Scouting, Volume 2, Number 20, February 15, 1915 Page: 8
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SCOUTING
POLICE COMMISSIONER
ADDRESSES BOY SCOUTS
New York Official Says There Should Be
a Fellow-Feeling Between
Scouts and "Cops."
The growing appreciation by city officials of
the civic value of Boy Scouts is indicated by the
following address delivered by Police Commis-
sioner Woods, of New York City, on Feb. 6 to
a group of Boy Scouts attending an exhibition
of the motion picture, "The Adventures of a Boy
Scout." It is printed in Scouting because it is
believed that many Scoutmasters will be glad to
present to their boys this evidence of the friendly
interest the police take in the work of the Boy
Scout Movement.
I AM glad to have you boys here ready
to render "first aid to the injured."
This bathtub (fountain on stage) is so
perilously close behind me that a mis-
step or a case of stage fright might make
it necessary for you to dive in for me.
I don't know much about the Boy Scout
work in its finer details, but I do know in
a general way that it makes for self-reli-
ance and that it has for its main purpose
service to those who may be in need of
help. Your job is to lend a helping hand,
and I understand that you are standing up
to the job pretty well.
I was told that the Boy Scouts were a
great help to the committee on "Bundle
Day," and I have heard of the service that
you have been to the city in helping to
keep the streets clean.
Boy Scouts ought to have the right idea
about the police. Often people, and espec-
ially boys, look upon the police as their
enemies. The word among them too gen-
erally seems to be: "Look out for the cop."
Policemen do not seek to make life miser-
able for everybody but to make this city a
good place to live in.
The police often have to stop people from
doing the things that they want to do and
some times make them do things that they
do not like. Frequently this is necessary
in order that others may not be made to
suffer. Frequently they have to order peo-
ple to clean the snow and ice from their
sidewalks when these people much prefer
to do something else, and they have to
make them clean up their premises so that
they will not become a nuisance in the
neighborhood. People don't like to be made
to do things, so they get down on the
police.
Once upon a time in my career I was a
reporter. I remember one day that I
couldn't find anything to write about, and
I suppose I was looking somewhat blue. A
reporter who had been a long time in the
business happened along and, seeing that I
looked rather discouraged, asked what was
the matter. I told him that I couldn't get
a story, there was nothing to write about.
"Oh, that is easy," he said. "Boost the
firemen, or knock the cops."
Unfortunately for us we have to stop
people from doing things. You are more
fortunate, for your task is to encourage
people to do things—right things—not to
stop them. That is much pleasanter.
The police administration is, and wants to
be, in sympathy with you, but you Boy
Scouts must, in all that you do, remember
others and their wishes and their comfort.
Older people are likely, if you are not
thoughtful and careful, to be much an-
noyed by things that your youthful spirits
might lead you thoughtlessly to do. This
is a big city. We live close together.
Every one must be considerate of the rights
and comfort of others. If you play your
games in such a way as not to annoy peo-
ple you may depend upon their giving you
a fair show and doing what they can to
help you get the privileges and opportu-
nities that you desire. Remember your ob-
jto-day
Kill
&
::s:
Police Commissioner Woods and a Group of New York Scouts.
ligations to other people and play your
games in the right spirit. Boy Scouts, just
the same as policemen, often are not given
credit for what they do. There ought to
be a fellow feeling between you, for you
are both so likely to be misunderstood.
It is dangerous to make promises, but I
will say that if there is anything that you
want to do, and you bring it to my at-
tention, it will at least be carefully consid-
ered. If the thing you want is possible and
right, we can arrange in most cases, I am
sure, to fix things up so that it can be
done.
The_ thing that I like about the Boy Scout
work is that it deals with prevention instead
of cure. I believe in play such as yours
as a safeguard against the evil influences
that beset boys on all sides.
Now, I have talked longer than I in-
tended, or even thought I could, with this
watery grave (fountain on stage) behind
and the fiery furnace (footlights) in front.
My very best wishes are with you.
January Work Report
The following report showing the amount
of work done at National Headquarters
during January, 1915, as compared with
the same month last year, indicates the
substantial growth of the movement.
r . . , ^5 1914
Mail received 22,058 16,828
Mail sent out—
Letters 29,919 30,862
Postals o 425
Scouting 25,400 25,289
Certificates 1,160 945
Total ... 56,479 57,521
Number of orders 5,260 3,049
Number of badges—
1915 1914
Tenderfoot & P. L,
Badges 6,499 3,9^5
Second Class & P. L.
Badges 1,098 1,241
First Class & P. L.
Badges 258 151
Arm & Enamel
Badges 1,479 654
Merit Badges 647 546
Total 9,981 6,517
Number of visitors 593 565
Hartford, Conn., Plans Rally
Plans are being made by the Local Coun-
cil at Hartford, Conn., for a Boy Scout
celebration of Washington's birthday. This
celebration will take the form of a rally
for the Scouts of Connecticut and southern
Massachusetts. A medal will be presented
to the troop coming the greatest distance
with 70 per cent, of its members, and to
the troop that presents the best appearance.
It is desirable that each delegation bring
a banner, showing the name of their town
and that each be ready to give a yell for
their town or city.
Mr. G. S. Ripley, Scout Commissioner
for Hartford, announces the following pro-
gram for this event:
MORNING
8.30—10.00 Registration, High School Hall.
10.co (sharp) Assembly, High School Hall.
Senator Louis R. Cheney, Council President,
presiding.
Speakers (subject to change)
Commissioner Ripley, Hartford; Commissioner
White, Waterbury; Commissioner Woodstock,
Meriden; Commissioner Aiken, Bridgeport; Com-
missioner North, _ Springfield; Scoutmaster Rev.
Beard, Willimantic; Daniel Carter Beard, Na-
tional Commissioner; Ludvig S. Dale, National
Field Ccmmissioner.
12.30 Lunch hour (at local lunch rooms).
AFTERNOON
1.30 (sharp) Assembly at City Hall and march
to State Armory.
2.00—3.30 Intercity contest 7 events.
3.30-—4.30 Review and inspection
4.30 Presentation of medals and dismissal.
NOTE.—This program subject to slight changes,
Anniversary Week Widely Observed
Judging from early reports which are
being received at National Headquarters,
the celebration of Anniversary Week, which
ended on February 13, was by far the most
general observation of the Boy Scout birth-
day ever held. The Sunday services on
February 7 seem to have been especially
popular, as hundreds of ministers took ad-
vantage of this occasion to speak on some
phase of Boy Scout work.
In a great many cities the celebration of
Anniversary week was more elaborate
than was called for by the suggested pro-
gram which was printed in Scouting and
Boys' Life, since special meetings were held
every day. Many individual troops also
had elaborate programs covering the full
week.
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Boy Scouts of America. Scouting, Volume 2, Number 20, February 15, 1915, periodical, February 15, 1915; New York, New York. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth282717/m1/8/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Boy Scouts of America National Scouting Museum.