Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1909-08-19
POLITICS WON'T MIX
WITH THE CENSUS TAKING, so
SAYS THE PRESIDENT.
THEY CAN ONLY CAST VOTES
There Their Relation to Politics Must
cease-lmmedi5te Dismissal In
Any Attempt TO Do So.


Beverly, Mass.-In letter addressed
Saturday to Secretary Nagel of the
department Of commerce and labor,
President Taft served notice that any
man engaged in the taking of the thir-
teenth census, who engages in politics
in any way, viii Immediately be dis
missed from the service. Outside of
casting their votes the president be-.
lieves that supervisors and enumerat
ors should keep clear Of anything that
savors of politics.
The president orders that the secre-
tary of commerce and labor and the
director of the census embody in the
regulations governing the taking of
the census the rule so forcibly laid
down in his letter.
Mr.. Taft says that in appointing cen
sus supervisors 1t has been found nee
essary to select men recommended by
senators and congressman in their dis.
tricts.
President Taft has told representa-
tives and senators that he would insist
that no attempt be made to build up
a political machine In any state or dis
trict through the distribution of the
census patronage. The presidents
letter in full follows:
Beverly, Mass, Aug. 14.--My Dear
Mr.. Secretary: The taking of the cen
sus involves the appointment of some
three hundred supervisors, who In
turn are to appoint many times that
number of enumerators. The suporvis-
ors are given complete discretion in
the selection of enumerators respec-
lively to act under them. The success
of the census will depend on the eff.
ficiency and strict attention to duty OF
the supervisors aud upon the lntelli-
gence of the enumerators and their
faithful application 70 the business III
hand.
Generally there is supervisor for
each congressional district 1t has
been found to be the quickest and
best means of selecting suitable super
vlsors to consult the congressman and
senators as to competent candidates
for their respective districts and
state.
This system can sasily be peryert-
! ed to political nprp ifrAhe superyls
ors are not forbidden to use 1t as al
instrument for influencing local ant
J general elections and primaries in the
interest of particular candidates OIL
parties. 1t Is not an unreasonable 70
quirement as supervisors or as enum
orator shall, during the term of his
employment and service, avoid an &C
tive course in politics.
81. therefore, order that in the prep
aration of regulations for the taking
of the census you and the director
of the census embody therein proyi
sion that any supervisor or enumer
ator who uses his influence with hii
subordinates or colleagues to assls
any party other than merely casting
his vote, in politics, national state o.
local, either by service upon politica
committee. by public address, by thu
solicitation of votes or otherwise. shall
at once be dismissed from the service
81 wish to make this regulation a
broad as possible and wish 1t force
without exception. It Is of the high
est Importance that the census shoul,
be taken by men having only the sin
gle purpose of reaching just an;
right result and that the large amour
of money to be expended In the EN-
ployment of so vast machine as thu
census shall not be made to serve thu
political purposes of any one. Sincerel,
yours,
civilian Howard Taft
Hon Charles Nagel, Secretary o
Commerce and Labor"