Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-08-30
SQUARE DEAL FOR BOYS.
Plan to Establish "Boy States" as a
Means of Reform.

1
That every boy, no matter what his
condition in life, may have a chance
for success Crawford Jackson Of Allan
ia. Ga. is laying plans to inaugurate
what he calls boy state" In every
state in the United States. says the St
Louis Republic. Mr.. Jackson, who has
been interested in the work Of uplifting
boys for several years, went to st
Louis a few days ago to interest phil
lanthropists in the movement. num-
Iber of those prominent in humane
work, it is said, have promised to help
him. He contends that crime is more
Expensive than education and that the
boy state will lessen the cost.
Georgia will be the first state to have
this special juvenile government, and
lit is possible that Pennsylvania will be
among the first to follow in its foot
steps. L. G. Hartman Of Commerce, a
small town in Georgia. has given 436
acres Of land for the project.
Mr.. Jackson's plan is to have a boy
governor. with juvenile assistants; a
boy treasurer a juvenile legislature
and, in fact, to make the colony an eX-
act counterpart Of the state. OF course
there will be no salaries attached to
the Offices Each youngster will have
to work for his pay and attend to gov
ernmental duties incidentally, and
above all, there will be no chance fol-
graft. In the happy little state the
boys will be removed from criminal as
sociation, the essentials Of good citi-
zenship will be impressed upon their
minds, and there will be a farm and
school, and shops to give opportunity
for the little citizens industrial devel-
opment. The entire plan is, in nut
shell, a square deal for the boy. In
the little state there will also be a
school, where the youngsters will be
carefully graded. There will be nc
conditions to make it difficult fol-
youngsters to gain admittance.
I'VE want the worst boys as we'll as
ling his plan recently. I'VE will be de-
LIGHTED to take the youngsters with the
very poorest chances. 1 think 1t a
most worthy cause to help the boy who
is practically down and out. Take a
rude, rough and depraved boy and by
frequent little touches Of love and wis
dom, by oft repeated acts Of study and
patience. and make him a shining and
L nj har of
aim Of all arts and the more transcend
ent because the more divine.
'Tll tell you my plan in detail, and
think you'll agree that it will be what
we call a good thing for the boys. II
was while was interested in the work
Of establishing juvenile courts through
the south that I met the worst boy In
Atlanta. 1 was determined to become
friendly with him. and after much per-
severance and many disappointment
| succeeded. Now that boy has i'm
proved Is per cent. 1t was contact
with him that impressed upon me the
fact that every boy. no matter what
lhis condition morally, will improve II
given the chance. So l determined tc
try to give boys that chance. They
can get it through the Juvenile state.
I'VE have the lands for it and the
plans mapped out but to put it in COM
plete working order about $4,000 will
be required. A board of trustees has
been appointed and charter has beer
/ n
charge Of the boys before they have
fallen into evil habits If possible, a:
we'll as those who have become delin.
quents. and by placing them in the
state as active members Of life develop
correct ideas of citizenship. The Off
GERS of the state will be appointed
from among the boys. There will be
governor, a secretary of state, a state
treasurer, a lower house and senate
The governor will appoint the judges
land the citizens will elect their owl
juries, pass their own laws and estab'
lish penalties the trustees only acting
as advisers. If bad law is made, th'
trustees will have the power TO veto 1t
"To start it at least $4,000 will b.
needed Among other things 1t Is
, planned to erect an administration
building which will cost approximate!
$3.50 The institution will provide
place for girls as well as for boys, will
a matron and efficient women teach
ers. Although the girls will be allow
I,1l ho. ,,,,ll ba oil cd 70
! governor While the charter provide
for the admission of both races, tn
state will be started first for whit
children alone.
1.-The citizens of the state will no
: necessarily be offenders, as it is pre-
: ferred to get them earlier from par
ents, who will enter them voluntarily
: receiving parental rights Of withdraw
al when desired. Other citizens will
be obtained from the municipal ant
, state courts and at times from tn
Federal court The chief industry viii
work under the direction Of an exper
farmer. There will also be trad
schools with capable instructors. TIL
institution will be managed on the cot
tage plan, the older children being sep
7 arated from the younger, the waywar
from the less wayward. The citizen
of both sexes will be paid for thei
work in the coin of the juvenile state
with which they will pay for every
thing they purchase, thus developing
habits of business and economy.
people of means wish to place thei
boys in the state. they will be permit
ted to pay for the privilege of doing Sc
But the state would prefer to receiv
the boys who are penniless and with
out a chance"