The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-12-07
Scheme in Simpson Church to
Teach Boys Politics Eager
Young Pupils.

eSimpson CITY, is a municipality that
that is not on the map of New Jersey,
but is nevertheless an Important part OF
this State. In 1t i've those who will
probably be in future the Governors,
Assemblymen senators Of this State
andgpossibly there is within the borders
tie material from which presidents are
made Simpson City is not even incor-
borated, but it has all the functions of a
corporate body. In size it is probably the
| smallest city in the world. 1t is included
within. the limits of Jersey City, being
situate at the corner of Central avenue
and Fleet street, and extending about LOG
i feet north of the first named thorough
fare and about the same distance west on
Fleet street. The City Hall is known on
| Sundays as Simpson M. e. Church
Simpson City is the outcome of a
| scheme which the Rev. Robert Ayles-
worth has evolved for the education OF
Young America as represented in the
boys of his Sunday School in the mys-
teries of political economy and con-
stitutional law, or more properly speak
ing, the science of government. Mr..
Aylesworth believes that it is the duty
of the American pastor to teach his
charges to be good citizens as well as
good Christians. In speaking Of his
scheme Mr.. Aylesworth says
There is nothing like educating the
young American and teaching him some
thing about the politics of his ccdntry.
TO vote c-onscientiously nowadays g
citizen must be fully acquainted with
the issues involved. He must understand
the government of his country thorough
ly, and there is only one way he can
learn do to so-by actual experience. !
believe it is foolish to send a boy to
school and teach him nothing but what
is contained in books. lie should be
taught something about governmental
affairs, and in nay opinion II IS not rlgnt
to neglect this part of his education until
he has attained his majority. The pla
| have in view has never, to my knowl-
edge, been tried in this State and l ex-
pect it will create quite an interest among
the boys OF the church. How far we
will carry out the plan in detail do not
as yet know, but we expect to make the
juvenile municipality as complete as
possible"
A meeting to organize the municipality
has already been held and the boys who
will be its citizens hay received their
first lesson in municipal government.
They have for instructor Lawyer Jacob
son. AT the meeting nominations were
11AceoO - Ahldy Ciio l. ~ -
Common Council. There are three tickets
in the field and the candidates are huslin8
hard for votes, the election viii take place
on Saturday evening next AND a lively
light is anticipated. The successful can
didates will serve six months, when
another election will be held and someone
else will be given an opportunity to
govern Simpson City.
The candidates for Mayor are:-Eddie
Jacobson, Archie Reed and William Wes-
sells. Randolph Conklin, Frank Max
well and Charles Crooks will fight for the
office OF President of the Council. The
Mayor vii as soon as he is elected appoint
Fire and Police Commissioners and a
head. of the Street Cleaning Department.
These will in turn appoint subordinates
who will perform the duties usually
assigned to members of corresponding
departments in larger municipalities.
The Street Cleaning Department will be
responsible for the proper care of Simp-
son City. permitting no papers or waste
material of any kind to be found within
it's precincts. The Police Department will
do practical work. It's members will be
in reality monitors, but invested with the
they will not be looked upon in exactly
the same light as if they told tales
gratuitously. 1t will be their duty to
watch the citizens during the week,
and if they find anything wrong in any
of their actions to report it at the next
meeting. They are also to report any in
attention in Sunday School or church.
The offenders thus reported will have to
stand trial before a regularly constituted
tribunal. hi Fire Department will be the
only one which will not be kept actively
engaged, and it is even proposed to give
it practice on some old shanty in the
neighborhood.
The boys have entered into the scheme
time to come when their eity's govern
ment will be in perfect running order.