The sun., 1900-07-09
WHO WILL 1T BE?
Friends of Clinton Cooke
Thought he Was to be in
Charge of Industrial Census.
The appointment ofJames w. Rob.
ertson as One OF the Special
Enumerators Causes a Re-
port That he Will
be the Man.

Now that the special enumerators who
are to collect the statistics for the manu-
featuring census have gotten to work.
there is much speculation as to which Of
the four enumerators will be in charge.
Two Of them, Clinton Cooke and Amos
Cole, are Democrats, and j. w. Robert
son and James Rogers, Republicans.
Cooke and Cole secured their appoint,
ment through Senator Kenney and it
was thought all along by friends Of Cooke
that he would be IN charge, as u r pub
lican, James w. ROBERTSON, had charge
OF the regular census enumerators in tins
city.
When, however, few days ago, Mr..
Robertson was appointed special enum-
orator in place OF w. Gaskill, who re-
signed, report was circulated that he
was to be practically in charge. The re-
port has not been denied.
The enumerators have already found
that their task is not a pleasant one. A
book canvasser's lot is pleasant one
compared to one who enters the fiice of
a manufacturer with long and compli-
Gated schedule of questions required by
Congress and demands the details of
private business spread out before him.
There is natural disposition on the
part OF the manufacturers to resent the
inquiries as some of them are doing,
They look upon these details as peculiarly
their own private affairs.
Some fatty refuse and others give in
formation very grudgingly. The few
business secrets will become the prop
erty of tile public and pass into the
hands of competitors.
Thus far the work has been directed
by Supervisor Willis himself. but it is
not expected that he will be here all the
time and therefore some one of the four
will have to be placed in chaage, and as
Mr.. Robertson has had experience as as
sistant supervisor OF the regular CELSIUS
men he will likely be the one.
Work will be commenced in real earn
est this week. The men were only
sworn in Friday. The supplies are ali
here. The enuperators must make daily
reports. They must give the name OF
each establishment visited, where re-
ports were obtained and also where no
reports could be obtained and the
reason.
The special enumerators tell such
manufacturers that everything is of a
confidential character and agents and
clerks who handle them are sworn not to
reveal to any one the information OBJ
tanned.
The data is 30 tabulated that the opera
tion of no individual concern can be
picked out from the tables of facts. The
government has ample authority to de-
mand the information. For manufac-
turers who do not desire to give informa-
tion to the four enumerators ON duty
here, there are special schedules which
they can make out and mail.
Ten years ago there was insufficient
money to carry on the work of the in
dustrlal census and two or more years
elapsed before the canvass of some Of the
largest industrial centres was completed.
The field work was suspended for sew
eral months and the figures became stale
and lost value. The present census must
be published within two years from
June | last.
Thirty-three special schedules are pro-
yided and there are expert agents for
many of these. The field work must be
completed in from thirty to sixty days
at the most from Jane last.