The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1890-05-28
REFUSE TO ANSWER.
An Outrage to BE Perpetrated by
the Census Bureau.

hHe census Bureau.
The New York Sun says it call
ed attention about six weeks aoo
to the amazing programme of in.
QUESTION which has been prepared
, by the superintendent of the GEN.
sus. We are glad to observe that
there is likely TO be ii general pro,
test against the outrage which the
cei sus Bureau intends to perpetrate
IN the name of the government.
The census enumerators will
start out on their rounds next
Monday, equipped with schedule
OF thirty questions. Among other
objects Of inquiry, they are in.
siructed to ascertain from every
inhabitant in the United States:
Whether Che or she ISL suffer,
ING from acute or chronic di ease
with the name OF disease and
length OF time afflicted.
whether defective in mind.
sight. hearing, or speech; or
whether crippled, MANNED or de-
formed, and name OF defect.
whether Il prisoner, convict,
homeless child, or paupzr.
as the home you live in hired,
or is it owned by the head or a
member OF the family.
eff owned by the head or mem,
per OF the family, is the house free
IRON mortgage encumbrance.
'If the head of the family is a
farmer, is the farm which he cul-
tivates hired, or is it owned bv
him or member Of his family.
"If owned by head or member
ol family, is the farm free from
mortgage encumbrance.
1t the home or farm is not own,
ed by head or member of lami|y
and mortgased give the postofice
address OF owner. "
We advise every citizen and in
habitant who respects himself and
Is disposed to resent an imports
nent. unwarranted ann illegal in
trusion into his private affairs, to
refuse 10 answer any of the ques-
tons here quoted from the s.hed~
ule. Not one Of them is within
the Constitution scope OF the Fed |
eral census. Not one of them is
justified by necessity or propliety.
The census takers have no
more business to investigate the
chronic maladies, the bodily de
fleets, and the private account
books of the people living under
this free government than they |
have to enquire into our loves and |
hatreds, our moral weaknesses, our
secret sorrnws. 1t would be Just
as legitimate and legal a prooceed~
ing for the enumcrators to present
themselves with pencil and card.
board aad demand, under penalty
of $50 fine, true answers to the
inquiries here subjoined;
eff married, do you really love
your vie Cor husband) or do you
only pretend to.
"What secret doubts, if any,
do YOU entertain relative to the
existence ola Supreme Being.
Is there anything in your past
life of which you are now ashame,
and ifso, what is it.
"What is the amount of your
Indebtedness to your tailor, your
dlessmaker, your butcher, your
milkman? Does your next door
neighhor pay his debts"
Continuing, the Sun says:
We do not advise the violent
ejectment Of the census agent who
demands Of you the name and the
stage of pro-ress of the chronic
malay which you have perhaps
kept as a secret from your family
and all the world save your physi-
clan. The epumerator is only |
obeying his orders. 1t is not nec-
essary to kick down the front steps |
the stranger who officially and |
calmly interrogates you as to the
physiological and mental imper-
fcctions of yourself, your wife and
your children. 1t is only necessary |
to refuse the information desired
| in the interest of the statistical !
science and demanded in the name
OF the law, and send the enumera>
tor about his business. His busi-
ness is to count the people Tor the
purpose of apportioning represent
atives in Congress and direct tax
es.
If the enumerator, still acting
under his instructions, warns you
that you will be fined $50 for re-
fusing to disclose your chronic
maladies, your physical defects
and the private business affairs OF
your landlord, laugh at him.
4