Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-23

An army of more than 100000 men
and women, recruited with an eye to
their intelligence and tact, is being
groomed for the great event Of every
decade-the taking Of the census. On
der the tutelage of William M. Stuart
director of the census, the army is being
equipped with questions. pencils and
paper and held in readiness for zero
hour-April 2--when a general advance
is to be made on 10000, 900 homes.
AS is the case in many similar enter
prises, the woman in the home will bear
the brunt of the attack. In many cases
she will be the only person in the family
with whom the Census Bureau eStab-
fishes contact. and in many instances
hers will be the responsibility for fur
nishing information from which the
bureau will assemble all that is known
about unemployment, agriculture, irri-
cation, drainage, manufacturing, mining
and distribution.
She becomes, therefore, in the eyes of
Mr.. Stuart, the most important mem
point of the census" Approaching the
Importance of her cooperation, he has
made known that the qualities of tact,
sympathetic attitude and good appear
ance must be considered in the Selec-
ton of the STA supervisors and the
average number of ITS enumerators each
supervisor will be responsible for.
Wide Range of Questions.
To the 10000 900 homes in the land
this army of workers will go, beginning
April 2, prepared to ask about 80 ques-
tionS. ranging from color, race and age,
last birthday, fathers occupation, if
any, and If not why not; value of his
home and whether the citizen has a
radio set.
The primary object of the census, as
everybody knows is to count the popu-
lation. But since 1870, when the first
enumeration was made under the Con-
stitution as a basis for determining
representation in Congress, the census
has been expanded to include other sub
jects. The Importance of the work is
seen by DR.. Joseph A. Hill, assistant
director of the census, as extending far
beyond enumeration.
I'VE shall have not q mere counting
Of the people, but full exhibit OF the
elements of our national strength, a
picture of our qualities and character
isticS as individuals and as a Nation, a
statement of where we stand, where we
came from, and 1t is hoped, some 1ndi-
cation of where we are destined to CO."
Director Stuart, having in mind,
perhaps, that many women are not in
timately acquainted with their hus-
bands affairs, has said that 1t is deSir-
able that women inform themselves as
thoroughly as possible about the coming
census. Husbands who gain such in
formation in the course of their reading
or business should tell the wife about
it," He anticipates that some of the
questions can be answered readily.
"She knows her own age" said Mr..
Stuart, and, popular tradition and
jokes to the contrary, she can be relied
on to give it accurately in most cases.
She knows also the ages of her hus-
band, children and other members of
the family, and she knows the date of
her marriage. She knows whether the
children are attending school"
Realizing that the wife may not be
able to answer some of the questions
for example. what rent is paid. or If the
home is owned, its value-Mr. Stuart
suggests that she might do well to
consult her husband in advance about
it." The wife or husband need not
hesitate to give the information to the
census man, for the individual census
returns are kept secret, even from Off
Gals of other departments of the Fed
eral Government.
Emphasized by President.
This protection to the individual is
emphasized by President Hoover in the
text of a proclamation issued last No
vember, in which the people were urged
to cooperate in the taking Of the
census.
"The sole purpose of the census is to
secure general statistical information