The times., 1898-06-27
TIE JUNIOR REPUBLIC.
Interesting Meeting eiiI Behalf of "a
Charitable Organization.

j Junior RepuDhc, OF freeVlife, N. Y, was
held last night at the Metropolitan Meth
odist Episcopal Church. Hon. G. w. Ray,
of New York presided, and addresses
were made by Mon. c. Fl. Grosvenor Rev.
E. L. Hunt, Master Jacob Smith, ex-pres-
ident of the republic, and a Cuban lad.
The Junior Republic is made up of boys,
ranging from twelve to nineteen, taken
from the slums of New York city AS
the name implies, it is political unit in
itself; it has its own laws, currency, and
in fact everything that goes to make up
republican form of government.
The institution is founded on the eco
nomic principles advocated by the lead
ing political economists of the country.
1t is not, in any sense, a Utopia. The
citizens of the republic number about
200. The founder of the republic is Will
liam r. George, a New York evangelist.
Some years ago, while Mr.. George was
doing mission work in the slums of New
York, the idea of establishing junior
republic came as a sort of inspiration.
He realized how little fear these deni-
zens of our great city had of the police
and what q small chance there was of
any reformation without change OF
scene. Then the idea of letting the
youngsters be their own judges. make
their own laws, and, in fact, run their
own affairs, was conceived. AS a result
of Mr.. Georges work the first colony
was taken to FreeVille in 1894. Others
became interested in the work and the
republic grew until this year the member
ship has reached 200.
John d. Rockefeller contributed $1,000
toward the purchase of farm, and Mrs.
w. N. Carter of Philadelphia gave a like
sum with which TO erect a cottage. To-
day the Republic has a farm of forty
eight acres, on which are a city hail.
cottages hotels and huts.
1t is Incorporated under the New York
State laws. and the trustees are T. NJ
Osborne of Auburn, n. Y; Garrett S.
Miller of Peterboro N Y; A. S. Agnew.
DR., L. Nj. Foote, Jacob +. Miller, A. NJ.
Chamberlin, WilliaMs f. George and r.
Montgomery Schell of New York city.
Master Jacob Smith. the eighteen-year-
old eX-president of the Republic, spoke in
an easy off-hand manner that was re-
makable in one so young. He explained
how the government was run in all it's
details He said in part:
I'VE run everything in an orderly way,
much the same as does our greater re-
public. We have our president, senate,
house of representatives and supreme
| court. The president is elected for one
| year, the senators for three months and
| the representatives for one month. To
! Offenders against the laws, we deal out
| quick and just punishment The criminal
when arrested by an officer is taken 10
| the jail and later tried before jury.
| Often he is sent 10 the chain gang, but
more often he Is fined or put to hard
work At first all the boys wanted TO be
| lawyers, as there was constant litigation
| arising over breaches OF CONTRACTS and
| suits for damages. Soon, however, these
| young citizens realized that it costs
| money to go to law, even in our little
| Republic, and the result Is that there is
| only one lawyer in our community. We
| have our own money and trade keeps it
in circulation. We work at all kinds of
occupations. though farming is the chief
| one. We study and go 10 church though
| the latter is not compulsory. The boys
| soon lose their eveil ways
| 4 little Cuban lad, who was sent to the
republic in 1896, spoke about the i'm
| mense amount of good he had derived
and how anxious he was to return.
| Congressman Grosvenor of Ohio said in
| part:
II want to point out how happily this
George Junior Republic has applied
economic principles Their currency is
! above the wants of the trade, as the
| ex-president has told US that there IS a
| good balance in the treasury.
I'VE can also see that political theories
| and principles are only incidental TO our
! lives. Our greatest menace is not the
| CORPORATION, nor the concentration of
| wealth in the hands of the few. 1t i
| rather our educational system. which
| leads TO crime. Why is boy from re-
| form school stamped as criminal and
not considered capable of becoming a
| good citizen? AS q trustee of the Sol
| diers' and Sailors Orphan Home in my
| State I have studied this question by
! observation. Penal and reform schools
do little good as long as the public re-
| fuses to extend helping hand. After
| the punishment of offenders the State
| misses an opportunity by making them
| outcasts in society.
The boy from the slums has the ele-
ments of statesmanship just as has the
| average boy but temptation for crime
| is greater
This republic is excellent. 1t teaches
| the boy to be self-supporting and not
| afraid of gaining a livelihood by honest
| meanS-the true touchstone of success.
Il also approve of the training in the
| political direction. I note that none are
| excused from voting. If this could be
| brought about in our land, there would
be no more corruption in politics, nc
more dishonest primaries. The integ-
rity in the White House and Congress
| begins IN the primary elections, ana
| hence the man who refuses to go to the
polls, has no right to declare later that
his legislation is corrupt"
Rev E L. Hunt, former assistant pas
| tor of the New York Avenue Presbyterian
! Church. who is now acting as financia
agent of the republic in its efforts to rais'
| funds, spoke of the growth of the insti
tuition and the good it had accomplished
| He said that this form Of mission worl
'1essened the amount of dynamite IL
our land, and its benefits were far-reach
ing. Mr.. Hunt gave an interesting ac
count of the trial of a seventeen-year
old offender, describing the jury a
they were impressed with their respon
sibility. The leader of the jury in ques
ton had been the leader of the famou
little gang of New York and is now al
assistant in Henry Ward Beecher'
church, of that city. The trustees an
nounced a deficit of $3.50 and that publ
| subscription must be asked for to continu
the work. The plan adopted is to visi
cities all over the country and endeaver t
have 1900 citizens pay S. yearly and be
| come members of the association
Rev. Hunt and the two citizens of tn
| Junior Republic go TO Rochester, n.
next and will then work in the smalle
| cities of the Empire State.
Attempts are also being made to foun