Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-03-15
TEE CENSUS ENUMERATOR.

In the census building great room
is now the scene OF bustling activity,
the work of preparing portfolios for
use by the enumerators in the coming
count of population being fairly under
way. These portfolios, Of whitish-
brown pasteboard, hinged together with
black cloth, are IS inches long and 10
wide and tied with four sets of tare.
The tape used is not that red tape"
which to the ordinary mind signifies
circumlocution and delay. The law
requires that the census OF 1900 ehall
be taken speedily and common every,
day white cotton tape will fasten the
schedule. filled portfolios ln their round
from habitation to habitation. For
convenient, accurate and rapid enumera-
tion the United States have been d.
vided into 300 supervisors districts,
and these in turn into about 90, 600
enumeration districts, or II. ID. g, as
they are called in the Census Office.
Each Of the $4,000 enumerators is yet
to be appointed, 30 on the portfolios u
blank space is left for his name.
The last census found the unhappy
enumeration loaded down with from 10
to - schedules. each having volumi-
nous instructions. to master WI ich re-
quired considerable mental ability
and power of memory. That census was
taken under law which fequired
eDumerators to ask many obnoxious
questions. Under dire penalties of
threatened prosecution and fine in case
of refusal, at every home the family
skeleton must DO brought forth for
classification and record. Sensitive
people who, Spartan-like, had long
concealed an insidious malady, gnawipg
at their vitals must divulge their
hidden ailment. Harassed unhappy
persons, struggling under a burden of
debt, yet striving to keep up appear
ances must oonfibe to the enumerator
their financial woes. He sternly de-
manded information as to defects OF
"mind, sight, hearing. and speech"
and If member Of the family was IA
prisoner, convict, homeless child or
pauper. The in6imities OF the
"crippled. MANNED, or deformed" must
also be duly classed and catalogued.
| That answers thus obtained were not
for publication IN the daily papers but
simply for tabulation by employees
sworn not to divulge census facts,
failed to alleviate theapainful duty OF
making them. The Census act Of 1900,
happily for all, does not require these
disagreeable queries.
-Four schedules, not 10, cover enumer-
ators' inquiries in 1900-schedules re-
curing information about population,
vital statistics, manufactures and agri.
culture. In cities the enumerator will
seldom need the agricultural. or in
rural districts the manufacturing
schedule, so he will infrequently carry
more than three.
Frequent complaints and charges Of
ipaccuracy in preceding censuses have
arisen from distrust of the enumera-
tors. Not infrequently the gross ignor-
ance Of an enumerator rendered his
work valueless.
A stream cannot rise above its source
and the census cannot rise in accuracy
above the standard established by the
enumerators. Concerning affairs whether
local or national in Importance. but
which only admit Of national admins
tration, the individual citizen feels
little personal responsibility. The
Federal census is primarily Of local
Importance. For the United States as
whole general average will be
reached of magnitude which inac-
curate returns from o considerable
number of L. DIS will not essentially
. affect. On the other hand in any
political district, the peoples constitu-
tional rights may be seriously impaired
by dishonest or incompetent enumer-
: ator. Where rival political parties gre
dominate in different parts Of the same
State, the constitutional apportionment
of representation upon the census basis
of population decides State and, at
!, times, NATIONAL tissues.
1t is self.evident that enumerators In
such districts should be of unques-
> toned ability and integrity.
! OF the $1,000 enumerators for whose
: appointment and work the Census
! Office must be held responsible, itncan
have no direct knowledge, but it has
I prepared and will send out test
schedule which each candidate is ex-
pected to fill out according to accom-
, panying instructions. From this sched.
ule, when completed and returned, and
= idea OF his ability to comprehend and
follow instructions will be obtained.
For his honesty and integrity those
! who recommend him must be held re-
sponsible.
! A general realization by American
: citizens OF their personal interest in Q
!. successful prosecution Of the canvass
. by this white tape army should arouse
= sentiments OF local interest and pride
ana IN eaCu e0uIn6ThLiOu ulSttlCb Cltl
zens would concern themselves about
I, the selection of their registrar ant
! local arbiter.
q A marked degree of pride and patriot
ism, local and national, was evoked
! when the National Guard was oallet
! out for sereice in tho Spanish American
war In order that dread of lost EN-
ploymont should not be added to th,
risk and danger Of soldiers life, man.
employers held open for their men TIL
!. places they had left and not infre
quently continued the payment OF thei
p salaries SO that private soldier
n small pay might not be the only de
i pendenoe of theii families.
a Tho white tape army should be mad
q UP of men of as high standard q
!, those who OF late won the world's re
!. spect and admiration. They should b.
d quick, competent, courteous, tactfu
q and truthful. Ten hours day for tw,
s weeks IN urban and four in rural dis
tricts they will spend in gaining en-
trance to those impregnable castles, tn
homes of American citizens. To prov
their victory, correct replies to all th
= schedule questions must be recorded
for each of these castles. The white
: tape soldier will have no chance 70
Q glory or preferment. He must FIN,
q | -. HbcA la "a