Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-09-14
EXPOSITION At PARIS
The United States Must Take Part
In II or Insult France.
VIEWS OF The CENSUS DIRECTOR.
Mr.. Merriam Talks About the Selection Of
the Enumerat0rs for the Twelfth Cen.
sus-He Thinks They Should
Study Tn u BIT,

| Washington, Sept. 12.-It is believed
that when congress assemblies Their
will be considerable agitation Of 1
proposition for this government te
abandon its participation in the Pari.
exposition. 1t is known that expires
sions hostile to the exposition quoted
from Senator Stewart, are very widely
sympathized in and 1t is thought that
II the conviction Of Dreyfus is permit
ted to stand there will be very little
friendly feeling for France among
members Of either the house or senate.
Such move, however, would be a
grave one. 1t is pointed out that to
withdraw from participation in the ex-
position would be regarded as an Off
cial insult TO France. No further leg
islation on the part of congress is need
ed to carry out the plans Of this coun-
try for the exposition. About 81, 2OO,-
900 has been appropriated for the ex-
penses Of the commission and the gov
eminent exhibit. The commission has
been appointed and the space desired
for exhibit from this country has been
secured.
There are now only two WAYS in
which congress could interfere, one
would be to revoke such part of the
appropriation as has not been already
expended in the expenses of the com
mission and the other would be to pass
a resolution declaring that, on account
of the unsettled conditions the valuable
government exhibits should not be sent
TO Paris. To do either of these things
would be sufficient it is believed, to
break off all friendly relations between
the two countries. Congress and the
state department may look at the
matter from different points of view. |
The president and the state depart
ment, having responsibility for main
tanning our relations with foreign
governments, cannot be expected to
find in this affair any reason for in
volving the country in an international
complication, and it is likely that the
executive branch of the government
will use what influence it can to pre-
vent hasty action.
Unless congress expressly forbids it,
his government will proceed with the
preparations for the exhibition, and
will send to Paris such government ex-
,ibits as are decided upon, but this
will be done with a realization of the
probability that much of the space Sc
ured with such difficulty for private
american exhibits will be left vacant.
little doubt is felt that the latitude al
owed the private citizen will be quite
availed of to withdraw
rom participation in the exposition.
Another difficulty in the way of an
fort to prevent participation in the
xposition, however, will be found in
he fact that before congress has as
embed much of the government ex-
ibit probably will be packed on its
'ay to Paris, If not actually there
he exposition opens in April, and the {
'ork of transporting and preparing I
he exhibit will have to begin some
lonths before that time. Up to this
me, it is said, the preparation of the t
overnment exhibit has not begun, ]
ut the work will proceed as soon as t
ne government officials are ready. C
VIEWS OF THE CENSUS DIRECTOR
Washington, Sept. Fin an inter- 8
ew yesterday Hon. W. r. Merriam, r
rector of the census, said in reference
} the appointment of enumerators
Our next great undertaking and any branch
work which must reach every nook and cor
n, farm and cabin In the United States Is >
cats that of selecting about 500 enumera- J
rs for taking the twelfth census. We are try. n
G strenuously to prepare for q complete and 1.
perfect census. The burden of the !,
)rk of gathering Of the materials for IL, how '
er, will fall on the cnumerators [
In my view those who desire to act as census o
umerators should take up the study Of the n
nsus laws, schedules and statistics, thus IA :,
iarizing themselves, as far as possible with
e actual details OF the work, While | shall
I undertake to select enumerators without
insulting with the proper census supervisors
to the qualifications and experience Of the b
plicants, would like to suggest that all can s,
lates adopt the course | have indicated and p,
US help to insure at the twentieth century the n
,st perfect census in the history Of the re- y
a II