Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-12-18
New York State Board of
Charities Condemns
Noted Social Worker.
LOOSE MORAL CONDUCT
BrinuS Downfall of Founder OF
Institution for Aiding Way
ward Children.

New York. Dec. 1S.-Removal o
William r. George from active parti
cipation in the affairs 70 the George
Junior Republic at Freeville. y. Y
founded by him more than ten years
ago, is recommended by the state
board of charities. His moral conduct
is severely condemned.
! The investigation was begun more
than six months ago. More than 90
/ witnesses from six states were eN
amined in regard 10 charges of loose
living made against George by young
( women, former members OF the re-
public The oldest of these charges
dated back to 1904. The testimony is
Iunprintable, and no verdict whether
1 the charges were proved was rendered
I by the investigating committee.
! The board recommends that no
more girls be received and those now
there be removed TO other institutions.
II suggests that the courts of the re
public, the grand jury and district at
torney be abolished and that a super
intendent deal with all offenses.
Refuge for Wayward.
His retirement from the director
ship of the national organization of
republics is believed forecast by the
report. The George Junior Republic
was founded by George as d refuge for
bad boys Pioneer members were
touehs of the old Bow cry, youth who
said they never had a chance" These
were taken to the hills of Freeville,
near Ithaca, and under Georges di-
rection governed themselves in the
republic he founded George was a
benevolent despot. His chief aim was
to bring back to home life wayward
boys and girls. From the model at
Freeville other George Junior Repub-
lies were founded throughout the COun-
try.
Counsel for George was indignant
and said that only witnesses against
his client had been heard and that
witnesses could have been called who
would easily have disproved some of
the charges. George is AZ and has
been in poor health more than year.
Has Hypnotic Powers.
The committees report, which was
adopted by the board. says in part:
In view of certain confessions and
else OF hypnotic influence upon citi-
Zens of the republic his admissions of
iapses of memory, as testified before
the joint committee of the National
Association of Junior Republics, his
presence at the institution is clearly
1t was brought out in |
the testimony by the committee of |
trustees that George could hynotize |
himself standing before mirror. |
he did so and had to be |
awakened from the spell by some one .
else. being unable to throw it of him
self
Republic Population 124.
George officially withdrew from the
OF the Institution in 1908
and accepte office in connection with
he National Association OF Junior Re
DubIics. However. he continued TO re-
side in a house adjoining the repub-
iC, and until recently had more or
css influence in the management.
The republics present population Of
:itiGens is 124, Of which Al are girls
10 person is admitted under II. and
he average age is about Il. The prop 1
.Tty consists OF 400 acres and 20
buildings
Familiar With Girls. II
The report Of the committee says {
urtLer: Evidence shows that for
many years it has been the custom Of
ieorge 10 exhibit undue familiarity
With girl citizens. Whatever may
ave been his motive his example in !
his regard and the influence Sf these
cts as shown by Witnesses Lad the ,
feet OF leading 10 immoral acts OF ,
number of older girls and boys. -,
bout year ago it became apparent q.
D those in control OF the republic
bat a seriously immoral condition ex-
sted. Ar effort to eradicate the evil
esulted IL the arrest and conviction ,
Z several citizens Of both sexes. Tn
. recently there have been many op-
ortunities for immortality among the
itiZens We find ii has been the Gus
I'm 70 permit girls to do housework