Evening star., 1940-03-27
II Voters GrowIs About Census Questions
Started Bobb|e That May Become Battle
Tobey Got the Letters
And Some Politicians
Got the Jitters
First OF a Series.)
BY MORGAN M. BEATTY,
Associated Press Stan Writer

First of a series.)
BY MORGAN NJ. BEATTY,
Associated Press Stan Writer
Twelve New Hampshire voters
armed themselves with 36 cents in
stamps and an irresistible urge to
write their Congressman. And the
1910 Battle Of the Census was or
Thousands of privates enlisted for
the duration, on both sides. Firing
became-and still is-general.
Those II New Hampshire voters
may yet occupy a place in political
history not unlike the niche In world
history of that Serbian youth who
took few pot-shots at an arch
dukes car, and touched OIL the
World War.
For, in the long run. the Battle of
the Census will be 6 real battle.
What those New Hampshire voters
started was a curtain-raising skir-
mish. The real battle to come-a
struggle for survival of the fittest
politician - may last for months,
perhaps couple of years. And be-
fore it's over political blood will flow
in many State in the Union.
Funny what a few voters with
postage stamps and an urge can do
in democracy!
Tobey Got an Idea.
Bald, spectacled Senator Charles
William Tobey Of New Hampshire
got the letters-and an idea. Hadn't
somebody in upstate New York pro-
tested against income questions in
the census? If IL Of his constituents
didn't like them either, maybe he
had something here. He'd see. so
he asked the Census Bureau not to
bother his voters with questions
about their private affairs, like in
comes, divorces, physical fitness to
work, and whatnot, or at least let
them answer to Washington by mail.
TOO late to change our setup,"
said the Census Bureau.
"Oh, yeah?" retorted Tobey, max
ing bee-line for the nearest micro
phone with Nationwide hookup.
The Senator's strategy clicked,
After one month, he claims $4,000
recruits throughout the Nation.
| Hundreds more letters poured in on
other Senators and Representatives.
The Census Bureau said it got a
few hundred, too.
Angry -wielders said the in
come questions weren't half OF 1t,
either. They'd been told over the
radio they'd 60 to Jail if they didn't
answer. AS red-blooded Americans,
they'd just 60 to Jail. So there.
The heat was definitely on.
Un-American, unlawful" shouted
! Quick Trigger Tobey.
"Un-American yourself - absurd, u
sputtered harassed Harry Hopkins,
formerly of the w. P. A.. and now
responsible for census questions as
Secretary of Commerce.
Epithets burned the air at both
ends of Constitution avenue. And
still they come, burying the merits
of the issue In blasts of hot words
It sounds more like the babble OF
the census.
OuSlHCSS OOuSuk DAS@.
For public consumption. Tobey
insists the income and divorce ques-
tions violate the bill Of rights, and
exceed the authority of the Secre.
tary of Commerce under the census
law of 1929.
Also for the public ear, Harry
Hopkins replies that the demand
for the questions originated with
professional and business groups anc
statesmen who needed to know
something more about the incomes
of people who make less than 5000
year. Furthermore, says Hopkins
the facts about unemployment-oul
biggest unsolved problem-can bs
gathered accurately in no other way
and they're legal.
No doub' they both believe sin.
cerely in what they say. But, thi.
being election year. and all, is that
the whole story behind the Battle
of the Census? Hardly.
Where did the questions come
from, anyway? The Census Bu'
reau's expert, DR.. Leon Truesdell-i
rock-ribbed Republican from Maine
framed them in response to de-
mands for questions about th'
economic status" of Americans.
Statistical, economic, business ant
insurance Observation-Disclosures
groups-all have talked economic
status questions with the burea,
for 10 years and more. Some o
these groups are what impolite New
Dealers refer to privately as Tor!
outfits, too.
Income data will tell them no
who makes how much, but wher'
the various income levels lie in tn
Nations towns and cities. That
hte same thing as telling busines
people where business is good TO
different qualities Of goods an,
services. It's money in their pocket
Many politicians and Statesmen
9 want the income data for speeches
programs, bills, and what-have-you
dealing with unemployment and re
lief. Some c them are curious Il
know, too, whether the Presiden
was right-or talking through hi
hat-when he said one-third Of tn
Nation Is ill-clad, ill-housed, and i'll
fed.
Hopkins interested?
It could be asked whether HArr,
hopkins, / right bower In the Whit
House, might not be interested IL
those questions for similar reasons
Would they p1 fe the President
thesis7 Justify New Deal spendin