Evening star., 1939-02-09
Need Of Boy Scouts
Is Now at IFS Peak,
President Says
Organization Praised
By President on Its
29th Anniversary

ZStn Anniversary
The Nation never had greater need
OF the Boy Scouts than it has now
President Roosevelt said last night
as he inaugurated observance of
National Scout Week with a radio
address to the Nations Boy Scouts
on the 29th anniversary of their or
ganization.
Boy Scouts, said the President,
are "a national asset and therefore
should be regarded as a national
trust"
The Chief Executive, who in his
earlier days was active in Scout
work for II years, spoke as hon.
orary president of the organiza-
ton.
Referring to the fact that Mr..
and Mrs. Waite Phillips of Tulsa,
Okla, have presented to the Scouts
Rocky Mountain camp site near
Cimmaron, N. Mex, he said he had
always been a believer in the dis
cipline and training afforded by
camp life"
Registration of 1921. 800.
Walter w. Head. president of the
Boy Scouts, speaking from Dan
vile, ILL.,, and DR.. James E. West,
chief Scout executive, speaking from
Miami, Fla, took part with Mr..
Roosevelt in the radio program.
Mr. Head reported that on De-
cember 81 the total Boy Scout reg
istration was 1,271 900, 13 per
cent increase during 1888 and an
all-time high. The membership in
the Cubs, younger boy group, in
creased 37.8 per cent. he said to a
total of 126,339. Since the Scout
movement was incorporated in 1910,
he added, 8,40O,OOO boys and men
have enjoyed the benefits of scout
ing"
AS part of the National Scout
week observance, the Junior Board
OF Commerce was to hold a boy
Scout day luncheon at the Annap-
oils Hotel today. DR.. David Hector
Castro, Minister from Ell Salvador.
will lead tour of IS store window
displays to select the one best DEM
onstrating Scout life. The tour was
TO begin at l pm. Prizes will be
awarded the three troops with the
best exhibits.
1000 Gather SATURDAY.,
More than 1000 Scouts from
Washington and nearby Maryland
and Virginia will hold a general
mobilization Saturday with a re-
dedicatory ceremony at the Palace
Theater.
Doors of the theater will open at
$50 am. and the picture Boys
Town" will be shown beginning at
$50. After the picture, there will
be Scout songs and then the re-
dedlcatory ceremony. to be led by
Scout Executive Linn C. Drake.
The assembled Scouts will repeat
after Mr.. Drake their rededicatorv
pledge to the Bill of Rights and the
Constitution.
The local Scout Council includes
IL counties in nearby Maryland and
6 in Virginia.
Text of Address.
The text of the Presidents Scout
address follows:
Fellow Scouts-On this, our 29th
birthday, we can look backward
with pride and forward with hope
and courage. We rejoice that our
organization has reached full ma
turity.
Because the Nation never had
greater need of the Boy Scouts
than it has today I find peculiar
satisfaction in Mr.. Heads reassur-
Ing report on our progress during
the last year I am glad that our
membership is greater than ever
before, not from any mere pride
IN numbers but because there is so
much work to be done we need all
the workers we can muster.
Congratulates Leadership.
To all who have had a part in
bringing the Scouts to their present
splendid standing I offer hearty
congratulations. These boys, so full
Of promise for the future, are a
national asset and therefore should
be regarded as national trust.
Ours is the duty to inculcate in the
Scout mind those simple but funda-
mental principles which embrace
strength of body, alertness of mind
and, above these and growing out
OF them. that sense of moral re-
sponsibility upon which all sound
character rests.
In building up solid character we
are insuring the future strength
and stability Of the Nation. Sooner
than many of us realize the Boy
Scouts of today will be full fedged
citizens to discharge for better or
worse the civic duties upon which
the happiness of the Nation will
rest.
AS one who has long been active
In Scout work and who feels a spe-
cial responsibility as honorary
president of the Boy Scouts of
America. like to think that faith
full observance of the Scout oath
constitutes an excellent preliminary
training in the duties of citizen
ship I like to think of the entire
Scout training as an apprentice
ship for the mastery of civil duties.
Believes in Camp Life.
I have always been believer in
the discipline and training afforded
by camp life. Life in the open
constitutes an ideal recreation,
while at the same time 1t encour-
ages initiative, resourcefulness and
self-confidence. On this account I