Big Row in Boy Scouts Explained by Seton

1915

Says Officers All the Time Begging From Rich Men — No Connection With Lone Scouts

NEW YORK, Dec. 16. — The quarrel among the officers of the Boy Scouts of America is bringing out some interesting facts concerning the present policies of the organization and the men now at its head. Ernest Thompson Seton, who recently announced his resignation as Chief Scout of the organization, has come out with a statement that he did not resign because of opposition to the policy of "preparedness" for national defense.

"I am not opposed to preparedness," says the former Chief Scout. "My idea of preparedness is a little more inclusive than that of extreme militarists, as I see that we must prepare for peace as well as for war; but if life, as it is, leads to war we must be prepared for that, too.

"It is not because the Boy Scouts took up military training that I resigned my commission; it was because, while pretending to be non-military and collecting funds from those who were opposed to military training, they neglected the non-military activities which seemed to me so fundamental. I resigned a year ago; resigned quietly. I did not mean to injure the organization. But I protested, and brought on all this publicity, against their use of the manual I had written, a manual which emphasized the non-military activities, when the organization was being given over to drills and military discipline."

In nearly all cities where there are Boy Scouts, campaigns are being made to raise funds for the Boy Scout movement.

Ernest Thompson Seton, who is noted as a naturalist and writer of books on nature, charges that militarism comes first in the Boy Scout training, and woodcraft, the original purpose of the movement, is now second.

When Mr. Seton announced his resignation, officers of the Boy Scouts here issued a statement denouncing his action as "unfriendly and selfish" because it came on the eve of a campaign to raise funds to finance the Boy Scout work in New York for the next three years.

Later the National Council of the Boy Scouts held a special meeting and announced that Mr. Seton had not resigned, but was deliberately dropped when his term as Chief Scout expired, because he had only taken out his first papers for citizenship in the United States. He had been connected with the organization nearly all the time since was started.

Other men connected with the Boy Scout organization have objected to the policies pursued by the officers in charge and indications are that the fuss with Mr. Seton will he followed by others.

No Connection With Lone Scouts

The Boy Scouts of America was incorporated by W. D. Boyce, publisher of The Saturday Blade. who had made a study of the Baden-Powell Boy Scout organization in England and brought the plan to this country five years ago. Mr. Boyce had intended the organization for every boy. After it was well started he went to South America to write articles and get photographs for the Blade. On his return a year later he found that the Boy Scouts of America had grown to nearly 200,000 members, but he was surprised to find that its members were nearly all clubs of city boys and that they were put to the expense of buying hats, uniforms, badges, books, etc. He then planned an organization for boys in the smaller country towns and out on the farms, so they could operate alone or with each other, and without any expense. In January, 1915, he had incorporated in Washington, D. C., the Lone Scouts of America. At the first meeting of the incorporators Mr. Boyce was elected Chief Totem of the organization.

The Lone Scouts of America has no connection with the Boy Scouts of America or any other organization. It is not dependent on contributions from wealthy men, but is entirely supported by the sale of its weekly magazine, "Lone Scout," which is sold at a price within the reach of every boy. There are no fees or dues for members to pay. All instructions and badges are given free. It is not a military organization in any sense. The motto of the Lone Scouts of America is "Do a Useful Thing Each Day." Along with woodcraft and scouting and other play, the members acquire useful knowledge and training, are shown how to be helpful to themselves and others and are taught things which will be of value to them all their lives.

Other information concerning the Lone Scouts of America and directions for joining the organization are given in "Lone Scout," which is sold by all agents for The Saturday Blade, Chicago Ledger and the Farming Business.

—Saturday Blade, Chicago, Dec. 18, 1915, p. 4.

The Boy Who Tipped the Scales to a Generous 450 Pounds

Raised In Nebraska

Not long ago one of the most corpulent persons in the country died at Cedar Rapids, Neb. His name was C. Hemingson and his photograph was submitted to GRIT by Roy Meson, of Cedar Rapids. Hemingson was but 17 years old when he died. He weighed 450 pounds. In spite of his immense proportions he managed to move about quite actively. He was helping to extinguish a small fire when he succumbed to over-exertion. He was born and raised on a farm near Cedar Rapids.

—Grit

Boy Carries Dog 20 Miles

1910

Washington Lad in Long Tramp Would Not Abandon His Pet Pup — Paws Were Sore

Tacoma, Washington. — Without railroad fare from North Yakima and forced to walk the entire distance of nearly 200 miles because of a desire to seek employment upon some lumber schooner plying out of Tacoma, Walter Anderson, aged nineteen, carried his bull terrier dog the last twenty miles of his journey after the animal had worn its feet until they were bleeding on the rough, graveled roadbed of the Northern Pacific.

Anderson appeared at the police station the other morning and asked to be directed to some shipping company. He was carrying the dog and had torn up his handkerchief to bandage its bleeding paws. Anderson said he had been eight days on the road sleeping out of doors. He had a little money, but was saving it to buy food. His first step on entering Tacoma was to buy meat for the dog at a butcher shop.

"You see, the little fellow isn't used to the road and it was rather tough on him, so I carried him," said Anderson. "You know he is only a dog and doesn't understand why we should be on this long hike, but he stuck to me nobly."

Hungry Lad Is Shot While Seeking Food

Feb. 1920

Restaurant Owner's Bullets Halts Attempted Burglary

TOPEKA, Kansas — Hungry, cold and unable to sleep, John Ross, 10-year-old lad, who recently escaped from the Topeka Boys' Industrial school, got a bullet wound when at 2 o'clock a.m. he attempted to steal something to eat from a local restaurant.

The proprietor, hearing the noise, shot, and the boy made his escape. Making his way to the Rock Island roundhouse, before telling that he was shot, he asked the men to help him get something to eat.

Young Ross, who says his real name is John Guinness, beat his way to Topeka some time ago from Philadelphia. He says his home is in West Virginia, and that he ran away because he could not get along with his stepfather.

Physicians called to the lad's aid were unable to determine the seriousness of his wound.


Boy Swallows 50-Cent Coin

Nature Removes It After Hospital Surgeons Had Their Try

KANSAS CITY, Missouri — Old Mother Nature proved herself to be the best physician after all in the removing of the 50-cent piece swallowed by Francis Quinn, 14 years old.

The coin at first lodged itself behind the larnyx. An X-ray photograph was taken to determine how best to operate for its removal, but upon the development of the plate no trace of the coin was seen and physicians decided it had slipped down into the digestive tract.

The boy left the hospital with the silver half dollar tucked away in his deepest pocket.

40 Year-Old Wife Of Boy Husband Will Fight Divorce

1914

Des Moines, Iowa, Jan. 14. — Mrs. Maude Kinney-Patrick-Bates, through attorneys has signified her intention of contesting the application of Charles Bates, her 16-year-old husband, to have the marriage to his 40-year-old wife set aside.

The case was to have been heard yesterday by Judge Hugh Brennan of the district court. Until yesterday Mrs. Patrick has remained silent and it was presumed young Bates would secure the annulment by default.

Attorneys C. C. Dowell and John McLennan have entered their appearances in the case and Bates was denied the chance to secure the annulment without a fight.

The case attracted considerable attention some time ago when Bates alleged he had been lured into marrying a woman twice his age through continued protestations of love on her part. They went to Chicago and were married under assumed names; he as Charles Buford and she as Frances Kinney. Since their return to Des Moines they have not lived together.

With the entrance of the two attorneys into the case it is probable Mrs. Patrick will file her answer to the charges made by her boy husband in a short time.