Scouting, Volume 8, Number 9, April 22, 1920 Page: 10
24 p. : ill. ; 31 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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10
SCOUTING, APRIL 22, 1920
Mr. McAdoo Accepts Council's Thanks
I AM deeply touched by this unexpected
honor that the Boy Scouts of America
have conferred upon me, and I beg to
assure you all of my most grateful ap-
preciation of the distinction you have con-
ferred upon me.
It is not affected modesty when I say
that I feel it is entirely undeserved.
Whatever service I was able to render
on that occasion, and I myself think it
did not amount to much, it is not an
affectation of modesty to say that I think
it deserved no recognition or award.
Certainly, I expected none, because I
derive from the inspiration of that asso-
ciation in a cause which I think is very
important to this country, a satisfaction
that nothing else could compensate me
for. But this evidence of your apprecia-
tion and esteem is, I shall always con-
sider, one of the most distinguished hon-
ors I have received in the course of my
public or private career, (Applause.)
In fact, I feel that the greatest posses-
sion that I have received from having
been the occupant of a cabinet office dur-
ing the recent period of years, is that it
brought me to the attention of the Boy
Scouts of America (laughter), and that
it has given me a recognition which I
could not otherwise have received at their
hands.
It has enabled me to realize an ambi-
tion of my own life. I had begun to fear
that perhaps I had gotten too old to be
thought of by the Boy Scouts of
America, and that perhaps I might never
be able to break into membership in this
distinguished body, but you have at last
made me a Boy Scout. (Laughter.)
My most cherished ambition is realized
this evening. I want to thank you
heartily for it. (Applause.)
I think that the campaign last year has
had a most helpful effect in directing the
attention of the country seriously to a
very great and important movement. 1
think the Boy Scouts of America, what
they represent, what they stand for, what
is being accomplished through that
organization for the boyhood of the
country, has not at all been fully appre-
:iated or realized. This drive we made
tor funds brought about some apprecia-
tion, the information which we were
able to impregnate people with as the
result of it—because, when you ask a
man for money, he wants to know what
he is giving it for—and in that way we
were able to administer one of the most
beneficial doses of Boy Scout medicine
that the public could possibly receive,—
not only succeeded in getting funds, but
what was more important, enlisted inter-
est in the Movement; a movement which
I think is most significant and most im-
portant in developing that kind of citi-
zenship in this great democracy of ours
upon which its security and its usefulness
are going to rest in the future.
Address at Birthday
Di nner upon presen-
tation of Resolution of
Appreciation for Boy
Scout W eek Services
As I heard this talk about the Ameri-
canization processes which had been and
were set in motion by the Boy Scouts of
America, that Mr. Beard was telling us
about in his eloquent and original langu-
age (laughter), I could not help feeling
that an ambition which had stirred within
me as this campaign was in progress last
year—I could not help feeling that pos-
sibly that might yet be attainable.
I read in some paper the other day—
and it must have been an accurate state-
ment, because it was in a newspaper—
(laughter) that something like sixty mil-
lion words had been spoken in the Sen-
ate of the United States in the last year
in an effort to Americanize America and
to prevent America from having anything
to do with the rest of the world.
(Laughter.)
I could not help feeling that one of the
most successful ways on earth to Ameri-
canize America would be to have the
Senate of the United States composed
exclusively of Boy Scouts. (Laughter.)
When we accomplish that reform, I am
certain that spiritual and great moral
forces will more likely control the action
of that body than partisan considerations
which do directly affect most of our pub-
lic men.
I am almost tempted when I begin to
talk about partisanship and politicians, to
say a few words and try to make a
speech; of course it would not be appro-
priate on this occasion; but seriously my
friends, the Boy Scout Movement is go-
ing to be most potent and helpful in
creating the kind of citizenship which
is to elevate and improve the political
standards of America, and especially to
improve the politicians of America—and,
WILLIAM
Resolution presented by National Council to Mr.
McAdoo for splendid leadership of Citizens' Commit-
tees conducting 1919 Boy Scout Appreciation Week.
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Boy Scouts of America. Scouting, Volume 8, Number 9, April 22, 1920, periodical, April 22, 1920; New York, New York. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth283168/m1/10/: accessed April 27, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Boy Scouts of America National Scouting Museum.