The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1909-12-17
NEXT CENSUS
GIVING GOVERNMENT MUCH
CONCERN NEGROES NOT
PLEASED WITH METHODS
FEELING OF RESENTMENT I'M
MINENT-oFFlcE OF GENERAL
PACIFlER CREATED.

Since the visit of Thomas Jesse
Tones to the city Of Nashville there
has been a great deal of discussion
as to the true object of his touring
the South. Mr.. Jones, it will be known,
is connected with the department OF
Commerce and Labor detailed to the
Bureau of Census, possibly a special
agent. He was in Nashville two weeks
ago and visited such institutions as
Fisk University, Walden University
the National Baptist Publishing
Board, and talked with quite a num-
Der of the leaders. He also made
stops in the leading cities of the state
of Tennessee, thereby his visit becomes
generally known. The significance OF
this tour, lecturing upon the neces-
sity of giving accurate information
and correct data to the census enum-
orators or supervisors, has been re-
garded with some apprehension by
those who have made a close study or
the conditions now existing and those
of 1900, as affecting the appointing or
Negroes as census enumerators and
special agents, are admitting that
there is a slight bit of snubbing and
almost open ~antagonism to appoint
anv Negroes, and thus the repeated
dispatches and correspondence pur-
porting to be emanating from the
Director General supposed to reflect
the views of the administration, Is
thought to have caused the Negroes
to act somewhat reticently about CIV
ing out any information concerning
themselves. their institutions, their
factories, their farms, their births,
deaths, or anything else that would
be helpful in swelling the general
showing. even though it would be de-
rosatory TO the best interest of the
race. Hence, a strong argument is be-
inc made that the real mission and
the true Office of Mr.. Jones is to bridge
the chasm so wildly apparent be-
tween the administration and the en-
tire-Negro population. His function is In
the nature of a p%acifier. They lay claim
to the fact that he was taken from
Hampton Institute, where he stood high,
the school itself being a powerful factor
in the affairs effecting the race, to-
gether with his close connection with
the educational interest of the entire
country is to O certain extent substant-
tiating these suspicious. While the
Director General is said to be en-
phatically deny that any agreement
has been reached whereby Negroes
would not be appointed, the recent dis
patch sent out from the Director
Generals Office in the nature of a news
paper item directly advising super
visors to appoint certain nationalities
to gather data for the department of
Commerce and Labor in quarters
where that nationality is in large
numbers, is evident that some sort of
agreement, whether embryotic or
otherwise, had been formed. The
bulk of the Negroes, according
to the Eighth United States Bull
letin. is to be found south of
the Ohio and Potomac and cast
of the Mississippi Rivers, hence the
argument that is being made in
many sections concerning the real
mission of DR.. Jones is not
necessarily erroneous as il is known
that nine-tenths of his time is really
being spent in this particular section
of the United States. But of all the
rumors and many assertions and coun
ter assertions touching upon this. those
who are supposed to know will not
allow their names to be used. They are
simply saying watch and seee. In 1900
there were scores Of Negro census enum'
orators and dozens of special agents
in every portion of the South with
hundreds of clerks working directly
under many supervisors. No one has
ever been able to point, however, to a
single instance where the Negroes have
declared they would not give their
data to white enumerators, still
appears that the department fears
something Of this sort. If this fear
which is now entertained becomes
more apparent, it may prove a LONG
chain Of evidence against the policy
of the Director General.
Mrs. William Waller, of North
Sixth street. East Nashville, is visit
ing her mother in Evansville, Ind.