The advocate., 1891-04-29

ANNM HNN AAANnAAAM HAHHAANN WRAW Wa4N AAA
tho little scheme, and 10 was ready 10 work.
Every monopoly organ in the country be-
gan 10 howl about the insulting personal
questions embraced in tho census blanks.
They kept 10 up day after day, and tho poo
ple, especially the more ignorant Glasses,
who had no means of knowing what Che
questions we're, we're worked up almost 10
the point Of refusing 10 answer any quos-
tions whatever.
Finally, just few days before the census
taking was 10 commence, the questions
about which such a fuss was made, WorO
published, and opposite each Of the ques-
tions was printed: "You need not answer
this" What we're these questionsf
Those relating 10 mental and physical do
fects, and those relating TO mortgagesl
II we mistake not, the three leading dai-
lies of this city, and nearly all the Chicago
and Kansas City papers published tho list In
this way This was especially surprising 10
the readers of the Republic, which actively
supported the Single Tax League In ita Of
forts TO have the farm mortgage statistiOs
included In the census report, and even
went 30 far as TO claim that II originated the
idea. What caused lbs change Of h0arta
Not only we're the lists published with
questions marked as stated above, but some
Of the papers, through their editorial oOl-
umns, advised people not to answer theml
And yet these same papers are unsparing In
their dsnunciatiOn of claw breakers" And
they hold up their hands in holy horror, Ag-
uratively speaking, at the depravity OF tho
western settlers who resist "the law' when
IL is used by land grabbers and monopolists
TO dispOssess them Of their homes. Out
upon such hypocrisyl
Il looks like deliberate conspiracy OF tho
tools of monopoly 20 hide from the people
the true condition Of affairs, and the great
newspapers which have assisted IN carrying
out the scheme should receive the condem-
nation they deserve. There is no excuse for
their action, even though the matter was
paid for at the regular advertising ratoa.
The people have no means Of knowing chat.
Already the monopoly newspapers are
throwing out casual remarks 70 the effect
chat Mr.. Porter says the farm mOrtgageS Of
the country will not foot up near what the
people have been led TO expects that tho
farmers really make o much better showing
than he anticipated, etc.
But the principal cause Of suspicion
was found in the method of Obtaing this
Indebtedness. You say this information
could not be obtained In the same man
ner as other facts collected by the
enumerators, for the following reason:
Usually IL may be assumed that the wife
or daughter knows little or nothing respect
ing Che investment Of the family property,
and even in the case where the knowledge
existed would hesitate TO answer ON such q
point without the consent Of the head Of the
family.
This reason will hardly suffice. Al
though the wife and daughter may not
always be familiar win all the business
affairs Of the "head OF the family" II
there is ono thing above another with
which they are familiar il tis the mortgage
which threatens the safety Of their home,
especially as the wife has to slgnlttO make
It valid; and inSsmuch as 1t was che de-
mand Of the people that forced the de-
partment, against its own will, TO under
take this work, 1t cannot be reasonably
inferred that there would have been any
great reluctance about answering the