Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-07-26
-~ FREE RURAL DELIVERY,
Hon. Thomas E. Watson, of Georgia,
Was the Father of the System.

Hon. Thomas E. Watson, of Georgia,
Was the Father Of the System.
Augusta Chronicle, July %.
Now that the rural free delivery OF
mail has become so widespread and sc
popular with the farmers, aspiring pol
iticians are putting In claims to the
honor Of having inaugurated the sys-
tenn. In the present Carolina campaign
Congressman Latimer is reported tc
have claimed the credit, and to have
been answered by Ex-Governor John
Gary Evans that the honor belongs to
the late ]. William Stokes.
A gentleman in Charleston wrote tc
The Chronicle asking If this honor did
not in fact belong to Hon. Thomas E.
Watson, Of Georgia, and in order to
get an authoritative statement Of the
record The Chronicle referred the mat
ter to Mr.. Watson for reply.
Letter From Mr.. Watson.
His letter, which follows, will be read
with interest:
THOMSON, Ca, July 10. 19O2.-Mr. F.
B. Hook, Editor Augusta Chronicle:
Yours, date 18th instant, just received
Your correspondent, Mr.. ]. ]. Walsh
states that Congressman Latimer, OF
South Carolina. Is claiming credit fol
being the author Of the system Of rura
free delivery Of mails, and that Hon
John Gary Evans, denying Latimers
claims, sets up the title Of the late j.
VIM. Stokes to the credit Of this great
an benef1cent system.
On May 2Sth, 1892, introduced into
| the house Of representatives, and Sc
cured the passage Of the first resolution
that congress ever passed appropriating
money for true rural free delivery-to-
witt mails outside Of towns, cities and
villages. This resolution and appropri-
alton was the beginning Of our present
system. Hon. John Wannamaker, while
postmaster general. had experimental
with what he called rural free delivery
but his system was confined to towns
and villages. You will remember that
it was tried at HephZibah, Ga. This
system failed and was abandoned. My
resolution provided for real rural mail
to wit: mail to people living outside the
limit of towns and cities: and my reso-
luton was the first that ever carried
an appropriation for that purpose.
1t Is not my purpose to handy words
with Messrs. Latimer or Evans. yet
there should be some way of settling
thing like this. The Congressional
Record is accessible to everybody and
the official record ought to be satisfac-
tory proof.
TO put an end to the dispute. once
for ALL I authorize the Augusta Chron-
/ icle to offer s., 900 for proof that either
| a.
maker or anybody else, ever secured
an appropriation or established the
system Of free delivery Of mails to peo-
pie living outside the limits Of cities
towns and villages. prior to May 2Sth
1892, the date Of my resolution and ap.
preparation. Respectfully. yours.
| THOMAS E. WATSON"
| "P. S.-After I had sealed and sent
off my letter to you, other mail brought
me a copy Of The Southern Mercury
containing the enclosed clipping: also
copy of John Wanamaker's Book
News for June 1902. which 1 had not
been able to obtain before.
ION page 1876 of this Book News fol-
June 1902. Mr.. Wanamaker's editor
gives me credit for the free rural mail
delivery system. Ought not this to sc
ter In convincing everyone?
| IF Mr.. Wanamaker lays claim to the
credit for the system his editor would
surely know it.
THE fact is he had nothing to dc
with it-nor did these two South Caro-
lima congressman, unless 1t was to in
troduce some subsequent resolution.
Yours truly.
THOMAS f. WATSON"
Free Rural Postal Delivery.
| Following is the article in The South
srn Mercury:
Few people who are today enjoying