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James E. West thanks Samuel Gompers for his courteous letter and appreciates the full report of the Executive Council of the American Federation of Labor regarding an investigation into the Boy Scouts of America. As the chosen committee investigates, the Boy Scouts of America are prepared to respond to any request the committee may make of them.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-12-18
James E. West writes Samuel Gompers regarding the news that the American Federation of Labor plans to review the Boy Scouts of America to determine the influence and affect on labor the Boy Scout movement is having. West offers to provide someone from the organization to answer questions as well as printed or written material and looks forward to the suggestions of the Federation.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-12-01
James E. West hopes Theodore Roosevelt has had time to review the new Handbook for Boys containing his letter and asks for his opinion of it. He comments on the importance of getting the new manual out to the many Boy Scouts, especially those using the old text or the English Handbook.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-08-24
James E. West sends Theodore Roosevelt copies of the corrected edition of the Boy Scouts Handbook for Boys. He hopes those interested in the scout movement can obtain the advantageous manual. He thanks Roosevelt for his contribution on Practical Citizenship, which will do much good.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-08-04
James E. West apologizes for sending the Boy Scout handbook and other materials to Sagamore Hill instead of Theodore Roosevelt’s offices at The Outlook. He sends another book that tells the story of the Boy Scouts.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-07-21
James E. West thanks Theodore Roosevelt for his message on practical citizenship, which will be published in the Boy Scout Manual. West will send Roosevelt a copy when it is printed.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-07-22
James E. West would like Theodore Roosevelt to write a few paragraphs about how Boy Scouts can show patriotism and be valuable assets to their communities. He sends Roosevelt a proof edition of the Boy Scout Manual, along with various letters, clippings, and other documents that might help him.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-07-14
James E. West clarifies for Theodore Roosevelt that the Boy Scouts of America is not a military organizations and does not include guns in their equipment. Confusion has arisen because the American Boy Scouts organization was organized with the help of William Randolph Hearst and does military drill with boys.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-07-15
James E. West is glad to inform Theodore Roosevelt that the first edition of the new Boy Scouts of America manual has been printed, in order for those directly connected to the movement can offer criticism before the full run of 100,000 copies is printed. West sends Roosevelt a copy and requests suggestions as soon as possible.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-06-01
James E. West is glad that Theodore Roosevelt will be greeted by Boy Scouts at New Orleans. He informs Frank Harper of some negotiations are currently occurring within the organization so that Roosevelt will not be caught off guard, and suggests that it would be desirable for him “to urge high quality of leadership in movement without military feature.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-03-10
James E. West, Executive Secretary of the Boy Scouts of America, informs Theodore Roosevelt that he was elected honorary vice-president of the organization at its recent National Council.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-02-25
Boy Scouts of America’s April 17, 1911 newsletter contains seven articles. Ernest Thompson Seton compares the American Boys Scouts with the British Boy Scouts. The British scouts are more disciplined, whereas the American scouts are skillful at camping and have “greater lung power.” There is a discussion on doing a troop exchange. National Scout Commissioner Daniel Carter Beard discusses how scouts should regard men like Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone as heroes rather than Jesse James or Robin Hood-type characters. The Executive Board plans to establish a Scout Masters’ School at Silver Bay, New York, in conjunction with the Boys’ Workers Camp. The two new manuals are almost ready to be published. Lorillard Spencer is planning summer activities for New York scoutmasters. New Jersey scouts are cleaning up areas to prevent mosquitoes. Italian scouts are working on propagating universal peace.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-04-17