The record-union., 1897-05-22
AN EXAMPLE OF SHORTSIGHTED-
NESS.

How strangely short-sighted are
some human beings. Really selfishness
and purblindness are so much in evil
dence among some men that they man
ifest less reason than animals that are
actuated by instinct only. For many
years it has been the desire of the Fed
eral Government to introduce into rural
sections the free postal delivery sys-
TEN. It has been restrained from so
doing mainly because the road condi-
tions have not been inviting.
1t is agreed among those who have
examined the plans for such delivery
that they are feasible. Certainly the
system would be an immense advan-
tage to those living in the country. 1t
would add one more feature to the
desirableness of rural life. Really, there
is no reason outside of the economic
one, due to the condition of road sys-
TENS, why the farmer should not have
his mail matter brought to his door
as is that of the town resident. The
farmer pays his full share of the cost
of maintaining the postal service. He
is entitled to his full share of that
service.
Over in Santa Clara County recently
an experiment was made of rural mail
delivery by the United States Postal
Department The town of Campbell
was made the center of the expert
mental district. So far as delivery is
concerned the test has been a success,
but the merchants and traders of
Campbell are reported to be out in bit
ter opposition to the experiment. And
herein is the display of Grass selfshness
and narrowness of spirit. The mer-
chants and shopkeepers of Campbell
object on the ground that the farmers
do not now need to come to the town
so frequently and that in consequence
trade suffers Heaven save the mark!
trade,
Cannot these purblind beings at least
see that whatever conduces to the COM
fort and content of the farmer contrib
utes to the benefit of the trader? If
home life is better on the farm: if
there is more convenience in it, more
of satisfaction with it, the capacity of
the owner is enlarged to produce and
likewise to spend his earnings. Be
cause his mail is delivered TO him at
his home will not lead the farmer to
consume a pound less of food, or wear
fewer garments, or spend a cent less
in the market town, save in one direc-
tion-namely, he will not so often come
into contact with the saloon and it's
vicious Injuries Indeed, we would be
willing to wager that the chief growl-
ers against the Campbell free rural let
ter delivery are those who deal in the
luxury of strong drink. in the main,
and run houses of entertainment"
The fact is that the very reasons ad-
vanced by the Campbellites against
rural postal delivery are the strongest
and best for it. 1t economies time for
the farmer, and that means greater
gain for him. 1t gives him more hours
to devote to the place where he pro-
duces and less where he expends, and
that means substantial benefit. These
short-sighted shopkeepers of Campbell
ought to have wit enough to under
stand that free postal delivery being
economically possible in that section,
will make the Campbell region the
more inviting for rural residence. and
thus invite desirable population and
in turn swell the business Of the Camp
bell shops.
But aside from the reasons which
support rural mail delivery, the claim
of the Campbell shopkeepers OF a
special right to sell to the farmer at all
may be questioned. Who gave them a
mortgage upon the necessities of the
producers from the soil? Why should
the protest of these men have any con-
sideration at the hands of the Postal
Department: men whose sole and only
claim for discontinuance of the system