Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1910-01-05
TALKS ABOUT
FED. CENSUS
ChaS. w. Odell, Census SuperviS-
or Gives Information Regard
ing Counting of People.

1.-The simple test which candidates
for enumerators' places will UNDER
go February does not take away
the supervisors right under the
census law to designate suitable
persons for such Positions" said
Supervisor Of Census, Chas. w.
Odell, at his office Monday to a re-
preventative of the Willmar Tri-
bune.
1T is designated to aid the SUPER
visors in the exercise of that discre-
tion and to enable the Census
Director intelligently to use the
power Of approval of the supervis-
or's designations conferred upon
him by law.
1t is very we'll understood that
President Taft, Secretary Nagel,
and Census Director Durand all hold
the supervisors responsible for the
enumeration. There is no doubt,
therefore, that our first and most
important duty is the selection of
honest, capable and active persons
to make the count.
1.-The Census will be taken, not
by the Census Bureau officers or the
supervisors, but by the enumera-
tors. They are the ones that come
in contact with the people and get
the facts. Unless every single en-
umerator does his whole and proper
duty there can not be a correct CEN
sus. There can not be anything Of
greater scientific value to this
country than accurate statistics as
the basis Of a study of the existing
conditions regarding our popula-
tion, agriculture, manufactures,
and mines and quarries.
"All persons, unless specifically dis
qualified, are entitled to apply to
take the test. Only those under
18 years of age and those over 70,
and those who have not become
citizens Of the United States, are
barred. Otherwise, all persons,
regardless of sex, and political
affiliations, are eligible. 1t is left
to my judgement whether it is wise
tt3 appoint women in my district.
They can do the work, have no
doubt, especially in certain parts
Of the district. There were a
good many employed all over the
country in the Twelfth Census.
1.-THE time for closing the consid-
GRAFTON of applications is January
Is. Those received after that date
will have to be ignored. Applica-
tions should be addressed in writing
to me at this office and not to the
Census Director. I will send in
quirers the necessary form and in
structions concerning it. Afterward
l will send those on the list, prior
to the test, set of directions for
filling out the test papers. This
will enable everyone to come well
prepared. Nothing could he fairer
or better calculated to insure a
satisfactory applicant passing the
test.
1.-The test itself need not deter
anyone. Any person with common
sense and common-school eouca.
tion can pass it. All it consists OF
is giving the candidates sample
population and agricultural sched-
ules, upon which are to be written
in the proper columns the required
details. which are found in printed
descriptions, in narrative form,
of typical families and farms sup.
posed to be in the district. There
will be some instances requiring
the exercise of judgement to decide
whether given entry should be
made under one column heading OF
another. You can see how simple
and elementary it is.
The test will be held all over
the country and in every supervis.
or's district February 5. There will
be several places in each district fol
taking it. One place would be in.
sufficient. It would not hold all the
candidates. AS supervisor, I shall
have the direction of all, and the
test examination at each, no matter
under what official agency it is helc
will be that sole and simple one pre-.
scribed by the Census Director
Il am given until February % tt
rate the papers in very simple
way, and to gain an idea of tn,
qualifications of those rated as hav
ing passed. Next / will forward
the papers of the successful candi
dates, with my recommendations o.
designations. to the Census Direc
tor. He will, if satisfied that suit
able persons have been selected
give his consent to their appoint
ment, and they will be commission
ed. The middle or latter part O
March should see everything settled
and the selected and commissions,
,, enumerators will be sent more cir
cu]ars and books of instruction
relative to the Interpretation O
, meaning Of the questions on tn
two schedules.
"April Is the Census Army vii
I move forward in the enumeration
Certainly the Federal Census