The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-03-19
THE JUNIOR REPUBLIC.
Something About Its Workings,
Plans and Methods.

A recent visit to the National Junior
Republic raised this question IN my
mind: Why shold not each state have
a Junior Republic? Am sure if the law
makers for the states looked into the
results from these institutions they
would gladly make some financial pro-
vision to assist in helping the boys
make themselves law abiding citizens;
surely this would decrease the number
in our prisons and reform homes.
The building of strength and charac-
ter in the human family for the future
generations should always claim our
consideration.
The National Junior Republic is stu
ated on q farm of la acres (donated)
in Maryland, near Annapolis The
buildings stand in a beautiful grove.
Here we found the White house. Citi-
zers' hotel Boys hotel. In these two
buildings are sleeping rooms, play
rooms and rooms for the teacher, train
ed nurse and superintendent. There is
also school house. Jail, blacksmith
shop, carpenter shop and store. All of
these buildings are small, plain and in
expensive.
The boy must be between 10 and II
years of age, and must be given over
to the Republic beyond the parents
control. He must have been a bad
boy" not a criminal. but just bed"
not quite needing to go to the reform
school. There were about sixty boys at
this Republic and a more cheerful,
happy lot of boys cannot be found on
this continent.
The entire goyernu1ent is in the hands
of the boys. with a. president. secre-
taries of state war, and treasury, at
tOrney general and chief of police. The
laws are made and enforced by the
boys. The rules emanate from them
selves and are therefore carefully fol-
lowed They themselves are solving the
problem of the incorrigible boy by their
own laws, industry and citizenship. All
ORR IL II
own work, as wood cutter, street clean
er, farmer, dishwasher. scrubber, bed
maker, coachman, blacksmith, laundry
work or serve on the police force; all
are paid for their work from So to 81. 50
per week in their own coin, which is
aluminium, from which they pay their
board and buy their clothes from the
store where everything necessary can
be obtained. He soon learns that the
only way to get food is to pay for it
and he must work for the money. He
soon grows proud of his independence
and strives to be a trusted member of
the commonwealth.
There is a keen sense of responsibility
self, which teaches him to think before he
acts and makes him careful Of the money
for which he has labored. He is a citi-
zen, as each child is called, with respon-
sibilities, with regular elections, court
trials, town meetings, army drills, school
work, etc This practical training is
bringing intelligence and interest into
these lives as no other means could ac-
complish.
Their laws are strict and penalties
heavy. which are fines in their money or
time in Jail. No blows are ever struck
We were present at their court which is
held every Saturday.
The court was called by the expressive
"Oyes!" "Oyes!" 1t was conducted with
solemn pomp, which rather amused the
grown up spectators, but was truly inter-
esting. The arrests for this court were
for minor offences. one boy for idling
on the woodpile another for trespassing
on planted grounds. The penalty was a
dollar or one day in jail One boy was
fined for speaking in school without the
teachers permission. The fines were paid
by some boys present, so they were
leased with the debt to pay. The super
intendent and assistants never punish the
boys.
They have a Sunday service and mid
week prayer meeting, non-sectarian.
About thirty of the boys constitute their
army. These boys wore the Rough Rider
uniforms. A young officer from the reg
ular army at Washington goes out each
week to drill the boys. They gave an ex-
ceedingly good drill for us.
The state of Maryland appropriates ST.
600 annually towards the support of this
institution. The board of managers from
Baltimore and Washington endeavor to
furnish what other funds may be needed.
They need better buildings and more
equipments for manual training.
The methods of discipline at the repub-
lie is certainly the practical solution of
Transforming the incorrigible boy into a