Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1910-03-02
WRONG VIEW
OF THE CENSUS
No Harm Can Come 10 Any Per-
~ son Who Answers the
Questions.
Washington, D. c.,
R1I q ann

IeCCeFS from Cne census SuperVlS-,
ors to the United States Census
Bureau show the erroneous appre-
hension of a considerable element
of the population that their answers
to the enumerators' questions in the
next census, beginning April Is,
this year, will cause increased taxa
tion. legal entanglements, or injur-
ious consequences to their persons
and property. .
In order to quiet such unfounded
fears, which would, unless removed,
materially affect the accuracy Of
the census. the bureau has prepared
an official statement relative to the
decennial census, its origin. pur-
pose, and uses. :. F.. :,
This statement should furnish
complete assurance to those con-
eerned that ii, i1for ormastt ttiion given the
enumerators is held BY the Census
Bureau in the strictest confidence
with reference to the. identity OF
the informants, as required by the
policy of the bureau and commanded
by the law of the United States.
The bureau earnestly hopes that
clergymen, priests, physicians,
school-teachers, Employers and other
public spirited citizens who come
in contact with large numbers Of
people will cooperate with the
bureau by telling persons who are
believed to entertain erroneous opin-
ions of the census the real facts and
urging them to give full replies tc
the enumerators. Teachers are
particularly requested to speak o1
the census to the school children
and ask them to tell their parent:
about it.
The statement issued by th<
bureau explains that the Constitu
tion requires census Of the popu
lation to be taken every ten year.
in order to reappoint state repre-
sentation in the National House 0;
representatives. It is the mean
also to ascertain the increase in tn,
population, agriculture, industrie
and resources Of the nation sine
the last census.
It is emphatically declared, b,
the statement. that information
sought from the people Of the Unit
ed States is used solely for genera
statistical purposes. 1t will neithe
be published or used in any othe
/ way to disclose facts regarding an
| individual or enterprise. The cen
sus, it goes on to say, is not, no
never has been. and can not be en-
| ployed to obtain information tha
can be used in any way in the al
sessment Of property for purpose
of taxation or the collection {
taxes, either national, state, or Il
cal; or for deportation proceeding
extradition measures. army or nav
conscription. internal revenue il
vestigations, compulsory school a
- tendance. child-labor law prosec,
: tions, quarantine regulations, or
j. any way to affect the life, libert,
ly or property Of any person.
It points out that replies to tt
or lenumerators are and and must
at held by the Census Bureau in stri
ne and absolute confidence. All Il
a bureau officials, supervisors, su
f. ervisors clerks, enumerators. al
he interpreters, before entering up
Ky their duties, are obliged to take
IN solemn oath not to disclose any j
formation they may obtain, exec
.en to the Census Bureau, and VIC
he tion Of the United States law in
"a gard to this oath means q 81 900 f
~. or imprisonment for two yea
arv or both, ID the discretion Of
Ate court. .. =..: !.
,sv ~ A story was circulated yestert
ron that man named Bjorlie, y
.six lives on the Eckdahl farm, fell o.
J inl load Of hay and broke his ne
has This report however IS somew
ere exaggerated, as he only broke.
nf hia slf,ua sss