GEORGE JUNIOR REPUBLIC. A com munity of boys and girls near Freeville, New York, about nine miles west of Ithaca. It was founded in 1895 by Mr. William 11. George, of New York, for the purpose of affording neglected, reckless, and unfortunate children an opportunity to acquire the qualities necessary for their future welfare in life, and was the outcome of an experiment which Mr. George bad been conduct ing for some years by taking every summer from 150 to 250 children of the slums to spend their vacation with him at his country home.
The constitution of the miniature republic is modeled upon that of the United States, with elective officers, a legislature (first a town meet ing and later two branches), a judicial system, and administrative machinery. At first Mr.. George was president, with adults in the higher offices, but since 1896 the boys have filled all offices, Mr. George retaining a veto power. Each citizen was obliged to work or starve: he could work for Mr. George for six hours a day, or for citizen contractors, who purchased licenses for the different kinds of business from Mr. George, or in the school. Nothing could be obtained in the community except by purchase in the citizens' own tin coin (now aluminum), which at the end of the summer was redeemed in United States money, or supplies to take home. In the first year a number of practical questions were met by the youthful legislators: a depreciated currency, a tariff question, woman's suffrage, and a trust among hotel proprietors. Children from
any part of the United States may be consigned to the guardianship of the trustees by parents or public authorities. The age of admission is twelve to eighteen years. The republic has a number of buildings, with simple accommodations which are used for school, government purposes, workshops. hotels, restaurants. store, bank, and library. Cottages are being built to give home life in place of that of the hotels. The kinds of work carried on under efficient directors are: farm ing (the trustees own or control 240 acres), car pentry (the boys put up new buildings), printing, dressmaking, scientific cooking, domestic service. care of the place, and school. All children under sixteen must attend the republic's primary and grammar school. The ambitious later go to the town high school, and a few have entered college.
BIBLIOGRAPHY. American Journal of Sociology, Bibliography. American Journal of Sociology, M., 281. 433. 703; Annals of American Academy of Political and Social Science. x.. 73; Nothing Without Labor, report of 0. J. R. Association ( July. l899) : A ddress to Twenty-eighth National Conference of Charities and Correction (1901) ; The Citizen, a monthly publication of the George Republic.