Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1900-05-29
Census Queries.


The blank schedules to be used in
the next census are now being distrib-
uted by the census Office to the enum-
orators. who Will start TO work on
June /. The schedules contain ques-
tions which some persons may think
prylng, purposeless, or excessive in
number. But their number and char
acter have been determined by con-
gress, not By the census Office, and all
ct them have been asked in previous
censuses. The only important change
since 1890 is that some questions have
been abandoned.
People are often offended at the
question, How old are your" and are
apt to wonder what use the govern
ment can make of their replies. Taken
as whole the replies are as import
ant as any class Of information the
census Office collects. Age returns
penetrate and eludicate every other
branch OF statistical knowledge They
show where child labor is prevalent
and where the proportion of persons
able to support themselves is large or
small. They reveal the great number
of colored children and the short life
of the negroes under present condi-
tions. They make it possible to ascer-
tain whether the average length of life
is increasing or decreasing, how many
men the nation contains who are cap
able of voting or bearing arms, and
whether the relative number of child
rem is increasing or decreasing.
In Mohammedan or semi-civilized
countries like India householders are
often unwilling to answer the question
regarding the sex of persons in the
house. but in civilized countries where
the sexes are regarded as on an equal
ity, such unwillingness does not ap-
pear. The answers to the questions
show that in nearly all cities the fe-
males outnumber the males and that
the same is true Of most of the states
along the Atlantic coast. The belief
is widespread that taking the world in
general there are more females alive
at any time than males, and that If ii
were not for immigration there would
be more females in the United States
/ than males. But census statistics show
that we can not explain the great eX-
cess of males lover one and half mil
lion) in the United States by immigra-
| ton alone, for when the foreign born
are left out Of account. there are still
above 100000 more males than fe-
males.
Few would dispute the necessity foi
asking questions regarding race. All
arguments regarding the future of any
particular race in this country, like the
Indian, the negro, or the Chinaman
must hinge upon the returns in the
| census. With the Indians, moreover
it is OF the highest Importance to learn
what success the policy of the govern
ment mas met WIN IN eStaDllSnlnS
hem apart from their tribes and res
ervations, and whether such Indians
are increasing or decreasing.
Some mothers may shrink from stat-
ing the number of children they have
had and the number of children living
But from the answere to these ques-
lions, the country will learn whether
the native American population is
holding its own. or whether, as some
have claimed, it is being gradually
supplanted and displaced by the child
rem of recent immigrants.
In the light of such explanations,
and only few of the most important
questions have been touched upon, it
may perhaps be clear to the public
that no question has been ordered by
congress. or has been asked by the
census Office which, If properly and
correctly answered, will not lead TO
suggestive differences regarding the
American people and their work--Ohio
State Journal.