Democratic messenger., 1910-03-12
SOME PLAIN
CENSUS FACTS
Its Purpose is Not TO Pry Into
AnybOdy's Private Affairs
Your Duty To Assist.

The census is not, never has been
and cannot be used to obtain informa-
ton in connection with the enforcement
of tax rates, deportation proceedings,
extradition measures. army or navy
conscription, compulsory school attend
ance. child labor prosecutions, quaran-
tine enforcement, or in any way to in
terfcre with the enjoyment of life.
liberty or property by any person.
II has nothing whatever to do with
the legal detection, arrest, prosecution
or punishment of any person for any
suspected or actual violation Of law,
whether of city or state or the ma
tional government or Of foreign nation.
II is to find out how much bigger
the nation he's grown since ten years
before, how many more people. how
many more native born. how many
more foreign born, how many work
for their bread. how many for whom
there is no work, how many own their
own homes and other similar facts.
That is all. 1t is not to pry into your
private affairs. 1t is not to increase
your taxes. 1t is not to find out who
should be deported. 1t is not to send
any person back to his native coun-
try. 1t is not to make any person join
the army or navy. II is not to find if
any are breaking the laws of city or
state or the United States. 1t is not
to trouble, or to harm or to prosecute
anybody for anything he has done or
is doing.
The census count is made by men
called enumerators, which means
counters. The 'enumerator asks the
questions. The questions are not from
his own mind. They are from the
bureau of the United States census,
which prints a list for the enumerator.
He simply sets down the answers OPP
posite the questions. He will not ask
questions not on the list. All persons
must answer the questions.
The counter, or enumerator, will call
at your home Friday, April Is next,
or maybe day or three days or a
week later. He will call as soon as
he can. You will know him by CEN
sus badge, United States Census,
l9l0." he will wear on his coat and a
yellow khaki bag he carries. In this
are his printed questions. He may
have an interpreter with him. The
enumerator may be woman.
You must not refuse to admit him to
your home. You must not refuse to
answer. You must not answer falsely.
Listen to him. Answer him willing
ly and truthfully. Encourage your
relatives. friends and neighbors to tell
him. Help him in every way you can.
1t is your duty. 1t is everybody s
duty. 1t is the law of the United
States. He is not a spy. a policeman
or tax assessor. He is not an agent
of the city. county or state. He is
working for the bureau of the United
States census. He tells no one but
the census bureau what is told him,
and the United States law will not let
the census bureau tell any other per-
sons or officials or other government
departments or any foreign ambassador,
consul or nation.
The census law with reference to
population requires that the enumera-
tors questions shall for each inhabitant
call for
1.-THE name, relationship TO head Of
| family, color. sex, age, conjugal con-
dition, place of birth, place of birth Of
parents. number of years in the United
States, citizenship. occupation, whether
or not employer or employee, and II
employee. whether or not employed at
the date of enumeration (April Is. 1910, }
and the number of months unemployed
during the proceeding calendar year
(l9O9,) whether or not engaged in agri-
culture, school attendance, literacy and
tenure of home, and whether or not a
survivor of the Union or Confederate
army or navy, and the name and ad-
dress of each blind or deaf and dumb
person.
The same law with reference TO
agriculture requires that the enumera-
tors questions shall for each inhabit-
ant call for
"The name, color and county of birth
Of occupant Of each farm, tenure, acre
age Of farm. acreage of woodland and
character of timber thereon. value Of
farm and improvements, value of farm
implements, number and value of live
stock of farms and ranges. number
and value of domestic animals not on
farms and ranges and the acreage Of
crops planted and to be planted dur
ing the year of enumeration and the
acreage of crops and the quantity and
value Of crops and other farm prod