The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1909-08-18
POLITICS LEFT OUT
PRESIDENT ISSUES ORDERS RE.
GARDING CENSUS.
NOT BUILDING UP 4 MACHINE
Violation Of Order Will Subject OF.
tenders to Dismissal From Their
Positions.

Positions.
Beverly, MaSs.-In letter ad.
dressed to Secretary Nasel, of the de-
partment Of commerce and labor,
President Taft served notice that any
man engaged in the taking of the
thirteenth census Of the United States
who engages in politics in any way
will Immediately be dismissed from
the service. Outside of casting their
votes the president believes that cen.
should keep clear of anything that
savOrs of politics. national. state or
local
The president orders the secretary
OF commerce and labor and the direc.
tor of the census to 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
census supervisors it has been found
necessary to select men recommend.
ed by senators and congressman in
their districts. He says he realizes
that this method of selection might
easily be perverted to political pur-
poses and it is to take the census out
OF politics. SO far as the actual work
Is concerned. that he has explicitly
expressed his desires as to the regula-
tions.
Presidents Letter.
Beverly. Mass. Aug II. 1909-My
Dea- Mr.. Secretary-The taking of
the census involves the appointment
of some 900 supervisors who. in turn.
are 10 appoint many times that num-
Der of enumerators. The supervisors
are given complete discretion in the
selection of enumeratOrs. respectively,
TO act under them. The success of
the census will depend on the effici-
ency and strict attention to duty of
the supervisors and on the intelligence
of the numeratOrs and their faithful
application to the business in hand.
Generally, there is supervisor for
each congressional district 1t has
been found to be the quickest and best
means of selecting suitable super
visOrs to consult the congressman
and senators as to competent candi-
dates from their respective districts
and states
This system can easily be pervert-
ed to political purposes if the super.
visOrs are not forbidden to use it as
an instrument for influencing local
and general elections and primaries
in the interest of particular candi-
dates or parties. 1t is not an unrea-
sonable requirement that anyone who
accepts an appointment as supervisor
or as enumeratOr shall. during the
term of his employment and service,
avoid an active parpose in politics.
Il therefore order that in the pre-
paratiOn of regulations for the taking
OF the census, you and the director
of the census embody therein pro-
vision that any supervisor or enum-
orator who uses his influence with
his subordinates or colleagues to as
siSt any party. or any candidate in a
primary or general election. or who
takes any part. other than merely
casting his vote. in politics. national.
state or local, either by service upon
q political committee. by public ad
dresses. by the solicitation Of votes.
or otherwise shall al once be dis
missed from the service.
Il wish 20 make this regulation as
broad as possible. and wish it en-
forced without exception. 1t is Of the
highest Importance that the census
should be taken by men having only
the single purpose of reaching a just
and right result and that the large
amour: OF money to be expended in
the employment OF SO vast machine
as the census shall not be made to
serve the political purposes of any
one Sincerely yours.
WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT"
Charles Nagel. Secretary OF Com
merce and Labor"
The following supervisors were
named for Nebraska and Iowa:
Nebraska-First district. Frank F..
Eeivey: second district. Charles l..
Saunders: third district. Joseph Al
bert Hays; fourth district. Philip F.
BroSS.
Iowa-First district. John w. Row
ley: second district. Asa 4. Hall: sew
enth district. Cambridge Culbertson.