Evening star., 1909-09-13
PUTS BAN ON POLITICS
Census Director Warns the
Supervisors in States.
APPROVED By PRESIDENT
Conditions to Which Each Ap-
pointee Must Conform.
IF IN OFFICE, MUST RESIGN
Activity in Party Affairs Prohibit
ed While He Holds Position.
Taft's Letter.

In compliance with instructions from
President Taft Director Durand OF the
census bureau has sent letter to all
the supervisors appointed up to the pres
ent time warning them against political
activity during their term OF service, as
well as against using their posltions
either directly or indirectly to further
the interests of any political party or can
didate. Before sending the letter MT
Durand submitted 1t for approval to Sec
retary Nagel and the President.
The letter notifies the supervisors OF
the approval of their appointment by the
President, subject to certain conditions
to which they must conform. A copy OF
President Taft's letter is inclosed, ano
Director Durand asks the supervisors for
Information at once whether. they Hoio
any political Office or membership IN any
political committee, and whether they are
willing TO resign the position and cease
all political activity before entering upon
| their new duties. Each supervisor VINO
holds such a position is requested TO seno
the director a copy of his resignation from
the position. together with statement
that the resignation has been accepted
The supervisors are also requested to IN
| form the doector whether they hold any
state office which under the terms OF
| their state constitution would make II
| illegal for them to hold a federal posi-
| tion. Each supervisor who does hold
| such a position is requested to state
whether he win resign the state position
before entering upon his duties as super
visor Of the census.
The Presidents Letter.
The letter from President Taft is as
Beverly. Mass, August IA, 1909.
| MY Dear Mr.. Secretary:
THE taking Of the census involves
the appointment of some 500 supervisors
| who, In turn. are to appoint many times
| that number of enumerators. The su-
pervisors are given complete discretion
| in the selection of enumeratOrs respec-
| lively to act under them. The success
of the census will depend upon the eff
ficiency and strict attention to duty OF
the supervisors. and upon the Intelligence
of the enumerators and their faithful ap-
| plication to the business in hand.
Generally. there Is a supervisor fol
each congressional district. 1t has beer
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 te
political purposes il the supervisors are
not forbidden to use 1t as an instrument
IOI. Influencing tOCdI anu general 0leCtlOHS
and primaries in the interest of particu-
lar candidates or parties. 1t is not ar
unreasonable requirement that any one
VINO accepts an appointment as super
visor or as enumerator SHALL during the
term of his employment and service
avoid an active part In politics.
Penalty Of Disobedience.
Il 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
any supervisor or enumerator who uses
| his influence with his subordinates OF
| colleagues to assist any party, or any
candidate, in a primary or general elec.
ton, or who takes any part, other than
| merely casting his vote, in politics, ma
tional, state or local, either by service
upon political committee, by public
addresses. by the solicitation of votes or
otherwise, shall be at once dismissed the
service.
Il wish to make this regulation as
broad as possible. and wish it enforced
without exception. 1t Is of the highes,
| Importance that the census should be
| taken by men having only the single pur-
pose of reaching just and right result
and that the large amount of money te
be expended In the employment of sc
vast a machine as the census shall not
be made to serve the political purposes
of any one.
Very sincerely yours.
lists civilian H. TAFT .
Hon. Charles NageI,
Secretary of Commerce and Labor >