The Green Forest tribune., 1910-01-14
Enumeration Test" Easy.

At the request of Hon. E. E. Ammons, Census Supervis-r oi this district, The Tribune gives space to the following regard s ing requirements, etc., concern ing enumerators for the taking oi the coming census:
 By January 25 all applications for the positions of enumerators in the rhir- teenth Decennial United States Census must be filed with the supervisors of census for the supervisors districts in which the applicants reside Between that date and February the super visors will send out cards to applicants l informing them where they are to re- port for the "test" to be held in every one of the $50 supervisors districts on February only.
 l Census Director Durand emphatical- ly states that persons desiring to hold such positions should not stand in fear of the "test" to be made, Any person of average public school education who can write plainly and reasoneoy y fast will go through the "test' with ''colors flying" In fact, the "te4t" intended simply to help the supervlspr pick suitable persons and to enable the Director of the Census to exercis intelligently his power of approval of those whom the supervisors derignat for appointment.
 It will involve the filling in of either a sample population schedule, Dv th)s- who will make the count in the cities, or of both a sample population and agricultural schedule, by candidate who will enumerate the country.
 To prepare the way and to insure every applicant being given fair chance, the supervisors will sen in d l vance to each and every candidate 4 set of printed instructions for filling tn these sample schedules
 ''We consider that very inportan point," said Acting Census, Director Willoughby to-day, "not only in tre e4t- ing these candidates fairly and giving them a chance to answer the questions properly, but also as means of eiu cation of the candidates who are after wards to be appointed.
 "The" will study more thoroughly the instructions for filling in thes ;. schedules If they realize their chances of appointment depend upon that study than II they were appointed first ani | had to do the studying afterwards You will see, therefore, that this test ls not an appalling thing. It is not for the purpose of keeping people out of the places. It is applied simply to en- able the Director to eliminate those who are plainly incompetent. Any person of good judgment and ordinary common school education for the work requires some little thnklns power--can easlly pass the test" Between February and February 22 the supervisors will go through the "test" papers, satisfy them selves as the qualifications of those wh1 have plssed and make their designations or recon mendations to the Census DiracJor The next step will be the Directors ap- proval. and then the supervisors will issue the commissions to the enumerat ors.
 Director Durand expects to have the army of 67,000 or more enumerator4 picked, tested, designated, and com nissioned by the middle or latter part of March From then on until April 10 the supervisors will send the emu n orators circulars and books of instruct ions concerning the meaning of the schedule questions and the way the enumerators should write in the answers obtained from the people of the country.
 It is very probable that census special agents may be assigned to certain supervisors districts for the purpose of meeting the enumerators personally and giving them additional infor tGi.n concerning the character of their dutles
 Application forms, with complete directions concerning the method of preparing them, can be secured by writing at once to E. E. Ammons, Su- perviser, Jasper, Ark.