The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-03
THE JUNIOR REPUBLIC
HOW THE SMALLEST DEMOCRACY IN
THE WORLD IS PROGRESSING.
Currency and Bond-Issue Problems
Taxation Resorted TO-The Mer-
its of the Institution.

brand-new reform administration is in pow
err Had not most of the newspaper corre-
spondents been so busy getting us into war
with Spain, it is probable that they would
not have let such an interesting occasion
pass without comment; but with the excep-
ton Of very occasional contributor to the
Evening Post no representative of the press
could be discovered at the Inauguration GER
emonies
Much has been written concerning the
George Junior republic. We have had ac-
counts by the founder, William R. George,
by various trustees, and by visitors OF all
grades and all judgments, from the enthusi-
astic accounts of Theodore Cuyler. Wash
ington GLADDEN., and Albert Shaw, to the
criticisms of some Rochester gentlemen,
who after an exhaustive acquaintance OF
two or three hours with the republic found
dirt and disorder the least of its evils. Yet,
in spite of all, the last word has by no
means been said.
The curious part of it is that in so many
ways the history of this little republic re-
fleets the experience of the greater republic
about it; and just as the United States has
been the theme for many a varied account
from Mrs. Trollope and Charles Dickens
down to Sir Lepe Griffin and Mr.. Bryce, so
the little republic has had many chroniclers
of many minds; and before accepting the
word of any one of them as gospel, we
should learn whether they are prejudice6 or
superficial persons devoid of humor, or con-
scientious observers looking for the truth
| alone
The Junior republic is institution for
dependent and delinquent children; it is
school, an orphan asylum; it is govern
ment by the children, of the children, and
for the children. 1t is place where 1t is
proposed to take the unfortunate, the vi
cious, the homeless little ones of our city
slums, and turn them into good and useful
citizens.
How is this to be done? The plan is sim
pie and fascinating. Let the children form
a real community and govern themselves.
There follows from this a complete and
logical system of society, mixture Of Unit
ed States, State and local governments; with
President and Vice President, Senate and
House Of Representatives, Board of Health
and police department, hotel keepers, law
yers. judges, contractors, and laborers. The
aim is to place the child, so far as is posi-
BILE in his peculiar environment, in the midst
of a complete system of society of which he
| shall feel himself an important part. Then
he will learn quickly and thoroughly this
great lesson: IF you expect to get some
its essentials a failure. If he is foolish,
he pays the penalty; if he is vicious, there
stands the jail or prison awaiting him, with
punishment swift and severe, but of short
duration If he will not work, he cannot
eat for there is nothing to be given away.
Labor of hand or brain of some kind must
be done, or hunger, disgrace, and punish
ment will follow. But, unlike the real world,
for the child who turns over new leaf
there are willing hands stretched out to
help; there is love and encouragement for
the asking or without the asking; there is
a wiping clean of the slate, and fresh
start onward and upward.
PRACTICAL QUESTIONS.
1t is not alone in the varying accounts Of
those who have written concerning it that
the curious analogy between the United
States and the Junior Republic exists. 1t
exists also in many of its social problems.
The tariff question, for instance, has fire.
quently agitated the statesmen of the Junior
Republic. The have put the tariff up, and
they have put the tariff down; and, like
the White Queens shawl, there is no pleas
ing it. The problem of a perfectly satisfacs
tory adjustment still remains.
There has been much trouble with the
finances of the republic. Last winter the
government debt increased to large pro-
portions. Over $50 of their tin money was
owing in salaries to government officials
and in other ways. An issue of bonds was
determined upon by the late cabinet. The
bonds were printed and made ready but,
behold, nobody would take one at any price.
The new administration has boldly faced the
question of financial reform, and by increas-
ing the taxes, and by good management in
other directions, has changed the $3.50 de-
hclt to a $500 surplus 1t now daWns upon
the minds of those who have been studying
the question what one of the difficulties has
BEEN The tin money will buy all the re-
public has to sell-clothes, food, lodging;
but it has no redemption in real money
There is no proper standard of value at the
Junior Republic. This tin money, therefore,
has Infatuated Violently; it is in perpetual
state of unstable equilibrium If you give
1t a gold STANDARD, that is, redeemabie
value in United States money, will it regain
its value and hold it? The trustees pro-
pose to try to find out.
things community
developed further than our big republic
They have tried woman suffrage, and have
for the present at least discarded il. After
muck talk and discussion the girls were
given the vote. At first great interest was
taken; but it was soon found that the girls
were somewhat easily led, smooth tongue
and an attractive face being great advan-
tage to a youthful politician. Then the in
terest fell off; the girls did not care enough
to vote. The suggestion was made that
law be passed compelling them to vote, but
it did not win favor. Finally, in some re-
frage was taken from the girls. and GU
riously enough all the girls voted in favor
of their own Acknowledgement. 1t should
been laid a renewal of the agitation has
taken place, the girls once more Directing
to paving taxes without the right to vote,
and further changes may be expected.
GOVERNS HIMSELF.
In an institution of an ordinary kind or
phan asylum or reform school, the child is
placed where all. or practically all, free
dom of action is removed. His clothes, his
food, his bed. are all provided by some great
power, benefcent or ot1erwise-some dis
tant and more or less mythical "state." If
he has committed some offense, a hideous
agency of the state named law has seized
upon him. and locked him up with hundreds
of other unfortunates. If in the asylum or
school he misconducts himself he is pun-
lShed by some one, of the source of whose
power he may be ignorant and whose au-
thority he probably resents.
How is il at the Junior Republic? Here
a child is quickly cognizant of the fact that
so Tar as there is a state with power to
regulate his conduct, he is a part of that
state; and, the law, which controls his ac-
tons and Furnishes him for violating its
statutes. is but the expression of the con-
science and convenience of that very society
of WHICH he forms a part The law is his
law. 1t is the understanding of this that
causes the young tough of New York city
who has gloried in having been brought be-
fore city magistrate to break down be-
fore the boy judge of his own and his COM
rades' choosing, and weep at the infection of
the punishment that he himself has helped
TO decree. These children are being pre-
pared for the world by gaining a knowledge
OF law or order, Of society, in the only way
it; not by reasoning from the abstract 10
the concrete, as educated people do (and
poor enough work of it many of them nakel
but by living in the midst of concrete ex-
amples. They learn honesty because thew
soon find. as one how axnreSeo5 s+t.o.