Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-08
THE JUNIOR REPUBLIC
Mass Meeting at Columbia Theater Next
Sunday Night.
Scene in the Court Mt the Miniature
Government-The Work of
the Judge.

presidents 81 the lEStllutlOll, anu 10
promised to be there. Many senators AM
representatives have also accepted invita-
lions. and the general invitation extended Il
citizens will he very largely accepted, it /:
expected. Senator Depew and others will
speak on the work Of the republic. ant
several citizens of the little republic will
talk
The Junior Republic is the big republic
In miniature. Boys who are drifting TO
ward vice and crime are taken there ant
are made to realize at once the duties ant
obligations they will be called Oh to ill
when they grow up. The plan has accom-
plished marvels in practice and with th'
support of the generous will accomplish
tremendous results i'll the future.
The following is the story of sitting OF
the court at the little republic near An
napolis Junction as witnessed by Star re-
porter recently:
In Court.
The court room is crowded; standing room
Is in demand. A low nlurrnur is heard here
and laugh there. but on most faces q
stern husiuess-like look is plainly seen. the
Judge is seated. rap and-"silence In
the court house" and pin could plainly
be heard If dropped to the floor. This is
rot a sensational trial of any kind, but
the ordinary weekly trial held at the court
house of the National Junior Republic. The
Judge is--nOt a stern, niddle-aged dispenser
OF tlsttCe-Onty a br1ght-fGced Htt!e 1ellOW
OF thirteen. who weighs each word spoken
and who is as deliberate IN announcing
punishment as many an older and wiser
head.
Mir. Clerk. call the first case" 1t is
Judge Hancock who speaks, and the first
case, one of disorlerly conduct, is called.
And in this connection 1t may be stated
that most of the cases were OF this char
acter. Misconduct in school is classed as
GisorlerIy conduct and a new system has
been inaugurated whereby an offender. In
stead of being corrected by the teacher is
arrested by the police officer. on complaint
OF the teacher. and his case brought up be-
fore the Judge in the next session When
his case Is called the judge considers the
past record Of the offender and the num-
Der of cases which appear against him on
the docket and fines him accordingly.
For disorderly conduct in school the fines
ranged from 50 cents to So and this new
system of punishment has been so success
full that the superintendent says the deport-
ment Of the boys has improved wonder
fully. and that they are inclined to think
twice before committing any breach of the
rules when they know they will be subject
10 fines imposed upon them by their judge.
whose decisions during this session were
invariably Just and wise, and worthy of an
older and wiser head. and whose remarks
and advice to the prisoners were worthy
an older head.
Can YOU conceive Of any official of the
police force of any town "arresting HIM
self" as the boy said. for breaking the
law of the community? Yet this was sub
stantially what happened at the republic
last week. He was among the number who
left the school room to witness the IN
loading of the piano. and who, when his
curiosity had spent itself, happend to think
of the great offense he had committed. i'm
medateIy went in search of the chief of
police. complained against himself and was
duly arrested.
On the Gang.
A youngster who had in the opinion of
the Judge, more cases OF disorderly con-
duct brought against him than accorded
with the laws of the republic, was SEN
fenced TO the work gang for week Be
ing sent down does not mean that he
can be Idle in the jail and have nothing to
do but to think of the easy time he is
having, but it does mean that the meanest
work falls to his lot. for which he receives
the lowest price paid for labor. and, after
deducting the expense Of his living. the
balance, if there Is any, goes TO the credit
of the community. so that he really gets
nothing for his work He is also compelled
10 sleep in Jail. wear prison garb and If he
Is ar all dangerous he has the shackles
and handouts put on.
rather novel feature of the session
was when the attorney general had TO
leave his seat and appear before the judge
on the charge of disorderly conduct, which
was, however. not Of a very serious nature,
but he forgot the dignity of an attorney
general in the curiosity of small boy, and
also one Of those who left the school
room To witness the advent of the piano.
And in This connection il would not be out
of place 10 state that the piano was secured
through the efforts of the president of the
board of trustees. Mr.. Symmetrical Bald
win. and thoroughly appreciated by
the boys. as is everything which adds to
tn. atmosphere Of home. Its arrival how
ever. caused panic in the school room,
and Incidentally cost the boys several dol
lars in the way of fines imposed by the
l.
sci for closing. When asked why he had
left the room one of the offenders said that
il was nearly time for closing. The judge
Very wisely remarked that if boys were
allowed In leave the school room because
school was yearly out it would be very
short time before the hour for closing would
he changed and they would finally have no
school hour at all, in this way the time
would be reduced to nothing.
The Minors.
Another interesting feature developed al
the trial was the guardianship Of minors
by citizens duly appointed by the court
minors Of the republic are those citizens
under twelve years Of age,. The guardian
is responsible for all the debts of his ward
was demonstrated when one of the
youngsters was brought up for two Of
lenses and was fined for the first ~ cents
and the second 81. His guardian had &c
step forward and pay the fine. whether
from his own money or from money that
the ward had worked for and saved was
not learned. The guardian in this case va.
a very seriouS-minded little chap of thir
teen. in whom the paternaI instincts are de
Nel"ped to an unusual degree. He seems t.
feel the responsibilities and tries consclen.
IoUSly To live up to them by watching ou
for the physical and moral development OF
his ward
The following incident illustrates tn.
rapid stride the boys are making IN III. way
81 Self-TeSp"ct. one of the boys who was
unfortunate enough To have - serve. in tl.t
wors gang was jeered at when released
The youngster who was having lots Of flIr
at the expense of another was inmcdi1teIy
arrested on the charge of Iii sorClerIy con.
duct, brought before the Judge was mad,
70 pay a heavy fine, and also received .
sharp reprimand from the Judge IL is sa 7.
to say that young man will DC :, little nIor,
careful with his jokes IN the future
The President.
The president. Gilbert Jackson Is sixteer
years Of age, and is one of the boys VIII,
were brought down from the George Junior
Republic. located At Freeville n Y. I,
show the local boys how,to form A govern
nent for themselves. President Jackso,
seems quite proud. as he well NAV, at tn,
progress OF the TcpIblic's citizens aG6 ha,
Erea' hopes for the future success of n,
uDdeTfa king.