The Washington herald., 1909-02-24

The basic principles OF good citizenship
ara self-reliance, self-reverence, self-gov-
eminent The earlier these principles are
nculcated the better the standard Of
citizenship-so modern American altruism
believes, and II IS demonstrating its the
oTy in d most novel fashion. Il has Is
tablished five small republics within
this great republic, and has ordained that
the government Of each little republic be
left Almost entirely in the hands OF its
citizens" And who are the citizens Of
these unique institutions? This IS the
most interesting point in the whole
scheme. They are al children, and they
are not tae very good children. either.
who have been carefully brought up and
been made honor-ioying and God-fearing
all their lives These children are the
ones that an ever-critical society might
be wiling TO pronounce 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 70 remove from improper sur
rOundingS-
sachusetts. and California have each one
OF these unique republics, and the pros
poets are that more viii be created as
public interest in the work IS aroused.
Il IS the belief OF many progressive pen
olOgists that through the junior repub-
lies the best preventive and curative
means OF crime IN juveniles wiz ulti-
msteIy be found The Maryland repub-
lie, known as the National Juvenile Re
public, is expected 10 shortly become the
model one for the nation, and on its
principles others viii 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 il
chiefly drawn Il has IA acres Of good
farm land. the gift OF the late Mai
Charles Newbold, in memory Of his little
son In the midst OF this farm is g
wooded knoll On this the buildings are
placed There are three good-sized build
ingsthe citizens hotel the boys hotel.
and the school with the gymnasium above
IL There are smaller auxiliary buildings.
such as the Jail and printing once. the
engine house, the carpenter and black
smith shops. the smOkehOuse, stables,
and barn. The citizens now comprise
dfty-f0ur boys and two girls. with resi-
dent adult superintendents, matrons and
teachers who have supervision over
them
These ffty-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 govern
ment is based on that Of the national gov
eminent By popular vote they elect a
president and vice president every year.
The president appoints & secretary OF
state, a secretary Of the treasury an at
torney general. a judge, and the police
commissioners. The police commissioners
In turn appoint the police. and the judge
appoints the court officials There IS a
general assembly. FOR whose members all
citizens may vote. The right OF suffrage
Is extended 70 girls in these unique re-
publics. and II has been claimed that
their interest and integrity IN the matter
Of government and legislation are big
arguments for the extension Of the ballot
10 the grOwn-up women OF the big re-
public outside.