Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-02-26
CONSERVATION
OF CHILD LIFE
Junior Republic.


The basic principles of good citizenship
are self-reliance, self-reverence, self-gov-
eminent. The earlier these principles are
inculcated the better the standard of citi-
zenship-so modern American altruism be-
lieves, and it is demonstrating its theory
in a most novel fashion. 1t has establish
ed five small republics within this great
republic, and has ordained that the gov
eminent of each little republic be left al
most entirely in the hands of its "citi-
zens." And who are the citizens of these
unique institutions? This is the most in
teresting point in the whole scheme. They
are all children, and they are not the very
good children, either, who have been care
fully brought up and been made honor
loving and God-fearing all their lives.
These children are the ones that an ever
critical society might be willing to pro-
nounce failures. They are the children
whom parents have found unmanageable,
whom Juvenile courts have found in need
of better training before the parole may
be lifted, whom the board of children's
guardians have decided to remove from
improper surroundings.
New York, Maryland, Connecticut, Mas
sachusetts and California have each one
of these unique republics, and the pros
poets are that more will be created as
public interest in the work is aroused. 1t
is the belief of many progressive penolog-
lists that through the junior republics the
best preventive and curative means OF
crime in juveniles will ultimately be
found. The Maryland republic, known as
the National Juvenile Republic, is eX-
pected to shortly become the model one
for the nation, and on its principles others
will be built.
The National Junior Republic is north
of Annapolis Junction, in Maryland, ac-
cessible to both Washington and Balti-
more from which cities its population is
chiefly drawn. 1t has IA acres of good
farm land, the gift of the late Major New
bold in memory of his little son. In the
midst of this farm is a wooded knoll. On
this the buildings are placed. There are
three good sized buildings, the citizens
hotel, the boys hotel and the school with
the gymnasium above it. There are small
err auxiliary buildings such as the jail and
printing office, the engine house, the car
penter and blacksmith shops, the smoke
house, stables and barn. The citizens now
comprise fifty-four boys and two girls,
with resident adult superintendent, mat
rons and teachers who have supervision
over them.
These fifty-six children live under laws
which they themselves have enacted and
which they themselves enforce. Their
laws are based on those of the state of
Maryland and their system of government
is based on that of the national govern
ment. By popular vote they elect a pres
ident and vice president every year. The
president appoints secretary of state,
secretary of the treasury, an attorney
general, a judge and the police commits
sioners. The police commissioners In turn
appoint the police, and the judge APP
points the court officials. There is
general assembly for whose members all
citizens may vote. The right of suffrage
is extended to girls in these unique re-
publics nnd II has been claimed that their
interest and integrity in the matter of
government and legislation are big argu-
ments for the extension of the ballot to
the grown-up women of the big republic
outside.
Every member Of this republic must be
self-supporting. The law is that he who
eats must earn his food,he who would have
clothes must earn the money to buy them.
So there are farmers, blacksmiths, car
penters, printers, cooks, laundry work
ers, hostlers, dairymen, roadmakers and
dozens of other professions or trades In
the National Junior Republic Each work
er earns a stated wage day which is
paid to him in the coin of his realm
aluminium money that is exchangeable, at
the end Of his stay, for good American
money. There can be no loafers or idlers,
because there is a law against vagrancy.
The idler is promptly arrested, tried and
put to work at ditch digging and given
the plainest food. Work is offered him,
and he may choose the kind he likes
but he must not idle away his time. Edu-
cation is compulsory and attendance for
half. of every school day as If he were
working at some trade. This institution,
like the other four of its kind, is sup
ported by private philanthropy, though
more than once the matter has been
brought to the attention of congress ask
ing that an appropriation be made for
its support. 1t is a big prevention against
crime, mendicancy and incompetency.
There is no corporal punishment by the
officials of the republics. The citizens
make the laws and their representatives
enforce them. Smoking, desertion, fight
ing, disorderly conduct and vagrancy are
the leading offenses. Boy police arrest the
offenders, a boy judge tries them be-
fore a boy jury, and II they are con-
victed and condemned to pay the penalty
of their offense, boy officers see that
they are put into convict clothes OF strip
guards at hard labor.
The first president of the National Ju-
nior Republic was the ex-leader of a
tough Bowery gang, but the very gifts of
leadership and energy that had made
him a hero there, were diverted into new
lines with better ideals, and he made a
great success of his high position. Even
the president, in these republics, is not
4 IN.
ident was once seen to throw an empty
cigarette box into the grass, just after he
had signed the law that made cigarette
smoking offense. An eagle-eyed officer
secured the box, summoned others and
they caught the suspected president and
shifted his breath to determine If he had
been smoking. The evidence so CLEANED
seemed to indicate that he had, and he
was tried. Here comes the cleverness of
the little fellows. One found out through
a lawyer that according to the Maryland
law the smelling of the breath cannot