The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1900-11-20
Observation-Disclosures
cHILD-CRIMINALS REDEEMED
AT FREEvILLE. M Y.
The Excellent Reformasory Work of the
Miniature Republic Conducted by
New York Lawyer - Young Citizens
Govern Themselves.

The George Junior Republic was
founded in 1885 by a young Christian
lawyer of New York, who took 14J |
"fresh-alr children" out to Freevilie, !
II. ". to spend three months. Self
government was established in the lit
tie community, and system of labo.
was arranged whereby each chill !
might feel that he was earning 5
own living. BY degrees the scheme
expanded It was found practicable 20
make permanent home for such Of
The children as had no other home.
AS the number OF regular citizens in
creased, the number of summer citi-
sens necessarily diminished, until n
1898 the practice of inviting visitors
for the summer was abolished.
Meanwhile the principles OF sell
government had taken firm root in the
minds OF the young citizens. and II +.
George was enabled to leave more and
more OF the direction Of affairs in their
hands. The president OF the Republic
is now n bright lad of eighteen. who
was elected to the Office by his fellow
citizens. Mr.. George, the founder, re-
tains merely a general oyersig git and
the title of Daddy" The government
Of this miniature Republic is mol
eled largely after the United States
Government. Citizens over twelve
years of age have the right to vote and
hold Office. The laws are based pr
marily on those Of New York State,
but the citizens hold frequent meet
ings, at which are passed many new
laws suited to the needs Of the com
munity. 1t is remarkable how clever
the little fellows have become in con-
structing bills to meet their various
needs. A custom house has becn cs-
tablished, and ruinous tariff is i'm
posed on all unripe fruit imported A
store is kept by certain citizens, and
here are sold all sorts OF things, from
candy to clothing. In the early days
of the Republic, a speculative young
ster fresh from New York acquired a
capital of a few dollars, bought the
entire stock of candy and procee 5e1
to speculate on the corner thus Gre
ated. Others followed suit, and in a
day or two there were corners oa every
available article.
Mr.. George and his friends watched
the affair with interest. Perhaps they
hoped in this small society to find a
remedy for the speculation in the big
world outside. The children showed
themselves fully able to cope with
their own troubles. They passed a law
limiting the purchases of individuals
to what was demanded by their own
personal needs.
Not long ago the citizens. after q
heated discussion, passed an eight
hour law. This was at P. NJ. At
, P. M. the girls who work in the res
taurant formed in procession ant
marched around the Republic, bearing
a banner on which was printed, "Hur
rah for the eight-hour day." AS they
marched they chanted:
Yous don't git no supper cny more
Our eight hours ended at fourl
/. This caused CONSERVATION amonl
the boys. A meeting was hastil,
called but after a stormy debate ad
!. journed, having accomplished nothing
The Republic went supperless to lie
that night. On the following day tn
L law was repealed.
/ More important than self-govern
= ment is the independence, self-relianc
+ and thrift that life in the Junior Re
: public teaches. Each citizen is throw
: on his own responsibility. Work
% supplied for every one. and all labor i
2. paid for in the aluminium coin of tn
/ Republic Food clothing and shelte
j. are to be had in exchange for thi
Is