The age-herald., 1900-02-25
NEGRO ENUMERAToRs
Wines Say the South Will Have Noth-
 ing to Fear on That Account

New Orleans Times-Democrat, Feb. IS.
 'sWml negroes be eligible to serve as emu merators?' pr. Wines was asked by Times Democrat reporter at the close of the afternoon session.
 saThey are certainly eligible" Dr. Wines replied, stroking his short gray beard and adjusting his gold eyeglasses, 'fbut am Inclined to think not many will be appoint ed. As far as the census office Is officially concerned, it does not make any distinction in race or color It does not inquire into the matter, and does not wish to know. Supervisors may appoint as many negroes as they please. The administration Is re- publican, and recognizes the claim to recog- hilton, which the colored people have upon It. However, in delicate matter like cen sus-taking, it would regard as impoGtic and unwise the employment of colored enumerators in dis trcts where they would be in personal danger in house ito-lhouse canvass, or where color prejudice would estop the collector of census statistics
 "I made this plain to the supervisors. pr. Wines continued, and I do not think the whites of the south need to be apprehen- sive in this matter 4n the si1ga test degree. The, sesss;,crvisors present to-day, including -a1Re two cClored men, manifested mere than ordinary intelligence and I trust them to have enough good sense to adjust the ques- uon in the manner l have indicated. It is probable that, in districts where the col ored people are in the majority, colored enumerators will be appointed, but in dis tricts where the whites are in large ma 5ority the supervisors will no doubt use their judgment, and appoint mostly white enumerators."
 Another question of great moment to Louisiana and the south was preached by Dr. Wines at the afternoon session. Should special inquiry be made in the coming census as to the number and location of the cotton gins and the number of bales of cotton ginned by them during the year 1899? No definite, reliable statistics are accesss- Dle as to the amount of the annual cotton crop said Dr. Wines. "The amount of the crop Is estimated in advance for the pur. pose or influencing the price of the staple an tne market, and the cotton ginners are not satisfied with the accuracy of these e.- inmates. They suspect them to be manipu- lated in the interest of the cotton buyers especially from abroad Neither do they believe that the returns from the points of shipment correctly estimate the amount of the crop. These returns are thought to con- tain many Implications.
 Ihe ulrector of the census, Former Gov ernor Merriam, of Minnesota has been ad- vised that the only practical method for obtaining correct figures k, to secure them
 
 ton gins. These gentlemen all maintain ac- counts of their transactions and would, no uoubt. allow the representatives of the cen sus off1ce to have access to them Every pound of cotton In the south must be ein- ned before 1t can be marketed and by an tn- specnon of the books an absolutely accurate statement of the cotton production of every year could be prepared. Of course this special work would be performed by the enumerators of the regular census. should the director of the census decide to order it done"
 pr. Wines found the supervisors present urpan1mous in ther approval of the plan and promised to recommend its adoption to Director of the Census Merriam In con- sultation with the supervisors he drew up a special schedule for the proposed inouiry Dr. Wines expressed the opinion that a cen- sus of cihe cotton production of the south would result in not fnconsiderable addition to the wealth of the country by securing dn the Liverpool market better prices for the staple