The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1909-12-30

Washington, D. c., Dec. 30.-Secre-
tary Nagel of the department of com
merce and labor, under whose super
vision is the work of the bureau of
the census, at the conference of east
ern state supervisors here, gave a
vigorous talk on the subject of their
duty, in which he emphasized and
added to what had been said by the
president of the census field chiefs
previously at the White House. The
secretary said. s' 30
Il wanted a chance to meet YOU
not to speak to you, but to shake
hands and possibly exchange word
here and there as occasion might Of
fer. There is a further reason why
it will be difficult for me to say any,
thing at this time. We have rule
that after the president has spoken
his secretaries have nothing to say
(Laughter.) l happened to be in the
White House when you we're there,
and heard what the president said. To
now repeat would not give emphasis;
to add is barely pardonable.
Il am very glad that you did have
an opportunity. however, to meet the
president himself and to hear from
him just what the attitude of the
executive on this matter Of the tax
ing Of the census is: and am glad
that he had an opportunity to say to
you how thoroughly he is in earnest
about what he has heretofore said.
1T is unnecessary for me to dwell
upon the Importance of a correct cen
sus. OF course, we want to take a
better census than has ever before
been taken-and that is no disparage-
ment of the work Of predecessors. We
ought to improve; we ought to i'm
prove for reasons which are self-evi-
dent; we ought to improve because the
need for a correct and adequate cen
sus now is greater than it has ever
been before. It is so on account OF
the growth Of our own country, and
because We sre coming into relations
with other countries. so that a correct
report and a reliable statement, to be
used not only at home but for com
parison with what other countries are
doing, is the one essential foundation
of all calculations.
Now, we have done. as we think,
what we can to accomplish that re-
suit. So far as We could. We have
placed in charge here at the head men
who are experienced, competent, and
enthusiastic. OF course, the Office
here might be perfect in its machin-
cry and its administration, and yet the
entire work would be a failure-unless
you did what the president indicated
this morning. After all. granting q
false premise anything can be proved.
No matter how fine the superstructure
may be. If the foundation is not right
the building is not worth anything Il
is for you to furnish the foundation
for what is going to be done. You
are responsible to the director. to me,
and to the president. That is the inn
portance Of your position
Nov. there is a lot Of human ma
ture in this thing, as was indicated to
you this morning. You will have to
be judges Of a good many things. and
you viii have TO show many things,
and you viii have to show some dis
cretion. And there is a lot Of human
nature beyond you when il comes to
the activities OF the enumerators them
selves. A man might. for illustration,
be a good business man and yet not
be a good enumerator. because he
might not have the confidence OF the
people with whom he has to deal II
is not always easy TO get men Of the
right qualifications. Il is easy enough
to make examinations. but it must
be left for you 70 decide. according
TO such examinations as you may
make. and according to such judg-
- .-. .----- 81 rs.1a "a nruIv TO