Evening journal., 1909-09-21
BAR POLITICS
FROM CENSUS


shall not be any politics in the tax ng
Of the next census
In a letter to the Secretary Of Com
merce and Labor, dated Beverly, August
"A. 1909. he states positively that no SUI
pervisor or enumerator shall be engaged
IN any political capacity whatsoever. Act
ing upon the order Of the President d.
rector Durand, Of the Census Bureau. has
sent letter, which received the approval
Of Secretary Nagel, 20 all OF the super
visors appointed so far informing them OF
the Executives order. The .etter, which
also receit ed the approval Of the Presi-
dent calls the attent on OF the supervi-
sors to an inclosed copy OF tho order OF
the President on this subject as promu.-
gated from Beverly. Il requests specific
information as to their polueal positions
and activ1l and asks who,her they are
willing TO resign such afi iations during
their term OF office as supervisors.
In view OF the provision IN almost every
State constitution that no sta.e officer
shall hold Federal position at the same
time, the director also in the letter calls
for information on tbs point. The object
Is to forestan the commissioning OF "A
supervisor who would afterward earn OF
such provision in tho state constitution.
II might occur that in such a case the
supervisor would prefer 70 re.an his
State position and. rcsisnng the Federal
office, would embarrass considerably the
Census Bureau supervisory work.
As fast as the supervisors prove they
have resigned their POI s.cal activities and
that their service Tor tho Census Bureau
will not be disturbed ~ any constitutional
provision, the commissions win be for
warded, accompanied By oaths OF office. a
copy OF the census law. and the pre.imi-
nary letter OF Instructions from the direc-
tor The latter win only take up the
question of the selection Of enumerators,
and the subject OF the test examination
OF the force Of 6. 90 men and their desig-
nation for the approval OF the director,
viii form the subject Of a more specific
letter Of instructions. which Will follow.
The appointment OF the enumerators Will
not be made before January next.
President Taft's letter to Secretary
Nagel, OF the Department OF Commerce
and Labor, containing the instructions
preventing the supervisors and enumer-
ators from taking any part in politics is
as follows:
My dear Mr. Secretary:
The taking Of the census involves the
appointment of some 300 supervisors who,
in turn, are to appoint many times that
number of enumerators. The supervisors
are given complete discretion in the Sc &c
tion of enumerators respectively to act
under them. The success Of the census
viii depend upon the efficiency and strict
attention to duty OF the supervisors, and
upon the intelligence of the enumerators
and their faithful application to the busl-
ness in hand.
Generally, there is a supervisor for
each Congressional district. It has been
found to be the quickest and best means
of selecting suitable supervisors to con-
suit the Congressman and Senators as TO
competent candidates from their respec-
tive districts and States. This system can
easily be perverted to political purposes II
the supervisors are not forb dden TO use II
az an instrument for influencing local and
general elections and primaries IN the in
terest Of particular candidates or parties
II Is not an unreasonable requirement that
anyone who accepts an appointment as
supervisor or as enumerator shall during
the term OF his employment and service
avoid an active part in politics.
I. therefore. order that in the prepa-
ration Of regulations for the taking Of the
census, you and the director Of the
census embody therein a provision that
an. supervisor or enumerator who uses
his influence with his subordinates or coll
leagues to assist any party, or any candi-
date. in a primary or general election, OF
who takes any part. other than merely
casting his vote. in politics, national,
STATE. OF local. either by service upon q
pol teal committee, by public addresses
by the solicitation Of votes, or otherwise
shall be at once dismissed from the SER
vice.
1 wish to make this regulation as broad
as possible and wish 1t enforced without
exception. It Is of the highest Importance
that the census should be taken by mer
having only tho single purpose OF reach
ing a Just and right result, and that thC
lars amount Of money to be expended ir
the employment Of SO vast a machine as
the census. shall not be made to serve th'
/ pol teal purposes OF anyone. Very sin
! cerelv YOURS VIM II Taft