Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1913-12-18
GUST GEORGE
FROM JUNIOR
REPUBLIC
OF the GEORGE JUNIOR
REPUBLIC after TEN YEARS, Isl
DECLARED UNFIT TO CONTINUE
WORK He SO SUCCESSFULLY
STARTED.
WORKED FOR THOSE WHO
never HAD A CHANCE

New York, Dec. 18.-Removal of
VIM. r. George from active participa-
tion in the affairs of the George Junior
Republic at Freeville, N. Y, founded
by him more than ten years ago, is
recommended by the state board OF
charities in a report adopted by the
board yesterday afternoon and made
public today. Georges moral conduct
is severely condemned.
An investigation begun more than
six months ago resulted in the recon-
mendation. More than fifty witnesses
in six states were examined with re-
gard to charges of loose living made
against George by three young wom-
en-, former members of the republic.
The oldest of the charges dated back
to 1904, the most recent was several
years old. The testimony was un-
printable and no verdict as to whether
the charges were proved was render
ed by the committee under whose di-
rection the investigation was made.
Notwithstanding, the board strong
ly condemned the conduct of George
in dealing with members of the repub-
lie and adopted resolutions recon-
mending that no more girls be re-
ceived at the Republic and that those
now there be speedily removed to 9TH
er institutions. A dozen other recon-
mendations concerning the admins
tration of the Republics affairs also
were made.
George has not been actively con-
nected with the Republic for some
time. His retirement from the direc-
torate of the national organization of
the Republic, it is believed is fore
cast by the report.
The George Junior Republic was
founded by William r. George as a
harbor of refuge for bad boys. Its
pioneer members were the toughs of
the old Bowery, the youths who said
they never had chance" These
young men under Georges direction,
governed themselves in the Republic
which he founded. George was ben
evolent despot.
He was called daddy" George by
his proteges and his chief aim, he has
often said. was to bring back to an
atmosphere of home life. the way
ward boys and girls, afterwards ad-
mitted-who had strayed.
From the model at Freeville other
George Junior Republics were fash
ioned throughout the country.
George is At years old. He has
been in poor health for more than a
year.
The report of the committee to the
board, which was adopted by the board,
utilzes to a large extent the testi-
mony of the fifty witnesses examined
by the committee of the Republics
trustees. Most of its recommends
tions concern the administration of
the Republic in the future. OF Georges
conduct. the report says, in part:
AIN view of certain confessions and
statements regarding his, (George's)
exercise of hypnotic influence on the
citizens of the Republic, and his ad-
missions of lapses of memory as testi-
fed before the joint committee of the
national association of Junior repub-
lies, his presence in the institution is
clearly undesirable"
1t was brought out in the course of
testimony taken by the committee of
trustees that George had practiced
hypnotism to such an extent that he
could hypnotize himself standing be-
fore a mirror 1t was also testified
that George frequently hypnotized
members of the Republic.
Among other criticisms the commit
tee pointed out that the Republic was
in debt, having during
the past year exceeded it's receipts by
about $4,000.