Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1903-12-24
Farmer In Eureka Wants 1t Es-
tablished.
Appeals To sound Principles of
Greatest Good TO Greatest
Number.

judice the casual reader against in
vestigation, by fippantly ascribing
mercenary motives OF class nature. The
editor in his personal comments, hon
estly, but mistakenly, suggested that
the system was supported only by pa
pers that received most OF their ad
vertising patronage from mail order
houses. The system is strongly sup
ported by thinking farmers all over
the country, and thousands OF business
men as we'll.
The editor further very consistently
alludes to probable large expense.
1t is a we'll known fact that the govern
ment, almost invariably, pays many
times as much for similar service as
does individual enterprise. l believe
[ have seen it stated that it pays the
railway and waterway service for the
transportation of mails, several times
as much as the express companies pay
the same carriers for similar service,
yet the government will carry by mail
for one or two cents, what the express
companies will not carry for less than
rs cents and up to Sl.00. Now does il
begin to appear that there is any rea-
son why people should demand the
parcels post? Expensive it must be,
but just how expensive not reader of
The Banner or even the editor him
self knows the least thing about.
In fairness TO our trust in the gov
eminent which we serve, we believe it
will not do losing business, aud will
require those who patronize it to pay
the expense, hence that is no more of
an objection for us to consider than is
the expense OF the postal service
which does not always pan out.
That the system can work injury to
any local trade, depends on whether
that trade is receiving more than its
fair share of profits on capital and labor
| invested.
II the man who occasionally, r.hab-
ttually. III there be any, patronizes the
mail order house, can profit by cheap
Ter carrying, can not the local merchant
profit by the same process? II the mail
order house adds to its prices all the
saving. leaving prices to consumer the
same, will the consumer patronize it
more literally than before? Such argu-
ment is rot.
know there is now and then local
dealers, who protests every such inno-
walton, decrys the electric railway, he
tells you in one breath, he can and will
sell you goods cheap as you get them
in Grand Rapids, Detroit or Chicago,
but the electric road will carry trade
to the other city and injure his sales.
Rarely admitting he Is not doing
what he can and will do under other
circumstances. Thus confessing, he
has his customers corralled In a corner
driving them full Of tacks, and he
wants to hold them there until he can
drive them in, awhole box at time.
But to get off the railway with our
parcels post, how often farmer or
machinest breaks small item. The
local dealer is applied TO, does not have
it In stock, can get the so or 60 cent
article for you on next train; by ex-
press, charges 25 to 40 cts by, Parcels
Post same charges would be perhaps
or 10 cts. The editors wife finds her.
self short yd of trimming for her new
gown she will wear on the day after to-
morrow, the local dealer is out, can
match 1t In Grand Rapids by mail, and |
have it here tomorrow noon, charges |
by express, 25c., by mail &c. The editor
finds he unexpectedly will be in town |
for the prospective fete, but must have
whole suit by next train, to person |
ate Washington, phones up the suit,
too large for the mail, by express 6Oc
or 81, by Parcels Post Is to 30 cts.
How about the mail order house in
these affairs Mr.. Editor? yet they are
things OF common every day occur
renee. That these little squibs passing
around the local pres are unfair and
maliciously designed, is too apparent
w WI n uhg kOOu, duu WnO
pays the shot care not, so long as
the editors get their pay and open their
columns for fair discussion of the SUBJ
ject. The Parcels Post has not come,
but it appeals to sound principles of
the greatest good to the greatest num-
Der, and 1t is beyond peradventure 1t
will come and come TO stay.
There we're those, and local mer-
chants | regret to say who opposed free
rural delivery, as strenuously, and for
similar baseless reasons, but the SER
vice Is here, works no one I'll who Is
disposed to do an honest business, and
can not be dispensed with short OF a
revolution. Respectfully,
j. T. TAYLOR
1t warns the heart like sunshine,
cheers the soul like ancient wine, gives :
hnna for tho fnfura hlnta ouf tho met | /,