. but the division of
labor fails completely if only one Of
the divisions ceases to function.
at is well that boys should learn
that lesson at an early age. Very
soon they will be engaged in carry
ing on the work Of the world. Some
will enter the field of transportation.
some Of banking. some of industry.
some of agriculture; some will be in
the public service. in the police de-
partment, in the fire department, in
the post office department, in the
health department.
"The public welfare. success, and
prosperity of the Nation will depend
upon the proper coordination Of all
these various efforts and upon each
loyalty performing the service under
taken. 1t will no longer do for those
who have assumed the obligation to
society Of carrying on these differ
ent functions to say that as body
they are absolutely free and independ-
ent and responsible to no one but
themselves.
"The public interest is greater than
the interest Of any one OF these
groups, and it is absolutely neces-
sary that this interest be made sup
rene. But there is just as great a
necessity on the part Of the public
to see that each of these groups is
Justly treated. Otherwise, govern
ment and society will be thrown into
chaos. On each one of US rests q
moral obligation to do our share Of
the worlds work. We have no right
ITO refuse.
"The training Of the Boy Scouts
fits them to an early realization OF
this great principle and adapts them
IN n0DltS anu InOuSuLS AVu IIIC w
its observances. We know too we'll
what fortune Overtakes those Who
attempt to live in opposition to these
standards. They become at once
'rightfully and truly branded as out
laws. XXX
Learn To Observe Law
"The Boy Scout movement has been
instituted in order that the youth,
instead Of falling under the domina-
tion of habits and actions that lead
only to destruction, may come under
the discipline Of . training that leads
to eternal life. They learn that they
secure freedom and prosperity by
observing the law.
This is but one of the many Organi-
zations that are working for good in
our country. Some of them have .
racial basis, some Q denonlinational
basis. All Of them in their essence
are patriotic and religious. Their
steady growth and widening influence
60 very far to justify our fxith in
the abiding fitness Of things.
1--WE cannot deny that there are evil
forces al about US, but critical
examination Of what is going on an
(Continued on page three.)