Evening star., 1934-02-11
BOY SCOUTS CHEER
PLEA
Roosevelt Asks Gathering of
Clothes for Needy This
Winter.

Four thousand Scouts of the Dis
trict and nearby Maryland and Vlr-
ginia shouted enthusiastic approba-
ton yesterday at their mobilization in
the Washington Auditorium when
President Roose celt asked in radio
address that the million Scouts over
the country observe the twenty-fourth
anniversary of the founding of the
Scout movement III the United States
by devoting the rest CT this month to
collecting clothing for the needy.
The President suggested then en-
excellent national good turn" for the
Scouts would &c the collection and
distribution OF warm, useful garments
and of household furnishings to the
needy. He said Relief Administrator
Harry L. Hopkins had spoken of the
need for this service when asked to
recommend a national good turn
task.
Scouts gathered in every city and
hamlet, in every Scout headquarters
in the country heard the Presidents
address. broadcast fro mthe White
House at noon with a number OF
selections by the Marine Band.
Oath Is Repeated.
At conclusion of his address the
President asked the Scouts to repeat
after him the Scouts oath of al
legiance to his flag and his organiza-
tion The 1000 boys collected here
were on their feet with hands raised
in the traditional Scout salute and
at conclusion of the talk gave three
cheers for their honorary president.
Land and sea Scouts. cubs and
Scout leaders, white and colored, COM
posed the crowd which almost filled
the big auditorium. The Presidents S
words were relayed over a special wire
from the White House to the Audi
torium's loudspeaker system.
An honorary delegation of Is Eagle
Scouts from New York, Philadelphia,
Baltimore and many cities of Mary
land and Virginia, together with
representatives Of the District of CO.
lumbia. went to the White House to
be present while the President talked.
Others of this delegation were
Walter w. He'd, president OF the
Boy Scouts of America, and DR.. James
E. West, chief Scout executive, both
of whom returned to the meeting and
gave brief addresses following the
Presidents tax
Scout Songs Heard.
The program at the auditorium in
cluded chorus singing of favorite Scout
songs of camp and trail, led by
William H. Schmucker: selections by
the Elks Boys Band, Mckinley and
Central High School Bands and Troop
No. 40 Drum and Bugle Corps, and a
massing of the colors and salute to the
flag.
Capt. Chester Wells, president of
the District of Columbia Council, was
another speaker. He introduced Joshua
Evans, jr, chairman of the Budget
Committee of the Community Chest,
who accepted, on behalf of the Chest,
contribution of thousands of gar
ments collected by the Scouts for dis
tribution to the needy. Mr.. Evans de-
clared the contribution was a most
needed one and that the clothing
would be handed out to poor children
in the public schools by the Parent
Teacher Association.
Comdr. Wilbert E. Longfellow was
chairman of the Mobilization Com
mittee, assisted by j. Wallace Talley.
Presidents Message.
After congratulating the Scouts on
their huge mobilization, the President
expressed confidence that the silver
Jubilee to be held in washington dur
ing the Summer of 1885 will be highly
successful. With regard to the ma
tional good turn" the President said:
LAS many of you know, we are
doing everything possible in this emer-
gency to help suffering humanity. /
called upon the Federal emergency
relief administrator, Mr.. Harry l..
Hopkins, to tell me what kind of a
national good turn would be Of the
greatest service. He has recommended
that during the balance of the month
of February every troop and every
Scout do everything possible in their
separate localities to collect such
household furnishings, beddings and
clothes, as people may be able to share
as gifts to those who greatly need
them.
Confident of Support.
Therefore, I ask you, under the
direction of your own local officers,
and in conference with the representa-
tives of the Federal Relief Admins
tration, and other local social agencies,
to gather up such Of this material as
may be available for distribution.
'I am confident that the American
people will generously cooperate and
respond. Indeed, I am hoping that in
many cases they will telephone or send
letters to the local Scout Offices to
offer their help to carry through this
national good turn.
Already I have received offers of
cooperation from Governors of States,
from mayors and other community
leaders. May you carry out this new
service and rededicate yourselves to
the Scout OATH"