The colored American., 1902-05-17
HON CEOR(F II. HE.
Takes ODE Stand and Tells Of
His Shabby Treatment at 6be
Hands Of 6be Director Of ODE
Census A Scathing Arraigs-
nent-

latest being a communication from Mr..
lanes c Campbell, who undertakes to
I-frnd the course of Director Merriam
I'm this regard. | shall not attempt to
answer Mr. Campbells letter at this
rime. though | have the facts in hand
ready when necessary to be used.
Yes, | was one who was permitted to
name nv quota of clerks which was aC-
corded to me as 4 member of the Fifty
sixth Congress, and it is of my eXper-
cuce with the Director that | desire to
speak at this time reserving other data
ior the future.
The act of Congress providing for
the taking of the twelfth census required
that the boundaries of the census dis
,rictS should conform to Congressional
districts as nearly as practicable. In
North Carolina there were nine Con-
gressiOnal districts and nine census dis
triCtS vet my Congressional district was
divided into three census districts with
three supervisors. not one OF whom
lived within the bounds of my district,
nor was ! consulted in the appointment
of these supervisors, but was entirely
ignored in the matter.
There were in my district about one
hundred and fifty enumeratOrs to take
the census. | presented complete list
for the entire district TO the Director
for appointment. | got. perhaps. half
dozen appointments, and learned after
wards that some white man had made
the same recommendations that | had
made without any knowledge of my ac-
ton. otherwise | would have received
no consideration whatever. | recon-
mended a number of worthy, educated
colored men for enumerators but not a
single one was appointed though our
race was in the majority in the district.
The Director sent for me to go over
the list of enumeratOrS, when It was
sent in by the supervisors. | went to
the office and was openly inSulted be
cause | protested against the appoint
ment of the list of names wherein | had
had no voice.
1t is true that | was permitted to name
my quota of census clerks; II is also
true that | was permitted to see the last
one Of them discharged from that office
some months ago When my daughter
Della NJ White. was dismissed, with a
nice letter from the Director stating
how efficient and faithful she had been
and that he regretted the necessity of
dispensing with her services, | took
courage and visited Director Merriam
once more. | told him that | under
stood that the examination, experience
and efficiency of the clerks who had
rendered service during the taking, tab
ulating, publication, etc, of the last
census, formed the basis for the estab-
h>hment of a permanent bureau, and
that each member of Congress would be
entitled to at least one clerk and that
was anxious for Miss White to re-
maIn- He reminded me that | was out
OF Congress and was entitled to moth
ing. When | told him that my successor
Was a Democrat and had no appOintee
IN the office the Director stated, with
some feeling, that if my Democratic sue
ccNSor had no clerk there he was entitled
io one, and that | was unnecessarily
taking up his time in talking about the
matter. | meekly took my hat and left
The Census Office TO remain away from
there for a season. 1t is needless TO
mention here the colonization of the
roiored lady clerks the jeers and taunts
inat they had to undergo. some few of
The gum chewing ladies' remarking
mat they did not intend for any one to
Roosevelt them when a cOlOred lady
clerk was brought to the same table
them. This remark. of course had ref
rTence to the incident of Mr.. Washing
ION taking dinner with the President
cannot speak for others. but | do
N|.r L.