Evening star., 1901-01-21
Meeting Held Yesterday Under Aus
pices Of Woman's League
COMMISSIONER MACFARLANDPRESI
Addresses by Senator Mason, Mrs.
Lockwood and Mr.. T. c. Noyes.
THE SYSTEM EX PL \ l NE d


Theater In the absence of the president
of the league Mrs Charles ". Fairbanks
wife of the Senator from Indiana, who was
detained at home by an attack of grip, the
assemblage was called to order by the vice
president. Mrs Mary S. Lockwood, who
stated that Mr.. II. Is. F. Macfarland, presi-
dent of the board Of District Commission
ers, would preside. Mr.. Macfarland did not
need any introduction, she said, as he was
so well known to all present
Upon taking the chair Mr.. Mcfarland
said:
Generous Washington, whose heart is
filed with altrlIism, is already interested
in the National Junior Republic Always
hospitable to new ideas in philanthropy, she
welcomed the plan of establishing such
public midway between the District or
Columbia and Baltimore, when 1t was
broached by public spirited men and wo-
men of the two cities. They had watched
the success CT William Georges Junior Re
public at Freeville, n. Y, and believed that
its principles could be proftably applied all
over the country. They conceived the idea
of a national organization which should es-
tablish such republics in different states
While waiting for that they established
National Junior Republic on the Willie
Newbold farm Annapolis Junction,
given by Major Charles Newbod in men,
ory Of his dearly loved boy and for the
timore who might become it's citizens.
Without parade and without advertising the
managers have carried on this enterprise
successfully. They have taken boys that,
from temperament or circumstances, need
ed the education and discipline of the
public to keep them from becoming bad
citizens, and they are making them into
good citizens. The distinctive principle of
the Junior Republic is that of such self
government by the citizens under the gen.
eral administration of the superintendent
and matron as shall fit these boys for all
the duties of American citizenship, the
noblest since the world began. AS its name
suggests. it is the republic in miniature,
and it gives its citizens a better knowledge
of the workings of national and civic gov
ernments than other boys generally get.
They become practical politicians in the
best sense. and, therefore, intelligent pa
trIots. They gre in no danger of becoming
.institutionalzed,' but remain natural and
free-spirited and are ready, when gradr-
ated TO take their places as citizens Of the
great republic This is the best plan for
dealing with such boys. 1t is no longer ex-
perimental. 1t only needs the sympathy
and support of more of our best citizens
for its larger development as an example
and as an inspiration which may stimulate
the rest of the country to follow the ex-
ample. Fortunately these seem to be as
sured through the efforts of the noble wo-
men under whose auspices this meeting is
held, and whose organization recently in
this city promises great things for The
National Junior republic all over the coun-
try"
Reports Progress.
Mrs. Lockwood explained how the mem
bers of the. Woman's League had become
interested In the work of the National
Junior Republic Some time since num-
Der of ladies, among whom was Mrs. Fair
banks, now president of the league, paid
a visit TO the place, and We're so charmed
with what they saw that they determined
to put their energies In the work and help
the enterprise to success. AT present the
league has about 100 members, 45 of whom
are vice presidents-one for each state.
These latter will explain the workings of
the National Junior Republic to the people
of their respective states, and, if possible,
organize branch there and send boys here
to be educated in the duties of American
citizenship Mrs Lockwood urged all pres
ent to unite with the league the men as
well as the ladies. although the former
would have a vote in the affairs of the or
ganization. She explained that the Ma
tional Junior Republic needs money for
the erection of buildings, and thought there
was no better way for woman to build
monument to herself than to put up a
building for the use of the citizens of TIE
republic. A structure large enough for
present purposes the speaker said, could
be built for $1,.S1. and this could con ain
an assembly hall where the citizens could
meet on various occasions and enjoy them
selves. Mrs. Lockwood created much
laughter when she related that the boys
of the republic did not like the idea of
limiting the right of suffrage on account of
sex, and so when they formed their con-
stitution they put clause into the organic
law which gave girls. of whom there are
now four at the farm. the same rights i'll
this respect as the boys.
Plain Citizen BagnaII.
Edward Bagnall, a boy apparently about
sixteen years old and one of two delegates
from the National Junior Republic to the
meeting, was introduced by Chairman Mac
farand as "Plain Citizen" Bagnall He
was there for the purpose of telling the
audience of some of the things done by his
colleagues. The youth spoke of the gov
ernment of the various offices provided by
the constitution how the citizens make
laws in general assembly, and gave COM
plete analysis of the requirements of goy-
ernment when he said: IF we don't work
we don't eat" He told how some time ago
the judge was tried before the court for
some offense and because he thought he
was not treated right he took an appeal
to the supreme court Still another Incl
dent related, the speaker stating, to
the amusement of the audience, that the
assistant chief of police had a fight with
his chief. the result of which was the for
mer was arrested, tried, convicted and
fined.
At the conclusion Of Citizen Bagnall's
speech Mrs. Tom C. Noyes sang The Holy
City" She was applauded most enthusi-
astically at the close of the number, anu
1t was not until the chair gave assurance
that Mrs. Noyes would again sing, later in
the evening, that the audience ceased the
demonstration.
Attorney Generals Address.
Make Thepagnier attorney general of the
National Junior Republic, was next intro
duced. After telling of the rates paid for
skilled and unskilled labor and of the diff
ferent kinds of work performed by the cit
Zens, he quantity remarked:
at Is my duty to appear for the govern
ment in all cases brought before the courts
Not long ago L had boy charged with as
sault, and although l had two three wit
nesses against him l could not prove his
guilt
1t is presumed the jury obstinate.
At the last election. he said, the citizens
were anxious to elect q girl to one of the
offices, and she was named for the posi-
tion of secretary of state, but she refused
to become a candidate.
When the republic was formed, the attor-
ney general stated, there were numerous
arrests for vagrancy, but offenses of that
class are fast decreasing. There are, he
explained, two grades of citizens, the first
comprising the lads from twelve to seven
teen years of age, and the other those from
eight to twelve. Each of the latter has
guardian belonging to the first class, who
must watch over his ward carefully, and