Evening star., 1940-02-09
Scout Law Pictured
As Basic Americaniism
By Roosevelt
President Broudcusts
In 30th Anniversary
Scouting Celebration

The twelfth law of the Boy Scouts
Of America, affirming the 1mpor-
tance of religion in the life Of the
individual and the nation and Of
freedom Of thought for all people,
constitutes an excellent basis for
American citizenship, President
Roosevelt told the Nation last night
in a countrywide broadcast COM
memorating the 30th anniversary OF
the Scout organization In the United
States.
Religious freedom is basic In
Americanism," Mr.. Roosevelt said.
ut is a tradition upon which our
country is founded. A generation
trained in the principles Of the
Scout oath and law cannot fail to
be a generation trained in the re-
sponsibilities of good citizenship.
The United States Is looked on as
a young Nation, but in the spirit OF
social consciousness, which is of the
very essence Of the Scout ideal, our
country is fully grown up"
Movement Truly American"
The Scout movement, the Presi-
dent added, is democratic and
therefore truly American. God grant
that 1t may ever remain So"
The President, speaking from the
White House, was preceded on the
air by Walter w. Head, president of
the Boy Scouts, speaking from
Detroit. DR.. James E. West, chief
Scout executive. spoke later in the
program from Florida. Boy Scout
Week observance started yesterday.
The full text of the Presidents
address to Fellow Scouts" follows:
II greet you and the friends OF
Scouting everywhere with especial
pleasure on our 30th anniversary.
For three decades in our American
life, the record of the Boy Scouts
has been one in which the people
Of the Nation can take genuine
satisfaction.
Through all these 80 years. mil
lions Of American boys have found
stirring and worthwhile adventure
in Scouting. They have also found
an opportunity to eXemplify through
practical service to the community
the loyalty and patriotism which are
obligatory upon them as faithful
Scouts and true Americans.
Cross Section Of Youth.
II am glad to learn through
President Heads report that we
have gained not in numbers alone
but in the effectiveness Of our pro-
gram and in the scope of our
achievements. Theme OF Boy Scout
Week, Scouting - the American
way seems to me to have a partic-
ular significance at this time. Our
Boy Scouts represent cross section
Of all American boys from large
cities and from villages and farms,
from seaport towns and ranches,
boys OF all blood origins-all en-
rolled under the banner of Scouting.
Moreover, our movement embraces
all sects and creeds and is above all
class or sectional consciousness. 1t
is, in a word, democratic and there
fore truly American. God grant
that 1t may ever remain so.
"I like to think of Scouting as a
kind of family group. This is as
it should be, for the United States
is a family Nation. The family is
the very base of our national life
and the Scouting movement does not
take the individual away from it
rather, it extends the spirit Of the
family into the activities of the boy
outside the home. Our 18th Scout
law effectively expresses the spirit
ual ideals of Scouting. It constitutes
an excellent basis for citizenship
It aff1rms the Importance of re-
ligion in the life of the individual
and the Nation and emphasizes the
necessity Of respect for the con-
victions Of other people.
Basic Tradition.
Religious freedom is basic in
Americanism. It is tradition
upon which our country is founded
A generation trained in the princi-
piles of the Scout oath and law can
not fail to be a generation trained
In the responsibilities of good citi-
zenship. The United States is looked
on ss young Nation but in the
spirit of social consciousness, which
is Of the very essence of the Scout
ideal, our country is fully grown up.
After all, I am inclined to think
that the individual Scout himself,
as he engages in the activities of
his troop and patrol and as he ac-
quires the skills that equip him for