The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1895-12-12
An InterG sting ENperimen mt with Bad
Boys.


A little republic for bad boys has been estab
lished in Thompkins county n. Y.-the same
counts that Cornell University is in. The ex.
pertinent has proved one of the most interest
ing and successful solutions of the bad boy
problem that has yet been attempted and is
the result of the feeling entertained by Mr..
W. Il. George for his fellows. From long re-
port of the enterprise just published we extract
few suggestive pieces of information.
On July Mr.. George took 300 particularly
bad boys and girls from New York to a
Thompkins county farm and there established
a social order that should be under the control
of these 300 youngsters. A president, senate
house of representatives, Judiciary and police
court were put in working order and elections
held in the regular way. Upon arrival each
child was assigned to class, the girls being
instructed in sewing, dressmakng, millinery
cooking and housekeeping; the boys in car
pentering, farming, landscape gardening, and
and hostery by teachers who, so far, donate
h cir services. 1t was through these classes
that the efficient work was done, the farm
being managed entirely by them. No one was
compelled to attend, but for doing so from 10
a. m. to IL noon each child received at first 80
cents day. If they improved they were ad-
vanCed to 20 cents and 90 cents, being paid in
the cardboard currency adopted by the govern
ment. With this money they paid ten cents
for each meal, ten cents for lodging and three
cents day taxes for support ofpaupers. Lack
of cash compelled one to live ON pauper fare
bread and water-and sleep in the pauper's cell
on straw. But later this was changed, and
bill was introduced by congressman, the son
of pauper ia New York, to do away with
this, He said 1--WE don't want none idle
here If fellow won't work let him starve,
but no more taxes to support him" The bill
passed.
Of course every public officer received
81 80, congressman 81 20 and
policemen 90 cents a day each-and they per-
formed their duties with a iaithfulness and
energy perhaps rare in public life. If apples
were donated, they were put up at auction and
the successful bidder retailed them to his
fellows. Others went without the camp, and,
getting fruit free, undersOld the merchants.
This emergency brought forth the man, the
of the camp, who, rising in congress
one day, said: "Mr. Speaker, the govern
ment sells us goods, and, taking our money,
lets other fellows come in with free goods, so
we get stuck with ours. 1t aint a square deal,
and | offer bin putting tax of 25 per cent
on all stuff brought in to be sold"
Here was a national question upon which
seventeen speeches were made in the House
and nine in the Senate, the bill finally passing
The debates brought out some wonderfully
keen fellows, and the weekly elections be-
came very exciting.
The police force and the judiciary were
among the most interesting features of this
little Republic. Admission to the force was
through a rigid civil service examination, and
the position was a coveted one. Thirteen boys
from twelve to sixteen years old, and two
girls (clerks) made up the force The penalty
for failure to enforce laws or to arrest offenders
was dismissal. After three or four were de-
prived oftheir uniforms, the others, no matter
how large the offender, arrested him at once.
Altogether eight boys tried to run away.
Four reached New York and wrote back:
Tell Mr.. George we liked der place, but
didn't want ter be arrested by kid cops"
Mr., William G, Orton, to whose report we
are indebted for our facts, says:
Being interested, / went to the camp to
spend two days in investigating. l was very
5keptical as to the work. l stayed twelve
days and unhesitatingly pronounce it the
most practical and successful philanthropic
work / ever investigated or heard of. The
scheme sounded Utopian; it proved wonder
fully successful. Let us honor the originator,
Mr.. George, who without recompense devotes
his life to New York boys, and let those who
can help the society now being formed to
carry on this work to buy the farm and equip
It thoroughly"
If Mr.. Orton is not mistaken in his conclu'
5ions nothing more hopeful than this advance
In the government Of incorrigible youth has
been made in this century.