Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1910-01-05
TALKS ABOUT
FED. CENSUS

ChaS. w. Odell, Census SupervfS-
or Gives Information Regard
ing Counting Of People.
The simple test which candidates
for enumerators' places will under
go February 5 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.
"It 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.
''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 correct cen.
sus. There can not he 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 20,
and those who have not become
citizens of the United States, are
barred. Otherwise, all persons,
regardless of sex, and political
affiliations. are eligible. It is left
to my judgement whether it is wise
tic appoint women in. my district,
They can do the work, have nc
doubt, especially in certain parts
of the district. There were 8
good many employed all over the
country in the Twelfth Census.
''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. / will send in.
quirers the necessary form and in.
structions concerning it. Afterward
l will send those on the list, prior
to the test. a set of directions fol
filling out the test papers. This
will enable everyone to come vel
prepared. Nothing could he faire,
or better calculated to insure {
satisfactory applicant passing th<
test.
1.-The test itself need not dete,
anyone. Any person with common
sense and a common-school eouca
tion can pass it. All it consists O.
is giving the candidates sample
population and agricultural sched
ules, upon which are to be writer
in the proper columns the require,
details. which are found in printe,
descriptions, in narrative form
of typical families and farms sup
posed to be in the district. Their
will be some instances requirin,
the exercise Of judgement to decid
whether given entry should b
made under one column heading O
another. You can see how simpl
and elementary it is.
"1he test will be held all owe
the country and in every supervis
or's district February S. There wi
be several places in each district fo
taking it.. One place would be in
sufficient. It would not hold all tn
candidates. As supervisor, I sha
have the direction of ali, and tn
test examination at each, no matte
under what official agency it is hel
, will be that sole and simple one prt
scribed by the Census Directo,
Il am given until February % |
rate the papers in a very simp
way, and to gain an idea of IL
qualifications of those rated as ha,
ing passed. Next l will forwa,
the papers of the successful cand
dates, with my recommendations {
designations. to the Census Dire
tor. He will, if satisfied that sui
able persons have been selected
give his consent to their appoin
ment. and they will be tommissio,
led. The middle or latter part ,
March should see everything settle,
and the selected and commissions
:; enumerators will be sent more ci
culars and books of instructio,
: relative to the Interpretation ,
: meaning of the questions on Il
two schedules,