The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1900-06-01
Census Queries.

The blani. scledu'es tn be used in
the next sensus are now being distrib-
uted by the census Office to the enum-
orators. who started TO work today.
June L. The schedules contain ques-
tons which some persons may think
prying, purposeless or excessive in
number But their number and char
acter have been determined by con-
gress. not by the census Office, ana all
OF them have been asked in previous
c.nsuses. The only important change
since 1890 is that some questions have
b.en abandoned.
People are often offended At the ques-
ton, How old are you.- ard are AFT to
wonder what use the government can
make of their replies. Taken As
whole the replies are as important rs
amy class of information the census Of
flee collects. Age returns penetrate
and elucidate every other branch of
statistical knowledge. They show where
child labor is prevalent, and where the
proportion of persons able to support
4
veal the great number of colored child.
rem and the short life Of the negr, es un-
der present conditions. They max. il
possible to ascertain whether the aver
age length of life is increasing or de-
creasiDg. how many men the nation
contains who are capable of voting or
of bearing arms. aud whether the reIa-
tive number of children is increasing
or decreasing.
In Mohammedan or semi-ciyilized
countries ike India househulders 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 APP.
pear. The answers TO the questions
show that in nearly all cities the fe-
males 0utnUmber 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 given time than NAILS. and that
If it were not for immigration there
would be more females in the United
States than males. But census statis-
ties show that we can not explain the
~
half million) in the United States by
immigration alone, for when foreign
born are left out OF account. there are
still above 600 900 more males than fe-
males.
Few would dispute the necessity for
asking questions regarding race. All
arguments regarding the future of any
particular race in this country. like the
Indian. TIE negro, or the Chinaman,
must hinge upon the returns in the
census. With the Indians. moreover,
it is of the highest Importance tn learn
what success the policy of the govern
ment has met with in establishing
them 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 who are living
| But from the answers to these ques-
tions. the country will learn whether
the native American population is
| holding its own, OF whether. as some
| have claimed, it is being gradually sup
planted and displaced by the children
of recent immigrants.
In the light of such explanations
| and only IA few Of the most import
ant questions have been touched upon,
it may perhaps be clear to the public
that 10 question has been ordered by
congress, or has been asked by the cen
sus office which. if properly and cor
rectly answered, will not lead to sug
gestive differences regarding the Amer
lean people and their work.