Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-21
TELLS OF JUNIOR REPUBLIC
WILLIAM R. GEORGE, FOUNDER,
EXPLAINS THE PLAN.
Delivers Address in Rooms of the
Chamber of Commercially
cidents at Start.

William r. George. who founded the
first Junior republic about fifteen years
ago. addressed a mixed audience in the
Chamber of Commerce rooms last even
ing on the early days of the movement
in the interest of poor and erring chill
dren. He did not discuss 10 any great
extent the sociological problem involved.
but devoted himself chiefly to a running
account of how the first republic was
started and the amusing incidents of the
first few weeks
When he first invited few scora street
urchins from New York city to a farm
near Freeville, n. Y. he said. he ex-
pected to establish a republic to last only
two weeks Whan that time was up
however. the plan had worked so we'll that
he decided to try to make 1t permanent
thing He invited those boys who wished
to spend the winter there with him. Five
agreed.
The speaker told how newspaper and
magazine writer's fiocked to Freeville to
see the new community of children and
of how popular the idea became in a few
years.
At Annapolis Junction.
Mr.. George described briefly the estab-
lishmant Of the Pennsylvania republic and
the one at Annapolis Junction, Md. Con-
corning the qualifications of applicants.
he said the worst boys are desired, but
the standard for girls is different. He
told of the gratifying results of the train
ing given the boys on the farms. citing
as examples boys who left the F'reeVlue
republic to become intluantial men In the
real world.
Mr.. George said the Freeville republic
has become a typical American village.
the only difference being that the boys
of n
stead of twenty-one. 1t is frequently mis-
taken by strangers as the village OF
Freeville, he said, and when they are
told that they are in the Junior republic
they are dumfounded.
What Self-Government Means.
One Of the most interesting parts of
the address dealt with the methods en-
ployed in the first place to teach the chill
drea what self-government means. AS
matter of fact, they are really left to
find that out for themselves, being merely
guided by the older and wiser heads. For
instance. the boys are told that II they
work they will be paid in the currency OF
the republic and might buy their meals
as they chose, and that If they didn't
work they would have to be supported by
the other citizens. A lot of them during
the first few days at F'reeville preferred
to loaf but when they discovered that
tney were given pdupcIo idi z eIf0J
changed their minds-that is. nearly all of
them. The rest were soon dealt with by
the legislature.
A curious and interesting thing about
the boys who have been trained in the
republics, according to the founder, is
that very few of them have ever failed
In business after they have gone out
into the world. Mr.. George explained
that these men nearly always had ex-
perience as merchants in the republic
and many times, perhaps. had to go to
the wall before they learned how to run
their business properly.
Discussion Of Methods.
President Harper Of the Chamber OF
Commerce presided at the meeting.
When Mr.. George had finished his ad
dress there was a general discussion
Of the methods of improving the morals
Of children, and many questions about
the republic were answered by the
founder.
Mr.. George explained that the repub-
lies are maintained by subscriptions and
by money paid by wealthy men who
desire that their children be given the
int in,