Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-07-06
Hampton, Phoebus and Old Point
WILL PROTEST AGAINST
NEGRO CENSUS TAKERS
Democrats to Urge President Taft to
Give Out Specific In
ssruetlons.

II WASHINGTON, ID. c., July 5.-Con-
cerned about the POSSIBILITY that
negroes may be sent into the homes
of white residents OF the South as
, enumerators to gather information for
the thirteenth decennial Federal CEN
, sus, Democratic members OF Congress
will urge President Taft to give in
structions that only white enumera-
tors shall be employed in districts
south of Mason and and Dixon's line.
Representatives of the Southern
States in Congress say that they have
little hope Of preventing the employ
ment OF negroes unless the President
interferes.
Reports of the experience OF the
Virginia delegation In seeking a por-
| ton of the census patronage from
that State have disturbed the South
ern representatives, Senator Martin
and Representative Hay. Of Virginia,
1t is said. were informed by Director
of the Census 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
supervisors will select the enumera
tors and 1t is desired by Southern con-
gressmen that they shall be instructed
not only to employ negroes except
for sections where none but negroes
reside.
AS passed by the House, the Cen
sus bill provided that the supervisors
should be appointed by the President.
The usual requirement that the APP
hn In
the advice and consent of the Senate
was absent. An amendment was adopt
ed In the Senate requiring that the
supervisors must be confirmed by the
Senate. When the bill was consider
ed in conference the President, it is
reported, told some of the members
that il the Senate provision were
eliminated. he would see to 1t himself
that satisfactory class Of supervisors
and enumerators would be employed.
Senator Taliaferro, of Florida, then
called at the White House and he says
he understood the President to give
him the same assurances. The Flori,
da Senator then voted in conference
to strike out the provision requiring
that the appointments should be con-
firmed by the Senate; but In spite OF
the fact that majority of the con-
ferees Of the Senate. which originated
the amendment, voted to strike out
the provision, the House conferees
and minority of the Senate con-
ferees declined to abandon IL
Democrats senator's assert that it
was their understanding that census
.enumerators in the Southern States
should be appcrtioned between the Re-
publican and Democratic parties. They
say that it Is not the loss of this
patronage that disturbs them, but the
fear that the Republican referees will
pay political debts" through the ap-
pointment Of negroes as enumerators.
Thus far In the administration of
President Taft all the Republicans pa
tronage referees in the Southern
States have been white. but that con-
dition has not always existed. There
were several negro advisers in the
Roosevelt administration. It is as
serted also that some of these ref
efees are under obligations to negro
leaders for the prominent positions
they hold in Republican counsiIs.
All these conditions tend to &C.
casion concern In the South. The fact
that admission to the home cannot
be denied to enumerators, white or
black. who hold Government commits
sions to gather statistics, this reason
tina the Democrats have decided To an
peal to the President.