The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1900-01-20
For the Democratic Advocate.
Discussion of Free Rural Delivery
at Mayberry.

The Free Rural Delivery is becoming more un
satisfactory and unpopular every day. and the peo
pie denouncng and demonstrating against 1t by
signing petition praying the department for safe
and secure place to get their mail. This is gov
eminent OF the people by the people. and the ques-
ton now, is it for the people We DO not censure
the Postmaster General or Mr. Baker yet. because
we believe that Carroll county has been and is yet
| in some way being misrcpresented, and when the
situation is clearly defined and they find there has
been any misrepresentation made. we have not the
fainest hope they will not act in accordance with
| the peoples desires We would like also to know
whether it is not in direct violation of the code of
rules established June 80. 1899. which says, in part
that the people shall petition for Free Rural Deliv
! cry and then where there macadamized roads
Did the people of Carroll county petition for Il.
did few petition for it. and what for, for the best
interests Of the people or for their own to the in
convenience of many? One of the agents quite re-
Gently vas heard to make the remark that ninety
per cent. of the people were favorable to it. If he
would come here and compare the two petitions
now in circulation he would be convinced that it
was just the reverse. The petition circula ted for
the first time here on Saturday evening last pro-
testing against the new system was signed in less
than hours by nearly forty of our best citizens.
We now have nearly one hundred, all qualified
voters and nearly two-thrds of them residing
along the road by which the so-called or uncalled
for Rural Delivery passes. Some may say why do
they protest. they get their mail and it is eonven
fence to them? To those viii say in their behalf
they do not care for themselves only, and do not
have any sympathy for their neghbors and fren DIS.
They believe in that grand motto which everyone
should apply to themselves "Do unto others as you
would that they should do to you" It is detri-
ment to businessand professional men, and we hear
many remarks from the people that when tn cir SUBJ
scrption expire they going to discontinue their
papers, which means loss TO the editors. We be-
lieve we have reached the proper way to make our
complaints and needs known to the department,
yet we were and told our petitions would not
be recognized and they were going TO experiment
and there was no other way. But how soon the
opposition got out petitions Is tia good tn ing |
that win not stand of itself? We were also assured
that the sma' child would not see the rec stab
lishment of postosices, and now we have already |
the promise of reestablishing several. What SUBJ
stations Will they kindly explain the difference |
between a sub-station and the discontinued post |
Offices The only difference we can see is the acting
postmaster will. perhaps get small salary instead
of the cancellation; the other requirements will be
made and enacted as heretofore. Now can any per-
son recolect, or did they ever know, of as loose
way Of carrying and distributing the mails under
the present system, when heretofore they were al
ways under lock and key. We could relate many
incidents of dsappointmenta and losses but it is not
to go into Details the readers form
an opinion of their own. Now, am not represent
ing or expressing my own opinion individually;
am presenting to you the voice and sentiments of
our entire community. To those who say wait
have patience it will be better and requires time
&C., if they started before they were ready is no
reason why we should labor under Inconvenience
and disadvantages as it is something we did not
ask for. neither do we want it. Mdy6erry, Nd