Evening star., 1930-03-30
The Count of the People.

A news article printed in yesterdays
Star telling of preparations made at
the Bureau of the Census for the safe
keeping of the individual returns of
enumerators in the decennial count of
1880 serves as a reminder that the
house-to-house canvass of the people of
this country will begin on the first of
April, next Tuesday. This enormous
undertaking of individually counting
more than 12o,00O,000 people will, Of
course, not be all accomplished in one
day. It will take many weeks. Theo-
Tetically the census is as of the first of
July every tenth year. Between the
time the count begins and the time it
Is finished there are numerous changes,
but the reckoning is correct for all
practical purposes.
American census taking is not merely
Q matter of counting the number of
the people, although such count is
the specific purpose Of the undertak-
ing, which is prescribed by the Consti-
tution of the United States as a means
of assuring proportionate representa-
tion in Congress. Not only is there a
tally of all the persons, but a great
many questions are asked respecting
their occupations, their possessions,
their Affiliations. The census becomes
q great economic sociological research.
In no other country are so many in
ouiries made at census time, or is so
much information collected.
Yet with all this inquiry into the per-
sonal affairs of the people there is no
disclosure of facts save in the broadest
way in the form of aggregate statistics.
The individuals become merged in
masses of figures. The returns are
translated into punched cards and these
cards in turn make up the tabulations,
and by the time the reports are printed
Gdentities are passed into safe deposits,
there to be kept for years, kept in cold
storage as 1t were, until, as the Census
Bureau puts 1t, they have become
genealogical data.
One Of the most difficult tasks in the
census taking is persuading the people
20 answer questions. To the doors come
men and women with blanks and pens
and pencils and long nsts Of inquiries,
the mere reading Of which seems to be
q most tnquisitive intrusion into the
private affairs Of the people. These
enumerators, however, are, as far a.
the confidential information given Is
concerned, mere automatons, recording
machines, to whom one individual Il
simply an item to be checked on from
the official calling list"
The statistical and economic value Of
the census depends upon the fullness
and accuracy Of these personal replies
given to the enumerators. If people
are reticent or resistant or inaccurate
or untruthful in their responses they
lessen the worth Of these raw materials
In the great research. Not many people
appreciate the fact that the census
tables, compiled with such pains and at
such cost by the Government, are the
bases Of legislative plans for the benefit
OF the country. This check-up Of &C
tivities and resources, origins and num-
bers, this survey of the Nation, is nee
eSsary in order to determine what Is
best for the community. Enumerators
are instructed to make all this plain to
those upon whom they start their calls
next Tuesday. 1t Is to be hoped that
more than ever before the questions
will be answered fully and correctly.