Los Angeles herald., 1890-06-18
Why They Would Not Answer
Census Questions.
A Strange Spiritualistic Com
munity at Placentia.
They Refuse Information on Scrip
tural Authority.
The Enumerator Reports the Case-Ar-
rests Will Follow-The Bible
Narrative.

The census taker has run foul OF a
new snag. In different parts of the
country refusals to answer questions
have been reported, based on variety
of grounds The Hungarian coal
miners in protected" Pennsylvania
drove the enumerators out because they
thought they were going to be forced
into worse slavery; the Cinnamon re-
fused to give information, fearing that
it was scheme to extort money from
them; various women have turned the
enumerators out of doors because they
asked what they considered impudent
questions; one man refused to answer
because he "had it in for the govern
ment."
But the enumerator who is at work in
the vicinity of Placentia has come upon
lot of people who refuse to answer
questions because they believe that the
divine powers disapprove of the census.
He wrote in yesterday to L. E. Mosher,
the superintendent of the district, to
say that he had found a strange
community of 'vegetarians, spiritual
lists, free-lovers, or something of that
Sort" ESQ he phrases it) who refused to
give him any information, on the ground
that it was forbidden by the Great Spirit
whom they obeyed. He says that there
are thirteen of them living in one house,
three men and the others women and
children. The first time that he called
they refused to have anything to do with
him, and he went away leaving them
population and agricultural blanks. AS
the community possesses a good many
acres under cultivation in fruit trees, the
enumerator was anxious to obtain the
farm statistics which are demanded by
the government. He explained that he
had no choice in the matter and must
ask the questions, and that if they re-
fused to answer they would be punished
by the authorities of the government.
The next day he came back. The
blanks were returned not filled out.
George R. Kinds, who acted as spokes-
man for the crowd, announced that they
had no information to give.
''Well, what am to do?' asked the
enumerator.
''You may write in those blank
Spaces" said Mr.. Kinds, that we re-
fuse to answer on the ground that the
Great Spirit whom we obey prohibits
our answering"
The enumerator then asked to see the
women in the household, thinking that
he could get some information out of
them, but the request was refused and
the women kept out of sight.
On being informed of the result which
would follow their obstinacy, that they
would be arrested and fined, or impris-
Oned, the men answered that as they
were acting under the dictation of their
consciences, they stood ready to accept
any punishment which might come,
The enumerator finally gave it up, and
informed Mr.. Mosher by telegraph and
letter of the results OF his visit. He
stated that three men were named
Kinds, Thales and Widerholtz. The
case was placed in the hands of United
States District Attorney Cole, and their
arrest will follow.
The statements made about this COM
munity are vague and contradictory. 1t
is known that they are all vegetarians,
and the extent to which they carry their
fanaticism in this line can be estimated
from the fact that some time ago they
got into trouble through their burning a
number of bee hives belonging to their
animal product, and proposed to stop its
manufacture by bees for the use of men.
As to their being free-lovers, it is said
by some that this is false, although they
all live together in one house. 1t is
known that they are spiritualists, and
that they carry their belief to the verge
of fanaticism.
1t is said that their objection to the
census is based on scriptural authority.
In the twenty-fourth chapter of II.
Samuel an account is given of the taking
of the census in Israel and Judah by
David, and the punishment which fol-
lowed in the shape of pestilence. 1t
appears that "the anger of the Lord was
kindled against Israel, and he moved
David against them to say: Go number
Israel and JUDAH The king sent
Joab, the captain of his host, and told
him to number all the tribes from Dan
to Beersheba. Joab objected on the
ground that as the Lord made such ad-
ditions to the population as he saw fit,
it was impious to count the people. The
kings work, however prevailed, and the
census-takers went out all over the
the country. Nine months and twenty
days were consumed in the work, and
1000 men were enrolled in Israel and
100000 in Judah.
When the totals were turned in
David's heart, for some unknown
reason smote him and he said: II have
sinned greatly in what have done. :"
Then came a prophet by the name of
Cad, who told him that he might have
his pick of three punishments-seven
years of famine for the land, three
months Of exile for himself or three days
pestilence in the country. David chose
the pestilence, and 10000 men were
smitten with sudden disease and died.
1t is probable that this is the passage
in the scriptures which the Fullerton
communists have taken to heart They
fear that the result of tie census will be
pestilence in the land.
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