The times., 1899-05-29
THE JUNIOR REPUBLIC
PROJECT ENDORSED
Mass Meeting at the First Con-
gregational Church.
Prominent Citizens Extend Moral
and Financial Support.
Over Three Hundred Dollars Con-
tributed for It's Establishments
Remarks of Secretary Long.

The proposition to found a Junior Re-
public in the vicinity of Washington was
last evening given moral and financial en-
dorsement by a large assemblage of the
residents of the city gathered in mass
meeting at the First Congregational
Church.
The meeting was called to consider the
question of organizing a Junior Republic
in conjunction with the people of Ba!ti-
more, and after hearing the plans thor
oughly discussed by those familiar with
the scheme it was acknowledged to be the
most promising movement of the age.
Those who took prominent part in the
meeting and who spoke in favor OF found
ing the Republic are the Rev. B. Alfred
DUNN, assistant pastor of the First Con-
gregational Church, the Rev. E. Lawrence
Hunt, formerly chairman of the board of
trustees of the first institution of the kind
which was established in New York by
William R. George, and which was known
as the George Junior Republic, Jacob
Smith, the first boy president of the Re
public; the Secretary of the Navy; Com
missioner Wight and the Rev. Alexander
MackaySmith.
The meeting was opened by the Rev. Dr.
DUNN, who offered prayer and introduced
Secretary Long as the presiding officer.
Mr.. Long said that there is not any
doubt that the institution is a most ad-
mirable one, and naturally appeals to the
charity and moral and financial support
of all. II is, he maintained, in line with
| the Masters service, inasmuch as it tsnds
to elevate and make pure and intelligent
humanity. The confning of the young in
reformatories, he said, had been tried, and
had no doubt resulted In much good, but
| there is, however the objection that some
kind of stigma, real or imaginary, always
attached TO those who have been released
| from such places.
| While the Junior Republic would do ali
that any other institution could do for the
young people whom it is found necessary
TO punish, this latter objection would be
obviated. Greater than all this, he said
| is the fact that il is founded upon the
plans for government adopted by our fore
fathers, that of allowing men to rule them
selves.
The Rev. DR.. Lawrence gave a brief
outline of the plan upon which the Junior
Republic is established, and what led to
| its founding. The idea, he said, originated
with Mr.. William r. George, of New
| York, who spent years in endeavoring to
! solve the problem of how to best care for
the boys and girls of New York City who
were on the downward path. After try
ing several plans, he was inspired with
colonizing all the young people OF this
| class into one institution which should
| be governed in every way similar TO the
United States. Some four years ago he
colonized about $50 boys, and form of
| government like that of the United States
was adopted The boys made their own
| laws and executed them. There were eX-
ecutive, legislative, and judicial depart
ments of the government, and everything
in connection with the new Republic went
well, and it was success.
Mr.. Lawrence stated that Secretary of
| State Hay, Thomas Nelson Page, Com
missioner Wight, and the Rev. Alexander
MackaySmith have consented TO act as
trustees of the proposed new Junior Re-
public
Jacob Smith, the first boy president of
the George Junior Republic, was then pre-
sented by Secretary Long. Smith, though
a boy of not more than seventeen years
of age, gave a brief outline of the work
done by the Junior Republic in most in
teresting and intelligent manner He
told of the difficulties met and how they
were overcome. and of the final results
in instances where some of the Citizens
of the Republic endeayored TO become OBJ
structionists and refused to obey ''the laws
of the land" The law, he said, is so rig
idly enforced, and the citizens" are SO
sure that it will be, that a very small
policeman can arrest and throw into
prison one of the biggest men in the
land
In the new republic, he said, there are
a great number of girls. and while they
have been accorded the privilege of suf-
frage by the Legislature" they have no
made any attempt to run the government
Mr. Smith also told OF many of the boy.
| who had been trained in the Junior Re
public having become good and prosperou
citizens, in the outer" world.
Commissioner Wight said that the Dis
trict of Columbia, with its unique form o
government, had acquired reputation 70
being the best in the world, but he be
lieved that It will have to look to its lau
rels If it would maintain this great an'
good name when II came to be compares
with the Junior Republic. He then spok
OF the manner in which young people in tn
District with criminal tendencies were car
ed for and concluded that the founding o
such an institution as is proposed viii
20 a long way to solving the vexatiou
question OF what TO do with them.
The Rev. Mackay-Smit said the estab
fishing OF Junior Republic meant tn
solving of the great problem Of how TO car
! for those who can not and who will No
care for themselves. Its success, he sait
will be an inducement for the Natona
! | Government to undertake a similar pla
TO provide and care for the great mass {
young people who need its care. At tn
/ close OF Dr. MackaySmith's remarks card
soliciting subscriptions for the establish
ment and support of a Junior Republi
near Washington were distributed anon
the audience, and met with generous an
substantial response. Three hundred an
! sixty-one dollars and ninety cents wa
b contributed. OF this amount S. w. Curri
i den and Mrs. Sarah S. Tripp, Of Fall
1 Church, each contributed s10O.