The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1910-01-08

NSxuxuB 4uS SSss
The following information, it is be-
lieved, will be ofinterest TO census super
visors, prospective enumerators and
others all over the country.
Washington, d. c., December 20, 1909.
Secretary Nagel Of the Department of
Commerce and Labor, under whose
supervision Is the work of the Bureau
of the Census, at the conference of
eastern 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
to the Census field chiefs previously at
the White House. The Secretary said:
II want chance to meet you mot
to speak to you. but to shake hands and
possibly exchange word here and there
as occasion might offer. There is
further reason why it will be difficult
for me to say anything at this time.
We have a rule that after the President
has spoken the Secretaries have nothing
to say. (Laughter.) happened to be
in the White House when you were
there and heard what the President
said. To now repeat would not give
emphasis; to add is barely pardonable.
II am glad that you did have an OPP
portunity, however, to meet the Presi-
dent himself and to hear from him just
what the attitude Of the Executive on
this matter of the taking of the census
is; and am glad that he had an oppor-
tunity to say to you how thoroughly he
is in earnest about what he has hereto
fore said.
ut is unnecessary for me to dwell
upon:.th Importance of correct census.
Of course, we want to take q better
census than has ever before been taken
and that is no disparagement of the work
of predecessors. We ought to improve;
we ought to improve for reasons which
are self-evident; we ought to improve
because the need for correct and ade-
quate census now is greater than it ever
has been before. 1t is so on account
of the growth of our own country, and
because we are coming into relations
with other counties, so that correct
report and reliable statement, to be
used not only at home but for compar-
ison with what other counties are doing,
is the one essential foundation of all
calculations.
''Now, we have done. as we think,
what we can to accomplish that result.
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 per-
feet in its machinery and its admins
tration, and yet the entire work would
be failure unless you did what the
President indicated this morning. After
all, granting false premise anything
can be. proved. No matter how fine
the superstructure may be, if the foun-
dation is not right the building is not
worth anything. 1t is for you to fur
nish the foundation for what is going to
be done. You are responsible to the
Director, to me, and to the President.
That is the Importance of your position.
"Now, there is lot of human nature
in things, as was indicated to you this
morning, You will have to be judges
of good many things, and you will
have to show some discretion. And
there is lot of human nature beyond
you when it comes to the activities of
the enumerators themselves. A man
might, for illustration, be good bus
mess man and yet not be a good enum-
orator, because he might not have the
confidence of the people with whom he
has to deal. 1t is not always easy
enough to make examinations. but it
must be left for you to decide, accord
ing to such examinations as you may
make, and accordingly to such judg-
ment as you may apply to the cases,
who are the proper men to be recon-
mended to the Director for the work
which is to furnish the foundation of
the census that is ultimately to be COM
pleted.
"Now, trust that you are showing
q lot of human nature in taking these
places. When people say that that the
Government should be run on business
principles, always reply. Eyes, so
far as bookkeeping is concerned. that
is true; but so far as employment of
human energy is concerned, it can not
be true, because the Government does
not pay enough for competent men to
do what is expected" That is the
truth of it. If we did not have enthus-
iasm and sentiment and love of country
and desire to do right among our fell
low men, the Government would never
succeed on business principles alone.
1t takes something more. 1t takes
willingnessfor men to serve their country
in the places to which they are called.
Your places are important. know
we can not pay you, but ! hope you may
find your compensation in something