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It is up to Scout Leeds to settle with Mr. Knapp for the personal insult in Mr. Knapp's letter of Aug. 8, if he considers such a letter worthy of his notice, but as a scoutmaster I am taking it upon myself to defend the good name of Scouting. A boy is priggish, is he, because he endeavors to "Do a good turn daily?" I would hata to have a hand in educating boys to be the kind of man Mr. Knapp appears to be. The Boy Scouts of America is not a partisan organization. There are troops of Boy scouts of every religion and creed that meet the world over. There are nearly three quarters of a million men and boys, all scouts, dedicated to the two mottoes: "Be prepared" and "Do a good turn daily." The finest men in this and nearly every other country are behind the movement because they believe it to be the finest boys' organization in existence. The twelve Scout ideals are: Trustworthiness, Loyalty, Helpfulness, Friendliness, Courtesy, Kindness, Obedience, Cheerfulness, Thrift, Bravery, Cleanliness and Reverence, and the oath by which every Scout is sworn is "On my Honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country, and obey the Scout Law: to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight." Which makes us priggish whippersnappers, does it ?
We respect the Army and from the vast majority of it we command respect. As for Mr. Knapp the Army must be happy in his retirement and I can only suggest that he investigate a few of the troops in his locality. He will find, and if he tells the truth he will have to admit, that through worldwide Scouting, many men are made where none were before.
J. W. MASON A. S. M. Troop 2, Mount Vernon, Bronx Valley Council, N. Y. Mount Vernon, N. Y.
"Clear the Atmosphere"
Sirs:
In recent numbers of TIME [Aug. 1, 8,] I have observed communications bearing upon the relationship of the Boy Scout Movement to militarism. These communications arose, I think, because there appeared in one issue an item in reference to general Boy Scout activities under the heading ARMY & NAVY. May I ask of you the courtesy of printing this letter to clear the atmosphere ?
The Boy Scout Movement is neither military nor antimilitary in its purposes nor in the conduct of its activities. These are cardinal principles of the Movement and have been stated upon many occasions. The Movement seeks to develop in boys character and practical ability to do things through interesting them in the activities of the Boy Scout program.
I quote from Section 3 of Article III of the National Constitution of the Boy Scouts of America:
"In carrying out the purpose of the Boy Scout Movement as stated herein, technical military training and drill shall not be included for the reason that they are not equal in value or as suitable for boys of Scout age in training for good citizenship as the program of Scout activities."
Also: "The Boy Scouts of America has purposely been promoted as an organization which is neither military nor anti-military." —Policies and Regulations of the Boy Scouts of America. . . .
These quotations from standard literature of the Boy Scouts of America represent a policy to which there is strict adherence.