New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-12
By an East Side Census Takcr

by OH Last DIOC NSiAooo
Which is the worse, or which is the
more excusabls, to prevsricate WIN
or without method? The women who
cam. TO the registration booths fire.
uuently made Observation-Disclosures
Gus euphemism-about their ages, but
they seemed to do so quite at random
and with no definite purpose. Maybe
they were simply fulfilling the tradi-
ton, that they should never tell their
real ages.
On the other hand, the men lied with
studied purpose. They misrepresented
their ages just about as generally as
did the women, but always with some
obvious object; so obvious at times
as quite to defeat the purpose OF the
falsehood. Whichever, then, may be
the more or the less excussble, let 1t
be recorded and remembered that men
are no more truthful regarding their
ages than are women.
Every man who had been in New
York twenty-four hours was under The
law expected TO register. Thus there
were included in the registry many
who were not really residents. In
deed, some had come 10 New York
for a day or two fer the express pur-
pose of registering here. They seemed
to think that il would be more credit
able TO them to be registered in New
York than in Squedunk. 1t tickled
parochial pride to be thus identified
with the metropolis. Reciprocally, 1t
may have tickled metropolitan pride
to have so large an enrolment.
Works an Injustice
Nevertheless il occurred to me that
thus a considerable injustice might be
done to the city in having its census
thus padded, and thus having toe large
an enumeration on which to reckon a
quota of service.
When it came to asking men in what
country they were born, some interest
ing disclosures were made. Particular
" was this the case among the Irish.
Some Of them, presumably Of the Sim
Fcin persuasion, put down the answer,
Treland." ! suggested TO them that
what was wanted was the political and
governmental name Of the country, and
that therefore United Kingdom" would
be the more correct answer. Some ac-
ccpted the suggestion without demu-
and some did so grudgingly, while yet
others simply went up IN the air. and
inexorably refused thus TO countenance
the despotism Of the hated Ssssenach.
On the other hand, there were those
who gave UNITED Kingdom" by prefer
ence.
| should add that some Of those who
insisted on being credited to Ireland
and not to the United Kingdom de-
clared that they would demand exemp-
ton from military service.
con what ground /" -,
"Sure, because I'm Irish. Why should
an Irishmsn fight Germany? We're not
at war. England mas declared war
against Germany, but Ireland never has.
Ireland isn't one Of the Allies!"
Really, what's the use?
White or Colored?
There was more trouble over the
sixth question, Are you white or col
ored? Many Of the white registrants
regarded it either as q stupid joke or as
a gratutous offence. Negroes, on the
other hand, answered it without demur
or protest One-probably from ia
maica-replied proudly, "Oh, Use col
ored, is; but Use British subject all
de same!"
The strongest objection TO this ques-
ton came from the Japanese, OF whom
there were a few IN that district. They
were absolutely unwilling to be set
down as "colored," yet how could the
registrar, without violating his ethno-
logical conscience, record them as
white? One, finding that he had been
set down as "colored," protested vehem-
emily and demanded that the offensive
appellation be erased. The thought ir-
resistibly arose that this question was
not altogether happy. Why ask it at
all? What has q mans color to do with
bis military service?
The tenth question brought out some
interesting facts. IL asked whether, II
the man was not citizen, he had taken
out his first naturalization papers.
Many answered no, although they had
been in America many years. One
had lived here forty years, and had
never yet declared his intention of be-
coming a citizen.
Slackers Revealed
Another interesting question was the
fourteenth: Are you married? In a
number of cases | added the inquiry,
When? though of course | could not
require them to answer it. They did
answer it, however, and not a few un-
hesitatingly admitted that they had
lust got married few days or weeks
before, obviously with the object of
thus securing ground on which to plead
for exemption from military service.
Legion was the name of those upon
whom somebody was dependent for
support. In some cases men had faith