The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1900-07-06
Mass Meeting Tuesday Night
Took Action.
Committee Provided for to Secure Names
of Residents Omitted From the
EnumeratOr's Lists.

count of the inhabitants of the city.
The meeting was presided over by
James Shoemaker, who introduced the
subject of the meeting by speaking of
the poor way in which the census had
been taken in this city. Many people
have been found who have not been
enumerated, and it is the general
opinion that there are many more.
The meeting had been called to take
action on this matter. There are 200
men at work out of the city, in Iowa
and elsewhere, and it is pretty GER
tain that many of these were not
enumerated. Thee is reason to be-
lieve that the census as it has been
taken will show a falling off of 900 or
700 as compared with the census of
1895. As nearly as can be learned the
second ward shows a shortage of 70,
the fourth 200, and the first 800. The
third ward is said to be the only n
showing an increase. The increase
of the city's population by births
over deaths has been over 900.
J. E. Reynolds offered the following
resolution:
To Honorable J. G. Hamlin, Super
visor of U. S. Census Of the Second
Congressional District.
Whereas, After careful investlga-
ton, it conclusively appears that the
government census of Mankato taken
in June of the persent year is mac
curate and incomplete and that the
names of a large number residing In
Mankato have been omitted from the
census list and,
Whereas, 1t is the belief that such
omissions are too palpable and m
Gus to be ignored and that the census
returns do not fairly or approximately
represent the true population OF
Mankato.
Therefore, Be it resolved, by the
Mankato board of trade and the citl-
Zens of Mankato assembled in mass
meeting that said supervisor Of census
be advised of the foregoing facts and
earnestly requested to order a re-
count of the population of Mankato.
w. A. Funk thought that it would
do more good to address w. R. Mer-
riam. He understood that Mr.. Ham
lin had already expressed himself to
the effect that the m in Mankato
in 1895 was padded, and if this was
so it was useless to expect help from
him. If the returns show a popula-
ton less than five years ago something
is wrong. There has been twice the
increase by immigration that there
has been from births over deaths. Mr..
Reynolds thought that prompt action
should be taken. Other towns had
asked for a recount and obtained it.
The many new houses erected shows.
an increase in population
A. E. Clark said that it was not a
question of increase or decrease OF
population, but of omissions. He fav-
ored calling the matter to Mr.. Mer-
RAMS attention, and suggested that it
would do no harm to bring some poll
tical pressure to bear to secure the re-
count. 1t was all right for the board
of trade to resolute and for the mass
meeting to protest, but the political
pull was what would count. If the mat
ter is properly presented to Congress
man McCleary and the latter requests
a recount will be had.
NJ. G.. Willard favored doing m
thing in the way to getting omitted
names while the red tape of ordering
a recount was being gone through
with. He could see how influence
could be brought to bear to keep down
the recount, ever without the know
ledge of the enumerators.
Mr.. Funk thought that it would be
expensive for the citizens to make a
recount of the entire city. They
might make it in one ward and send
it on, and from this the recount would
be ordered. The city directories and
everything else show an increase.
H. A. Patterson thought that alb
solute proof of omissions will be re-
auired, and favored appointing a com-
mittee in each ward to accumulate
evidences of omission.
Inc r0SOluUfOu OucICu ny NIL. leOJ
nolds was adopted, and on his motion
copies were ordered sent to Director
Merriam and Congressman McCleary.
Nh. Patterson moved that the presi-
dent appoint a committee of two
representative men from each ward to
collect data of omissions, Nh. Shoe
maker to be chairman at large.
T. w. Hart gave an instance of a
man working in Iowa and returned
for the Fourth who had not been
enumerated. He said that there is
hard work ahead of the committee,
but that it will find plenty of evil
dence that will compel a recount.
Several hundred names may be Sc
cured in a few days.
MI. Patterson's motion was carried.
Mr.. Williams suggested that in some
cases the full families were not given