--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Harris, Frank S. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 12 number: 11 published: 1909-09 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Frank S. Harris, "A Republic Within a County," *Improvement Era* 12, no. 11 (September 1909): 886–893.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera12011unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera12011unse start_page: 886 end_page: 893 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1909-09) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera12011unse publication_year: 1909 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1909, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # A Republic Within a County A REPUBLIC WITHIN A COUNTY. BY FRANK S. HARRIS. [In view of the fact that the Latter-day Saints believe earnestly in honesty, industry and good citizenship, we are confident our readers will be interested to know of the good work that is being done to benefit humanity, in these respects, by the George Junior Republic, Freeville, N. Y., as described by one of the Era. correspondents who recently visited there. Editors.] He who helps a child, helps humanity with an immediateness, with a distinct- ness,which no other help given to human creatures in any other stage of their human life can possibly give again. Phillips Brooks. The small size of some of the kingdoms of the old world is often wondered at by students of geography. They learn that _ *.L. _ > mintuifpqBr Mm£MBk2£iS Ej2ta £^§i 1^^^*^^^ — S?"^lil^MNfMhk'*~^A "ir?¥ r W"">« fe^~**>%l • " '"-" *3H BsTvi B3l ; .™ | Wfrm 4 ': >» ^tKigs^m General View, George Junior Republic, Freeville, N. Y. some of them can be ridden across in a day on horseback, while others embrace but a single city. We do not have to go to the old world, however, to find a government which holds sway over a very limited territory. It is a republic and only has 210 citizens, .4 REPUBLIC WITHIN A COUNTY. 887 but, nevertheless, has its own government, elects its own officers, and makes its own laws. Get on the train in New York City at 10 o'clock in the morn- ing, and by 5:80 in the afternoon you can be in the George Junior Republic, in Tompkins County, New York. You get off the Le- high Valley train at Freeville and have the choice between taking a bus or walking twenty minutes over beautiful, rolling country to reach the headquarters of the Republic. This done, you have no further trouble, at least as long as you are in the domain of the Republic. You must keep your eyes and ears open, however, or some of the interesting features of this unique place will be missed. View of the George Junior Republic Freeville, New York. The George Junior Republic was founded in 1895 by William R. George who had devoted considerable of his time to the study of social conditions, especially in their relation to children, while engaged in the publishing business in New York City. He spent his summers, from 1890 to 1895, in "Fresh Air Fund" work for children, taking from two to three hundred boys and girls each year to Freeville. It was during these five summers that his natural kindheartedness and love for struggling children were re- inforced, and he began the development of a system wherein he could permanently benefit these objects of his confidence. He learned that all the young people with whom he came in contact had much innate goodness. He also learned their temp- tations, and the great lack of affection, sympathetic interest, and proper training in the lives of many of them, and their consequent inclination to pauperism and law-breaking. On discovering that 388 IMPROVEMENT ERA. getting things for nothing was the chief cause of pauperism, and that the boys made better policemen than their elders, he was led to the idea of self support and self government. When these great principles, after considerable experimenta- tion, were based on a practical basis, Mr. George found that the system was working toward a junior republic. The results had thus far been so satisfactory that it was decided to make the work permanent. When the main body of children returned to the city, in September, 1895, Mr. George and five boys remained at Free- ville, forming a nucleus around which the Republic has been built. Republic Pasture. It has been a constant evolution from that small beginning to its present more or less perfected form. The purpose of the organization is the saving of unfortunate and criminally inclined boys and girls. It takes those who would likely be a burden or menace to society and trains them for useful citizenship in the world. Energies which the training of the street would turn toward crime are harnessed and made powers to do good. The republic is a town, or colony, of young people; an organ- ization that aims to instil into the minds of boys and girls the principles of self-reliance and self-government, by giving them actual powers and duties of citizenship in a miniature state where- in are operating the same economic, social, and civic conditions that they will find outside on leaving the Republic. It is not an A REPUBLIC WITHIN A COUNTY. 889 institution with inmates,where officers have absolute authority over them; — what its name signifies a Junior Republic, a Re- it is public of the young people, by the young people, and for the young people. The entire organization is under the control of the George Junior Republic As- sociation, with a board of trustees consisting of promi- nent business and professional men from various parts of the country. The citizens of the Republic are granted Scene on the farm, George Junior Republic. self - government, provided they follow out the spirit of the constitution and laws of the United States and New York state. All laws, however, must be approved by the superintendent of the association. Thus the citizens have a goverment of their own which is responsible to the association. Court Scene, George Junior Republic, Freeville, N. Y. All children over fifteen years of age and under twenty- one become citizens and are entitled to vote and hold office. The of- 890 IMPROVEMEN7 ERA. ficers uf the government, which are elected each year in November, are: President, Vice-President, Secratary of State, Secretary of Treasury, Boy Judge, Girl Judge, Boy District-Attorney, Girl- District- Attorney, Police Officers, and Prison Keeper. Tne duties of each officer are outlined in their constitution. The laws are made by the citizens in their "town-meetings" or legislature, one meeting being held each month, at which the Secretary of State is chairman. Their laws against the use of tobacco and profanity are very strict and are enforced "to the letter." In looking over the court record with the Chief of Police, a young man about twenty years of age, I noticed that quite a large percentage of the convictions were made for the use of tobacco and profanity. Stealing was also found to be a frequent offense. It takes new citizens some time to get rid of these pre- viously acquired habits. w» BijtwmmpiM Court House and Jail, George Junior Republic. Court is held every Tuesday night and all cases for the past week are tried before the citizens' judge and a jury. If convicted the prisoner is turned over to the citizen keeper who places him in jail and directs the prison labor. There is, however, a supreme court to which appeals may be made. There are school-rooms in connection with the jail where the prisoners attend school part of the day. The citizens are self-supporting The Republic owns 350 acres of farming land, and it conducts, besides, many small industries. Citizens must get their employment from one of the Republic shops or cottages or from the farm manager. The trades for boys A REPUBLIC WITHIN A COUNTY. -!•! are: printing, plumbing, carpentering, furniture manufacturing, bakery, steam laundry, and farming in all its departments. In ad- dition to tho trades, there are the various government positions. For the girls there is domestic work in all its branches, and the government positions. Each of the industries, for example the farm, has its manager who is a responsible person, usu- ally from the outside. The manager hires the citizens and looks after the work generally. The products of these industries, as the mis- sion furniture from the fur- rSMM niture shop, the wafers and bread from the bakery, and Furniture Shop, George Junior Republic. the dairy products from the herd of Holstein cows, are in great demand. Citizens conduct their own financial affairs and hire out to the one whose work and pay suit them best. Work is not compulsory, but if a citizen fails to work, his money is soon gone and he will be imprisoned for vagrancy. No citizen can re- ceive money from the out- side, and each one has to pay for everything he gets, so in- dustry is absolutely neces- sary. Those who are most industrious and careful, nat- Scene in the Bread Bakf-ry, George Junior Republic. urally can afford the best liv- ing. The motto of the Re- public is, "Nothing Without Labor," and this is, perhaps, the chief lesson learned by those who live there. Tho Citizens' National Bank is an interesting feature. Here the savings of the thrifty are deposited, and a general banking business is conducted, Republic money being used entirely. Cit- izens are not allowed to have American money, but the Republic »92 IMPROVEMENT. ERA. money is redeemable at face value whenever they get permission to leave the Republic. The boys and girls attend school one-half of every day, but, here as elsewhere, there is a great difference in the amount occomplished by various students. Because of the way in which the outside work and the school are inter- related, it is much harder on those who do not tend to their School House, George Junior Republic, Freeville, N. Y. lessons. There are seven members of the faculty; and the work covered is the district school curriculum and a high schjol. The laboratories for physics, chemistry, and other science work, are well fitted to perform the necessary experiments. The Republic library, endowed by William F. Miller, contains about 2,000 volumes of carefully selected books, and is a favorite place to spend unoccupied hours. The reading-room is comfort- ably furnished and is always open. One book which they like to show visitors is entitled, Dan of the Junior Republic, written by an ex-citizen. It tells the story of a boy's life at the Republic. The Republic has a beautiful little chapel in which services are held every Sunday morning and evening, as well as on Wednesday evening. These ser- vices are non- sectarian and are de- signed to build up a strong moral and religious sentiment. Although not compulsory, the attendance at the ser- The Chapel. George Junior vice is excellent. Republic, Freeville, N. Y. The boys and girls live in families of ten or twelve in a cottage. These make up family groups of boys or girls as the case may be, with a lady, or a lady and her husband, at its head. Pleasures and athletics are by no means forgotten. Football, baseball, and basketball teams are organized by the boys, which compete with teams from schools in neighbor- ing towns. The girls play basketball among other games. Par- A REPUBLIC WITHIN A COUNTY. sit:: ties are held in the various cottages, and entertainments are given in the schoolhouse at intervals. Although the Republic is still in its infancy, enough has been accomplished to prove the efficiency of the plan and to warrant the establishment of a number of similar institutions in other states. Many children who were leading lives of idleness and crime have been placed on the road to good citizenship. Very few have proved failures. Those who have gone out from the Republic may be found holding resposible positions in many of the walks of life. Among the ex-citizens are graduates from Harvard and Cor- nell Universities, and a number are at present attending college. Republic Courthouse. Store and Cottages- President Roosevelt, on visiting the Republic at one time, said: "In this splendid republic of yours, you are practicing the very things that I am trying to uphold — the dignity of labor, the principles of right and — wrong and the splendid, energetic way in which you set about it has won my respect and esteem. I have long been interested in this work, and have been studying it for some years. I say to you that this makes for what we are trying to do in teaching each man self-support and to work for decent government." It is really remarkable how well these young people are able to conduct their own government and manage their own financial affairs. The institution is a vindication of the spirit of modern philanthropy: that direct giving may prove much more harmful