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 fifteenth day of April, nineteen hundred and ten; and
Whereas a correct enumeration of the population every ten years is required by the Constitution of the United States for the purpose of determining the representation of the several States in the House of Representatives; and
Whereas it is of the utmost importance to the interests of all the people of the United States that this census should be a complete and accurate report of the population and resources of the country:
Now, therefore, I, WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT, President of the United States of America, do hereby declare and make known that, under the act aforesaid, it 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 family, and that any adult refusing to do so is subject to penalty.
The sole purpose of the census is to secure general statistical information regarding the population and resources 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 compulsion of school attendance, with the regulation of immigration, or with the enforcement of any national, state, or local law or ordinance, nor can any person be harmed in any way by furnishing the information required. There need be no fear that any disclosure will be12made regarding any individual person or his affairs. For the due protection of the rights and interests of the persons furnishing information every employee of the Census Bureau is prohibited, under heavy penalty, from disclosing any information which may thus come to his knowledge.
I therefore earnestly urge upon all persons to answer promptly, completely, and accurately all inquiries addressed to them by the enumerators or other employees of the Census Bureau, and thereby to contribute their share toward making this great and necessary public undertaking a success.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the city of Washington this fifteenth day of March, A.D. one thousand nine hundred and ten, and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred and thirty-fourth. WM. H. TAFT.