The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-03-09
Meaning the Army q Fifty Thou
sand Zen oonsltuting
THE CENSUS ENgMERATORS
Who win Soon be Invading the
Peaceful Homes Of America Seek
ing information which VIII be Of
Benefit to All the People They
Should Be Kindly Received and
copsteopsiy Treated.

Of preparing portfolios for use by
enumerators in the coming count Of the
population 'heipg fairly under way.
These portfolios, Of whitlsh-brown
pasteboard, hinged together with black
cloth, are eighteen inches long and ten
wide and lied with four sets of tape.
The tape used Is not that ''red tape"
which to the ordinary mind signifies
decentralization and delay The law re-
Quires speed in the census of 1900 and
common every day white cotton tape
will fasten the sohedule-filled port
foIios In their round from habItatlon to
habltation. For convenient, accurate
and rapid enumeration the United
States haya been divided into 300 SUI
pervisors districts. and these in turn
into about 10000 enumeration districts,
or E. DIS. a. they are called in the CEN
sus ofice. Each Of the $4,000 enumera-
tors is yet to be appointed, SO on the
portfolios a blank space is left for his
name.
The last census found the unhappy
enumerator loaded down with from ten
to thirteen schedules, each having volu-
miaous instructions. to master which
required considerable mental ability
and power Of memory. That census
was taken under a law which required
enumeratnss to ask many obnoxious
questions. Under dire penalties Of
threatened prosecution and fine in case
Of refusal, at every home the family
skeleton must be brought forth for
classification and record. Sensitive
people who, Spartan like. had long con-
cealed an inrfdious malady gnawing at
their yitals must divuige their hidden
ailment. IGnrrassed, unhappy persons.
struggling under a burden OF debt, yet
striving to keep-up appearances. must
confide to the enumerator their finan-
clal woes. He sterhly demanded infor-
nation as to defects of mind, sight,
hearing, and speech" and If a member
OF the family was "a prisoner, convict.
homeless child or pauper." The lnhrm-
tiles OF "crpplpd. maimed or deform-
ed" must also tsduly claSsed and cata-
logued. That answers thus obtained
were not FOR publication in the daily
papers but simply for tabulation by em-
ployes sworn not to dlvulge census
facts, failed to alleviate the painful
duty OF making them, The census act
Of 1900. happily for all, does not re-
quire these disagreeabie queries.
Four schedules, not ten, cover emu
merators' inquiries in 1900; schedules
requiring information about population,
vltallstatistics. manufactures and agrI-
culture. 1nicitles the enumeFator will
seldom need the agricultural, or in
rural districts the manufacturing sched-
uls, SO he viii infrequently carry more
than TIRES.
Frequent complaints and charges Of
inaccuracy in preceding censuses have
arisen from distrust OF the enumera-
tors. Not infreQuently the gross Ignor-
ance Of an enumerator rendered his
work valueiess.
A stream cannot rise above its
source, and the census cannot rise in
accuracy above the standard establish
ed by the anumerators. Concerning If
fairs, whether local or national in i'm
portance, but which only admit of ma
tlonal administration, tho Individual
citizen feels little personal responsible.
y. The federal census is primarily OF
local Importance For the United States
- q whole general average will be
reached Of a magnitude which lnaccu-
rate returns from considerable num-
Der Of q. DIS will not essentially affect.
On the other hand, in any political dis
trist, the peoples constitutional rights
may be seriously impaired by dis
honest or Incompetent enumerator.
Where rival political parties predOml-
nate in different parts Of the same state,
the constitutional apportlonment Of
representation upon the census basis OF
population decides state and, at times.
national issues.
It Is self-evident that enumsrators in
such districts should be Of unquestion-
ed ability and integrity.
OF the $1,000 enumerators for whose
appointment and work the census office
must be held responsible, 1t can have
no direct knowledge, but It has pre-
pared and viii send out test schedule
which each candidate Is expected to
fiji out according to accompanying In
structlons. From this schedule. when
completed and returned, an idea Of his
ability to comprehend and follow In
structIons win be obtained. For his
honesty and integrity those who recom-
mend him must be held responsible.
A general realization by American
citizens OF their personal Interest In a
successful prosecution OF the canvass
BY this whIle-tape army should arouse
sentiments Of local interest and pride,
and in each enumeration district citl-
gems would concern themselves about
the selection Of their registrar and local
arblter.
marked degree Of pride and patriot
Ism, local and national, was evoked
when the national guard was called out
Tor service in the Spanish American
war In order that dread Of lost en-
pIoyment ahould not be added to the
risk and danger OF soldiers life, many
employers held open for their men the
places they had left ana not infre-
quently continued the payment Of their
salaries, so that 4 private soldiers small
pay might not be the only dependence
Of their families.
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