The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1902-07-19

The Rural Mail Delivery System The
Daltlmore San of recent date has an article on
.nis subject from which we make the follow
ing extracts: "As far as we have been able to
gee, tnere has never been any strong popular
aemand for rural free delivery. In some cases
~ i, mas been forced upon communities against
tnelr own protest. There are instances where
t the mail reaches village before o'clock in
.1e morning and the carrier does not come
along until IL. In cases like that, where the
village postoffice has been closed, the free de-
hvery is progressing backward.
glance at the map of Washington county
SHOWS that it is gridironed with railroads,
everyone of which brings an early mail from
baltimore. There is scarcely farm house in
tnat hne county more than a few miles from
railroad station or from a pOstotfice served
quickly from distributing Office on the rail-
road, and the quickest way to get the mail is
10 send to the nearest office for it. This has
never been considered hardship. The coun-
ny postoffice is usually located in the country
store, to which the neghbors go for their sup.
pies. These country stores are great conve-
nlences, and should the rural delivery system
result in breaking many of them up the pe0-
pie Will lind when too late that they havepaid
TOO dear for their whistle.
But the great danger connected with the
rural free delivery system is one which the
resident of the city finds it difficult to fully
understand. That danger consists in the ease
with which the system can be converted into
gigantic and most effective political propa-
ganda. Whichever party has possession OF the
'federal Government will be enabled to employ
as carriers men belonging to that party, re-
commended and appointed for political rea-
sons. These active and intelligent men, visit
ing almost every house in the United States,
brought in daily contact with the people-act-
ing, 1t may be, as agents for the sale and dis
tribntion of partisan newspapers-these men,
working to retain their job, can exercise po-
. u m
impossible for the people to vote one party out
and put the other in, even if the welfare of
the country should demand it.
In short, where the majority of the peo-
pie demand the free delivery of their letters
and papers as convenience, and not simply
as novelty or fad and the conditions are
favorable, then the free delivery should be es-
Atabished. But il should not be forced upon
people who do not want it and to whom it will
be al inconvenience and a step backward.
The Postmaster General in his report two
years lgo, almost at the beginning of the free
delivery movement, said that the extension of
the sysem had resulted in closing many post
offices, hut upon the urgent request of the pa
irons lumber of these offices have been re-
established, and nadny more requests for re-
establishment aOere on file in the department.
This shows conclusvely that after a fair
trial thes. people preferred their postoffices to
mail carriers. Of course the system is popu-
lar among thousands who want the places of
carriers and among congressman who want
patronage. But the whole matter. before it
goes any father, is well worthy of searching
inquiry by committee of Congress-"
Prospective Weddings.--Th engagement
isjust announced of Mr.. Redmond G. Stewart,
of Baltimore county, and Miss Katharine
Small, daughter of MI. Latimer Small of York,
Pa, and niece of Mrs. Walter s. Franklin, of
Baltimore. Mr.. Stewart is member of the
law firm of Messrs. Barton, Wilmer, Amber
q Stewart, and has represented Baltimore
county in the House of Delegates. He is mas
ter of the Green Spring Valley hounds and is
well known in social circles. Miss Small be-
longs to the old and well known York county
family of that name.
The marriage of Miss Grace Hubner, daugh-
ter of Hon. John Hubner, of Baltimore coun-
ty, to Rev. Martin L. Enders, pastor of Salem
Lutheran Church, Gainesville, will take place
early in September. Rev. Mr.. Enders went to
Gainesville about year ago as assistant to the
late Rev. George w. Ebeling who died soon
afterward. After his death Rev. Mr.. Enders
was permanently appointed pastor. Under his
pastorate the membership has increased three
fold, until the old church. on Ingleside ave-
nue., is incapable of seating all the members.
Rev. Mr. Enders early last June finished his
course of studies in Gettysburg Theological
Seminary.
Miss Winifred l.. Christopher, daughter of
Mrs. Louisa Christopher, of Lauraville, and
Mr.. Charles ID. Thing, permit clerk at police
headquarters in Baltimore. will be married
July 10Th, at St. Andrews Protestant Episco-
pal Church, on the Hartford road Miss Chris
topher is daughter Of the late Elisha Chris
topher, who was well known citizen.
Mr.. William Ensor, one of the largest land
owners in the upper end of this county, and
well known business man, will be married
shortly to Miss Belle Miller, of Wiseburg.
Miss Bessie Pattison, of Baltimore, will be
married today Saturday. to Mr.. Wilbert
Hutchins, of Monkton, Baltimore county.
Miss Pattison is a sister of Mr.. Sam w. Patti
son, of the well known Baltimore auctioneer-
ing firm of Pattison & Gahan, and cousin of
ceremony will take place at 6 P. NJ. at the
home of the brides sister, Mrs. H. G. Crisp,
2709 st. Paul street, Baltimore, and will be per-
formed by Rev. Peregrine Wroth.