The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-05-28

necessary to appoint a bureau of errors
with some 10 clerks to revise the work
and correct the mistakes of the others,
and even then was it found that many
of the clerks of the new bureau We're
so incompetent that their work had to
be gone over again by others. Under
the examination system. and under GER
tain other reforms that will be inaug
urated after time, anything like this
shameful condition of affairs will be
impossible.
1t is certain that Director Merriam,
though personally tender hearted, will
not permit a great government office
to be turned into an almshouse. Hun
dreds of applicants, mostly women,
come with pitiful tales of distress that
can be ended by their appointment to
ever so small an office. These tales,
many, if not all, of which are true,
would move a heart of stone, and yet,
if needed to any great extent, would
surely wreck the census for nearly all
of these applicants are incompetent.
Many of them are ladies who have alb
solutely no experience in clerical work,
who are too old to learn, but who have
been thrown on the world by some
cruel misfortune. 1t takes a man of
great determination to refuse to con-
slider these cases otherwise than on
their merits. Yet, justice to the gov
eminent and to others requires that
this should be done
Some idea of the extent of the diff
Guilty facing the census director may
be had from the following facts: The
census office now employs few high
grade statisticians and just % clerks.
Not more than 20 additional clerks will
be needed before next June, when the
real work of the bureau will begin.
Yet there are now 1000 applicants for
those 20 places four-fifths of these APP
plicants being women, Sne-fourth of
whom have filed letters with their APP
plications appealing for the work on
the ground that they are in bitter
need.
Director Merriam says that he has
led an uneventful life, but most peo
pie would think that there had been
variety enough in it. He was born at
Wadham Mills. away up in Northern
New York, where his father owned
some iron works. The family moved to
Minnesota when the future governor
ly we'll Off" said Mr.. Merriam, recent
ly, though not so well to do after he
got to Minnesota. You can imagine
that there were not many chances for
real wealth in that part of New York.
When l was Is l went to the Ra-
cine academy. In those days schools
were modelled on English lines
just coming inland attendance at the
games WAS compulsory. The school
divided into two houses, just Ike the
schools that Kipling writes about
known as the Badgers and Clarksons.
Every boy on entering was assigned
to one or the other of these and re-
manned there during his entire stay at
the academy. There was a first wicket
IL on each side followed by a second,
third, fourth and so on, and they We're
matched against their corresponding
numbers on the other side. There was
tremendous enthusiasm over the re
suit of the games, | remember.
Il was a Badger and finally became
captain of the house. | was prouder of
that than I have been of many things
since. l was a project, too, and had to
see that the rules were obeyed by my
house.
when I was a junior 1 was chosen
associate editor of the college paper,
the Mercury, and stayed with it for
two years. Finally l became editor-in