The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-11-17
BOY scout WORK IS
Community ASSET
SAYS FATHER Stag
Religious Leader Sees Com.
munity Chest Investment
as One in Citizenship
BY VERY REV. JOHN A. H. STAG
(Rocfot. Ct Akars,,r ReaaoklodsoA

(Rector, st. MaryS PROBATIONARY
One of the major activities of the
Bismarck Community Chest is the
support and promotion of Boy Scout
work and every now and then those
not familiar with this work ask If the
results obtained justify the expendi-
ture. The question is a fair one and
everyone interested is entitled to a
fair and logical answer.
To my mind the tangible results of
this work, or any other work of this
kind, can be measured only after a
long period Of time. I am personally
convinced, however, that this work
tends to keep boys away from undesir-
able companions, keeps many Of them
out OF the juvenile court and out of
the state reformatory at Mandan.
The outlay of money for this work is
only part Of what would be requir-
ed to pay the expenses of one or two
boys brought before the juvenile Off
GERS and the expensive subsequent
confinement at penal institution,
to say nothing of the social and moral
losses which the less enlightened sys-
tenn entails. What price can the peo-
pie of Bismarck place upon just one
boy gone wrong?
Reaches Under Privileged Boy >
This work reaches many boys who
are distinctly under privileged and
who might not be effectively reached
in any other way. These boys are
placed in wholesome association with
other boys and with law-abiding citi-
zens who serve as scoutmaSters and
leaders. These help train the boys
for leadership, inStill in them the de-
sire to lead clean and wholesome
lives and aid in the formation Of de-
pendable character.
Without fear of contradiction we
can say that juvenile delinquency has
decreased in our city since Boy Scout
work was organized. The Boy Scout
system is to give the boy something
to do and to enlist his interest along
constructive lines. This is plain,
common sense and based on a sound
knowledge of boy psychology.
In Bismarck We have nine Boy
Scout troops with a total membership
Of 181. OF these IS are tenderfoot,
6 are second class and 80 are first
class scouts. At present an intensive
campaign is being conducted to in
crease this number.
In addition, Bismarck serves as a
center for Boy Scout work in 81
southwestern North Dakota counties.
The assumption, however, that Bis
marck finances the work for the en-
tire area is incorrect, since other
cities and towns contribute their pro-
portionate share. Last year Mandan
gave $3.50; Glen Ullin $3.50 and Het-
finger 5000. Other towns contributed
smaller amounts. Altogether as much
as was contributed by towns outside
of Bismarck as was spent on taking
Boy Scout work out to them. The
present set-up makes Bismarck the
center of an activity which is sure to
grow in size and Importance as people
come to realize more and more the
value of constructive work among our
young people.
Best and Cheapest Way
Those of us who have had exper-
fence with this work feel that it is
the best and cheapest way of dealing
with an important social problem
Juvenile delinquency rates in this and
other cities are comparable items but
how are we going to estimate the
value of life which was wasted or