Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-03-09

inaccurancy in preceding consuses have
arisen from districts of the enumera-
tors. Not infrequently the gross ignor-
ance of an enumerator rendered his
work valuelcss
stream cannot rise above It's source
ana 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 ad-
minstration, the individual citizen
feels little personal responsibility. The
Federal census is primarily of local i'm
portance. For the United States as a
whole a general average will be reach
cd OF magnitude which inaccurate re-
turns from considerab bile number of
Il. DIS will not essentially affect On
the other hand in any political district.
the peoples constitutional rights may
be seriously Impaired by q dishonest
or Incompetent enume,ator Where
rival political parties predominant In
different parts of The same State. the
constitutional apportionnlcnt of repre-
sentttion upon The census basis OF
population decides state and. at times.
national issues.
1t IS self-evidcnt that enumerators
in such districts should be of unoues-
toned ability and integrity.
OF the $4,000 enumerators for whose
appointment and work the Census Office
must be held responsible, ii can have
no direct knowledge. bu. 1t has pre-
pared and must send out Il test sched-
ule. which each candidate is expected
to fill out according 10 ACCOMMODATING
instructions. From this schedule. when
completed and returned. and idea of
MS ability to comprehend and follow
instructions Will be obtained For his
honesty and integrity, those who rec
ommend him must be held responsible
general realization by American
citlzens OF their personal interest in
successful prosecution of the canvas by
this white-tape army should arouse
sentiments of local interest and pride,
ana in each enumeration district citi-
Iens would concern themselves about
the selection of their registrar and local
arbter.
~ marked degree of pride and pat-
riotism, local and national. was evoked
when the National Guard was called
out for service in the Spanish Amer
lean war. In order that dread of lost
employment should not he added to the
risk and danger of n soldiers life many
employers held open for their men the
places they had left and not infre-
pucntly continued The payment of their
salares,so that a private soldiers small
pay might not be the only dependence
of their families.
Ihe White-tape army should he made
mp of men of as high II standard as
those of late won the worlds respect
and admiration. They should be quick
competent.cour;cou tactful and truth
ful. II en- hours q day for two weeks i'm
urban and four in rural districts, they
VIII spend in gaining entrance 10 those
imprcgnable CASTLES the homes of
American citizens. TO prove their vic
tory, correct replies TO all the schedule
questions must be recorded for each of
these castles. The white-tape soldier
will have no chance for glory or pre-
terment. lie must find courage in feel
ing that peace hath its Victories and
that world knows nothing of it's great
est men" When he shall have com
p!eted his duties-incidentally making
enemies for life of village gossips who
| did not want To tell their own ages,
} body else-hc will receive n compensa-
| lion which the Director of the Census
is cndeavorng TO fix at such rate
| that each energetic enumcrator may
earn at least three dollars Il day under
the conditions prevailing III his district
Now that the high tide of prospcrity
leaves few men of the required ability
unemployed, the enlistment of this
whitetape army would waken feelings
of local and individual responsibility
Enum tors are to be residents of the
districts where they perform duty
Voters in each district should Salty
themselves that suitable selections OF
enumerators are made. If the loca'
and national value of the service were
better understood, the cnumcrator's
office would attain greater dignity in
the public estimation and each district
would assure itself against injury
through mistaken recommendations OF
appointments.