Evening star., 1941-05-18
Dr.. J. f. West, Scout
Executive, Honored
AT Boyhood Scene
President Sends Tribute
To Exercises Dedieuting
FIugpoIe at Orphonoge

DR.. James E. West, for 30 years |
chief executive of the Boy Scouts OF
America, was honored by President |
Roosevelt and other national lead
ers Yesterday at exercises at the
scene of the boyhood which DR..
West spent in Washington as
'rhopeless" cripple in an orphanage.
The exercises at Hillcrest Chill
dren's Village, 4119 Nebraska ave-
nue. NV, also marked DR.. VESTS |
65th birthday anniversary and the |
closing session of the 31st annual
meeting of the National Council,
Boy Scouts of America.
A f1agpole with a bronze base
was dedicated in honor OF DR.. west
at the institution where he was a
ward when it was known as the
washington City Orphan Asylum.
The f1agpole was presented by the
National Capital area of Scouts and
officials of the children's home.
A message from President Roose-
welt congratulating DR.. West on
his great service" to the country
was read by Walter w. Head OF st.
Louis, president of the national
council. The letter follows:
Dear DR.. West: During these
perilous times I am more conscious
than ever of the patriotism OF our
Boy Scouts and the strength OF
their leadership. To you belongs
much of the credit for the effective
ness of Scouting in this country. |
I desire therefore to take this means.
on your birthday and on your 5Oth
anniversary as chief Scout eXecu-
tive. at ceremonies in your honor
at Hillcrest, the Children's Village,
Washington, where you got your
start in life, to tell you how much
we appreciate your accomplish
ments in behalf of American boy
hood.
Lauds Great Service.
"Your services to Scouting over
the wears emphasizes the effective
ness of the American way OF pro-
viding equal opportunity to youth.
You have, through your work, rend-
cred your country great service ana
the prayer on my heart ana the
prayer of countless Scouts ana
Scouters, too, am sure, is that you
NAV be spared many years to carry
on your activities in this most I'M
portant field of opportunity.
Linn C. Drake, Scout executive
of the National Capital Area Coun-
Gil, compared DR.. Vests early strug-
gle against great handicaps with
that of the late Theodore Roosevelt.
He told the group assembled about
the new f1agpole that: mo one
could have forseen in crippled,
orphaned, tubercular Jimmy the DR..
James West, who for more than 80
years has been the inspiration and
guide of this great Scouting move
ment and its millions, the crusader
for youth who has battled his way
to such distinguished success.
DIR. West had none of the in
spiration of home and family back
ground. His family died when he
was a baby; his mother in his earliest
youth. He has never known another
relative, nor even that one exists.
81 Months in Hospital.
Bore in Washington, he found
himself at about the age of in an
orphanage. Pains developed that his
teachers thought he faxed. These
proved a tubercular aff1iction, and
he was 81 months in Children'S Hos
pital, a year and half strapped to
a board. The hospital told the
orphanage to take him back. The
orphanage refused-he was Grip
pie. His friend, Theodore Roosevelt.
jr., says that at last the hospital
sent him to the orphanage without
notice, leaving him and the cloth
bag that held his few belongings on
the doorstep.
ITO the everlasting credit of the
orphanage be it said it took him in
again and kept him until he could
make his way alone
Other speakers at the exercises
were Attorney Henry P. Blair of
Washington, Scout leader; Capt.
Chester Wells, president of the
National Capital Area Council, who
presented the fiagpole; DR.. West.
Mrs. Everard Meade, regeant of
"Our Flag" Chapter, D. A. R., who
presented the flag, and DR.. Larkin
w. Glazebrook, who delivered the
invocation.
National Leaders at Council.
The two-day council session
opened Friday at the Willard Hotel
with Scout leaders in attendance
from all over the United States.
Speakers at the final luncheon yes
terday included Norman H. Davis,
chairman of the American Red
Gross, and Gale F. Johnston, presi-
dent of the st. Louis Area Council
and dollar a year" man with the
National Defense Savings staff.
Mr.. Davis declared that the boys
of the United States will play an
inporsant part in the preparedness
program.
"These are critical days." he said,
probably none have been so serious
in our Nations history. Horizons
are af1ame with wars in Europe,
Asia and Africa. Our Government
has been compelled to launch vast
program of national defense.
I'VE must arm ourselves morally.
We must condition ourselves for
whatever lies ahead. Modern war
fare has more deadly implements
than aerial blitzkriegs, panzer col
ums or even fifth columns. There
is that form of war intended to un-
dermine civilian morale.
Defense against such a method
cannot be constructed alone of tank
traps, barbed wire entanglements,
or fortresses of steel. They must
also have within them people of
courage, calm and cool in their de-
termination that no matter what
happens they will live and play and
work together for the sake of the
whole"
Mr.. Johnston urged his listeners
to obey the rule, "a Scout Is thrifty"
He added: "The philosophy of de-
fense saving is to work, save for the
future and defend that which Is so
nnar ayNl locr fn oxyarv, oitI1o,, r,,t,,