Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1900-05-22
TWO CENTS
CENSUS QUERIES.
Blanks now Being Sent to The
Enumerators.


Why SO Many Questions are Asked
More Males Than Females In the
United States-Is Not so so the World
0ser-A Correct Enumeration will be
OF treat Value.
The blank schedules TO be used In
the next census are now being dis
tributed by the Census Office To the
enuinerators, who will start 10 work
on June l. The schedules contain
questions which some persons may
think prying, purposeless, or excessive
ia number. But their number and
character have been determined by
Congress, not by the Census Office,
and all Of them have been asked LII
previous censuses. The only impor-
tant change since 1890 Is that some
questions have been abandoned.
People are often offended at the
question, How old are yous" aud are
apt to wonder what use the Govern
ment can make of their replies. TIA
ken as whole the replies are as Inn
portant as any class of information
the Census Office collects Age re-
turns penetrate aud eincidatc every
other branch Of statistical knowledge.
They show where child labor Is prev
alent ard where the proportion OF
persons able to support themselves Ii
large or small. They reveal the great
number OF colored children and the
short life Of the negroes under present
conditions. They make IL possible to
ascertain whether the average length
OF life IL increasing or decreasing how
many men the nation contains who
are capable Of voting or OF bearing
arms, and whether the relative num-
Der Of children is increasing or de-
creasing.
In Mohammedan or semi-civilized
countries like India househoders are
often unwilling TO answer the ques-
tion regarding The sex Of persons IN
the house, but la civilized countries
where the sexes are regarded as on an
equality, such unwillingness does not
appear. The answers to the questions
show that in nearly all cities the fe-
males outnumber 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 males,
and that If 1t were not for immigra-
tion there would be more females In
the United States than males. But
census statistics show that we can
not explain the great excess Of males
cover one and Il half millon) In the
United States by immigration alone,
for when the foreign born are left out
OF account there are still above 600,-
600 more males than females.
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, the negro, or the
Chinaman. must hinge upon the re-
turns in the census. With the In
dams, moreover, 1T Is OF the highest
Importance To learn what success the
policy OF the Government has met
with establishing them apart from
their tribes and reservations, and
whether such Indians are increasing
or decreasing.
Some mothers may shrink from
stating the number OF children they
have had and the number who are
living. But from the answers to these
questions, the country will learn
whether the native American popula-
tioniis holding its own, or whether, as
some have claimed, IL is being grad
ually supplanted and displaced BY
the children OF recent immigrants.
La the light OF such explanations
and only a few OF the most important
questions have been touched upon. 1t
may perhaps be clear to the public
that no question has been ordered by
or has Leen asked by the
Census Office which, II properly and
correctly answered, will not lead to
suggestive differences regarding the
American people and their work.