Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1910-03-19
PROCLA|MS
TAKING OF CENSUS
To Allay All Fear Persons May Have
In Matter Of Answering
Questions.

Washing on, DC Mafch lb.-Pres-
ident Ta1t in a proclamation urges
everybody throughout the United
S ates ito answer promptly, com.
pletely nda accurately all inquiries
addressed to them by the enumera-
tors or other employees who will be
engaged in the taking of the thir-
zenith dicennial census, which work
will begin one month from now. The
proclamation follows:
Whereas, by the act OF Congress,
approved July 2, 1909. the thirteenth
decennial census Of the United States
Is TO be taken, beginning on the ff-
teenth day OF April, nineteen hundred
and ten; and
Whereas, a correct enumeration o.
the population every ten years is re-
quired by the Constitution Of the
United States for the purpose OF de-
.termining the representation of the
several states in the House Of Repre-
sentatives; and
Whereas. 1t is Of the utmost i'm
%portance to the interest OF all the
people of the United States that this
census should be a complete and &C.
curate report Of the population AMI
resources of the country;
Now, therefore l, William Howard
Taft, President of the United States
of America. do hereby declare and
make known that. under the Act afore
said, ii is the duty of every person TO
answer all questions on the census
schedules applying to him and the
family to which he belongs. and to
the farm occupied by him or his fam
lily, and that any adult refusing to ID
so is subject to penalty.
THE sole purpose Of the census Is
TO secure general statistical informal
ton regarding the population and re
sources Of the country, and replies
are required from individuals only in
order TO permit the compilation of
such general statistics. The census
has nothing to do with taxation, with
army or jury service, with the compul
sion of school attendance, with the
regulation of immigration, or with the
enforcement of any national, state, o.
local law or ordinance, nor can any
person be harmed in any way by fur
nishing the information required.
There need be no fear that any dis.
closure will be made regarding n
individual person or his affairs. For
the due pro ection of the rights and
Interests of the persons furnishing in
formation every employee of the Cen
sus Bureau is prohibited, undeY heavy
penalty, from disclosing any informa-
ton which may thus come to his
knowledge.
Il therefore earnestly urge upon all
persons to answer promptly, complete
ly and accurately all inquiries adj
dressed to them by the enumerators
or other employees of the Census Bit
reau, and thereby 10 contribute their
share toward making this great and
necessary public undertaking a sue
cess.
In witness whereof / have here
unto set my hand and caused the seal
vi fht 1Iiltu - dAtS 10 ut dHlAtus
Done at the City of Washington,
this fifteenth day of March, A. n, one
thousand nine hundred and ten. and
of fhe Independence of the United
States of America the one hundred
and thirty-fourth.
by the President,
(Seall WILLIAM II. TAFT,
Up. G. KNOX,
Secretary of State.
The proclamation is for the pur-
pose of removing fears from the
minds of some people who are of the
opinion that information which they
give concerning themselves to the
census taker may be used in some
way to The detriment Of their per-
sonal or business interests. Against
any such abuse, however, he govern
ment has thrown the strongest safe
guards.