The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1909-07-05
OPPOSE BLACK
ENUMERAT0RS
VIII Appeal to The
President.
soUTHERNERs ARE AROUSED
Do Not Want Negroes IN Census
Work.
Political Refusees MAY ray Their
Debts ~ Appointments UnIess
Taft Takes a Hand In
the situation.

Washington. July 4.--Concerned
about what they suppose to be the pos
sibiity that negroes may be sent into
the homes of white residents Of the
South as enumerators to gather infor-
nation for the thirteenth decennial
Federal census. Democratic members of
Congress Will urge President Taft to
give Instructions that only white emu
merators shall be employed in districts
south OF the Mason and Dixions line.
N Representatives OF the Southern
States In Congress say that they have
little hope of preventing the employ
ment Of negroes unless the President
interferes.
The experience OF the Virginia dele
sus patronage from that State have
disturbed the Southern representatives.
Senator Martin and Representative Hay
or Virginia, IL is said. were informed
by Director Durand that the recon-
mendations Of the Republican referees
In the Southern States would govern.
wherever possible. In the designation
Of supervisors of the census. The SUI
pervisors will select enumerators, and
1t is desired, by Southern Congressmen
that they shall be instructed not to
employ negroes except for sections
where none but negroes reside.
AS passed by the House. the census
bill provided that the enumerators
should be appointed by the President.
The usual requirements that the APP
pointments should be contingent upon
the advice and consent of the Senate
was absent. An amendment was adopt
ed In the Senate supplying this de-
iciency.
When the bill was considered in
conference the President Is reported
to have told some of the members that
IL the Senate provision were eliminated
he would see to It himself that sat
isfactory class OF supervisors and emu
merators would be employed. Senator
Taliaferro then called at the White
House and says he understood the Pres
ident az giving him the same assur-
ances. The Florida Senator then voted
In conference to strike, out the pro-
vision requiring that the appointments
should be confirmed by the Senate; but
In spite OF the fact that majority
Of the conferees OF the Senate, which
originated the amendment, voted to
strike out the provision. the House
conferees and a minority Of the Senate
confesees declined to abandon It.
Democratic Senators assert that II
was their understanding that census
enumerators in the Southern States
should be apportioned between the Re-
publican and Democratic parties. They
saw that 1t Is not the loss of this pa
tronage that disturbs them. but the
fear that the Republican referees will
pay political debts" through the APP
pointment OF negroes.
Thus far in the administration OF
President Taft all OF the Republican
patronage referees in the Southern
states have been white. bpt that con-
dition has not always existed. 1t Is
asserted also that some OF these ref
erees are largely under obligations to
negro leaders for the prominent po-
sitions they hold in Republican coun-
ellis.
All of these conditions tend to oc-
CASTOR concern in the Senate. The fact
that admission to the home cannot be
denied to enumerators, white or black,
who hold Government commissions to
gather statistics. serves to aggravate
the situation. 1t Is for this reason
that the minority in Congress has de-
cided to appeal to the President.