The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-01-20
THE CENSUS SUPERVISORS.
Tie Policy of Non.politicaI Appoint.
ments.

Tile Policy OF Non.Poiitical Appoint.
Utica IN. W Herald, Rep.
The national census is an inventory oil
tho people OF the United States and oil
their property and industry. 1t has in
deed political bearing because represen-
tation is determined by population, and
from the growth oil different States not a
little may be learned OF the tendencies OF
the local influences on all the problems Of
civilization. Yet these statistical tables
have value above partisan politics, and
they ought to be prepared independently
Of every consideration other than absolute
accuracy and veracity. When the law
was passed under which the work is to be
done, 1t was provided that the selection Of
supervisors and enumerators should be
made without regard to the political rela-
tons Of the candidates. The Democrats
are in q majority in Congress, and they
perhaps naturally feared that the staff Of
the census might be organized as o
powerful political enginery. On the
other hand those who believe that "he
serves his party best who serves his coun-
try best" were quite willing that this in
yentory should be taken out OF the list OF
partisan spoils, and the attempt be carried
out to prepare 1t on simple business
principles. Gen. Francis A. Walker, the
Superintendent OF the Census, is an en-
thusiast in statistics, and has the high art
OF imbuing the figures and tables with the
breath OF life, aud with the eloquence Of
instruction. His theory, we can well be-
lieve, will be TO choose the men best quail
fed for the special duties oil the position,
whether they are Republicans or Demo.
Gratis, whether they are Hayes men or the
reverse. He will insist, however, that
delegations for conventions and nomina.
tons for any office shall not DO peddled
off by his supervisors or enumerators, and
that the organization Of his bureau shall
not In any way be prostituted to the ends
OF faction or OF party.
This Is noneglect, much less Is It an at
tack on the Republican party. Ills only
the honorable performance OF public
duty. II does not follow that the nomi.
nations for supervisors In any State shall
be divided equally or in any other ratio
between candidates from the two parties.
That would be division on partisan
grounds, and quite as Objectionable as di.
rect appointment from a single party
simply because OF political considerations.
Butt is quite as inconceivable that selec-
tons governed solely by the desire 10 sc.
cureth most competent men can result in
the choice OF Republicans only. Some In
termingling Of candidates from the two
parties will be equitable and will do no
harm to the Republican party, while II
will be likely to impart more judicial and
impartial tone to the work.
The difficulty arises when the superin.
tendent comes to name democrats In any
district for supervisors; for republican ad.
yisers OF the administration whether In
congress or out, will deem their own
friends deserving not only on account OF
their political record but because OF their
fitness for the task. Thus 1t Is not strange
that in Ohio the Republicans have been
pressing the President with the conviction
that their own intimes are the only worthy !