The Montgomery tribune., 1910-01-14
ABOUT THE CENSUS.
The Following. Interview with
Supervisor Barnes Tells How
to Get the Job of Enumerator.

Mexico, Mo-, January S, 1910
"The simplest test which candi-
dates for enumerator's places will
undergo February S does not re-
move the supervisors right un-
der the census law to designate
suitable persons for such posi-
tions," said Supervisor of Cen
sus, Clarence A. Barnes at his Of
fee to-day.
1T is designed to aid the su-
pervisors in the exercise of that
discretion and to enable the Cen
sus Director intelligently to use
the power of approval of the SUI
pervisor's designations conferred
upon him by law.
1T is well understood that the
President, 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 ana
active persons to make the count
"The Census will be taken, not
by the Census Bureau officers or
the supervisors, but by the emu
merators. They are the ones
who come in contact with the
people and get the facts. Unless
every single enumerator does his
whole and proper duty there can
not be a correct census. There
can not be anything of greater
scientific value to this country
than accurate statistics as the ba-
sis of a study of the existing con-
ditions regarding our population,
agriculture, manufactures, and
mines and .quarries.
"All persons, unless specially
disqualified, are entitled to apply
to take the test. Only those un-
der I8 years of age and over 70,
and those who have not become
citizens of the United States, are
barred. Otherwise, all persons,
regardless of sex and political af-
filiations, are eligible. 1t is left
to my judgement whether it is
wise to appoint women in my
district. They can do the work,
l have no doubt, especially in
certain parts of the district.
There were a good many en-
ployed all over the country in
the Twelfth Census.
"The time for closing the con-
sideration of applications is an
uary rs. Those received after
that date will have to be ignored
Applications should be address
ed in writing to me at this Of
flee and not to the Census Direc-
tor. l will send inquirers the
necessary form and instructions
concerning it. Afterwards l will
send those on the list, prior to
the test, a set of directions for
filling out the test papers
This will enable everyone to
come we'll prepared. Nothing
could be fairer or better calculat-
ed to insure satisfactory appli-
cant passing the test.
"The test itself need not dete.
anyone. Any person with COM
mon sense and a common-school
education can pass it. All it con-
sists of is giving the candidates
sample population and agricul-
tural schedules, upon which are
to be written in the proper
columns the required details,
which are found in printed de-
scriptions, in narrative form, OF
typical families and farms sup
posed to be in the district.
There will be some instances
requiring the exercise of judge
ment to decide whether given
entry should be made under one
column heading or another. You
can see how simple and yet ele-
mentary it is.
"The test will be held all over
the country and in every super
visor's district February 25.
There will be several places in
each district for taking it. One
place would be sufficient. 1t
would not hold all the candi-
dates. AS supervisor, | shall have
the direction of all, and tthe test
examination at each, no matter
under what official agency it is
held, will be that sole and simple
one prescribed by the Census
Director.