Evening star., 1941-02-09
President, in Address
To Scouts, Says U. 5.
Adopts Their Motto
America, He Declares,
Must BE Prepared to
Meet Challenge


of the Boy Scout organization-B'
Prepared-President Roosevelt de-
clared last night in Nation wide
radio broadcast commemorating tht
3lst anniversary of the Boy Scou
movement.
Speaking particularly to the mem
bers and friends of the movement
the Chief Executive, who is alsc
honorary president OF the Boy
Scouts, declared:
In this grave hour national de-
fense dominates the heart and mino
and soul of America. The Govern
ment must take the major respon-
sibility since it alone represents al
of the people acting in concert
But the Government cannot and
should not pre-empt those fields OF
private endeavor which have be-
come an indispensable part Of life
in America.
Scout Motto Adopted.
"You who are members of the
Boy Scouts have great oppor-
tunity in your organization to do
your part in this great task. In
your Scout troops you have the
opportunity to develop the type OF
leadership and group cooperation
which is so greatly needed in a
democracy such as ours. You have
opportunities in your scouting pro-
gram to develop those physical and
mental qualities upon which the
survival of a self-governlng COM
munity depends"
To meet the challenge to the DEM
ocratic way of life, the President
reafirmed his conviction that the
United States must be strong-the
reason why today's national policy
comedies with that of the Boy Scout
movement to be prepared"
Pledge Made for Scouts.
Immediately following Mr.. Roose-
velt's speech, DR.. James E. West,
chief Scout executive, pledged that
the Scouts would do all in our
power to make contribution to
strengthening and invigorating de-
mocracy.'
Walter w. Head, Boy Scouts pres
ident, reported that 1.391,873 boys
and men were affiliated with the
Scout movement.
Special service for Scouts will be
held today in many of the city's
churches comprising the various
faiths.
The services include the following
II am, at the Metropolitan Pres
byterian Church; 3:15 pm. at the
Washington Cathedral, and pm,
at st. Gabriels Catholic Church.
Text of Presidents Message.
The text of the Presidents mes
sage follows:
The record of your achievements
during the past year. as reported
by Mr.. Head, is something of which
we can all be proud. I am most
favorably impressed with the scope
and magnitude of the emergency
service training program now being
developed by the Boy Scouts of
America
The Boy Scouts of today are ap-
preaching manhood at a grave hour
in the worlds history. Recent events
have threatened the security of free
men everywhere: and the demo-
cratic way of life is being challenged
in many parts of the world. The
United States must be strong if our
free way of life is to be maintained
and for our national policy we, as
a Nation, have adopted the motto OF
the Boy Scout rganization-be
Prepared.
In many ways the Boy Scouts
have sought to emulate the deeds
of the Early American pioneers who
subdued the wilderness and estab-
lshed on a neW-found continent
a better human society. But it is
not primarily for mere physical feats
that the Boy Scout movement has
won the high praise and the esteem
of the American people. 1t it rather
because the Boy Scouts have dedi-
Gated themselves to the develop
ment of those qualities of character
ard citizenship upon which the fu-
tN'e Of our democracy rests.
"A Great Opportunity
I'm this grave hour national de-
fense dominates the heart and mind
and soul of America. The Govern
ment must take the major re-
sDonsibility, since it alone repre-
sents all of the people acting in
concert. But the Government can
not and should not pre-empt those
fields OF private endeavor which
have become an indispensable part
OF life in America.
You who are members of the
Boy Scouts have a great oppor-
tunity in your organization to do
your part in this great task. In
your Scout troops you have the
opportunity to develop the type of
leadership and group cooperation
which Is so greatly needed in a
o-AlOIl dCy ouCl DIS ours. Ou nave
in your Scouting pro-
e am to develop those physical and
mental qualities upon which the
survival of self-governing COM
depends.
The Boy Scouts have made and
will continue to make an impor-
tant contribution to the welfare of
young manhood. The Boy
Scouts have always responded gen.
erously when called into action in
the service of their communities
and their felloW-c citizens. The Ma
tlon is confident that the Boy
Scouts stand ready to contribute to
the national welfare in these crit
tcal hours.
1T follows, therefore, that I am
proud Of what you have done and
are doing-and proud of what I
know you will do in playing your
part In our American defense"
Employment in tin mines of Ma
laya is so per cent greater than a
year ago.