The Delta independent., 1904-10-21

duced il the claim made by some of the
lenders of that party that the blessings
Of the rural free delivery system were
Conferred OH farmers by Democracy. No
more patent untruth was ever uttered.
INSTEAD OF PROMOTING RURAL
TIsHE DELIVERY. \ DEMOCRATIC
ADMINISTRATION FLATLY RE-
FUSED TO HAVE ANYTHING TO
DO WITH TIE MATTER. EVEN
AFTER CONGRESS- HAD APPRO-
rRIATED MONEY TO ESTABLISH
ROUTES.
The fact Is, DEMOCRACY ALWAYS
HAS BEEN A STUMBLING BLOCK
IN THE PATH OF PROGRESS.
Every great national policy that has
proved to be a boon to the people has
been bitterly fought by Democratic Con-
gressmen, urged on by Democratic news
papers.
Democracy has been well named the
"party of obstruction Two-thirdS Of
the Congressional Record is taken up
with speeches and debate In opposition
TO wise Republican measures. and near
ly half of every session Of Congress is
wasted by Democrats either In openly
fiiIbusterin. or in talking against time.
with the view Of della yinE or killing bills
that would benefit the people.
VIII Of Congress Dened.
And Democratic oppokition to benefi-
cent act does not always cease when
Congress has passed the law. rs was the
case with rural free delivery. Near the
close of President Harrison's admins
tration a Republican Congress ap-
propriated $4,000 for the purpose of
establishing experimental rural free de-
livery routes. and Postmaster General
wans%naker began experiments ON six
routes Before anything material could
i be done, however. a Democratic admin-
istra tion came into power. Mr.. Birsrli
l was appointed Postmaster General. and
he. with Mr.. Ci-rcland's consent, de-
clin-,i TO carry out the law. Congress
appropriated money again. with the sane
s.ult--A DEMOCRATIC ADMINS
TRATIOS THE SECOND TIME DE
FLED THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE.
las EXPRESSED THROUGH THEIR
REPRESENTATIVES, IN con
GRESs. AND REFUSED TO IN
AuGURATE THE RURAL FREE
DELIvERi SYSTEM.
MIR. Wilson followed Mr.. HisseIl ss
Postmas; General. and he also decided
that rural free delivery was imprar'i-
cable. President Cleveland WAS Of I'll"
same opinion. basins his objection to the
scheme OH the ground that it would cost
millions Of dollar.
1t 10 thus shown that Democracy did
III. very opposite ofsins uknrstinx rural
free delivery. Mcmbcrs Of that party
fought II In both houses Of Conrrr~S.
and President Cleveland and his cabinet
officer. put themselves above the lcsis-
1iative branch Of the government. and
virtually told Congress that 1t was sub
orsi,nstc to = Democratic Administr ra.
tiou. Il was a case Of the servant die.
la,ins to the mnster-an unwarrantrd
usurpaiion Of kower for . harmful pur-
k,o~e.
What Republican. DID.
To Ikirthcr shaw how utterly false is
nemosrncy's claim to the honor Of giving
fsrinrrs frrc delivery Of their mail. hs.
urr~ frcm government reports nrc here
reproiuc~d. The first appropriation for
rural free delivery was $1,000. In 1ssA.
frhc same amount wa. allowed by Con.
rw., "r Isas and isa, Lu, tho money
wns not used for the purpose intcnds~i.
,. has already been stated. In 1897.
" hen the Mckinley administration came
into power. ouly half dozen rural mail
touic~ had been r.tn tnhli.h~,i. aud thc-r
had bcrn partially put int" operation
fcur years previously uirlrr President
hiarrisou. Democracy did nothing dur
Ing the Cleveland ADMINISTRATION. except
10 block the wheels Of progress
Now mark the difference when the Re
publicans came into power. Posimastr
;cncrst Smith. unlike his prc,icccssors.
Sirve,l tho establishment Of many now
fontcs. In his annual report he said:
The benefits sccruins fr-m tho extension
~ ..lIl . -
lies msy he SUMMARY q. fciinws In.
( kr-ascd postal rrcrip-. making many of
bhr now deliveries almost immediately
k~if. support ms Enhancement "f the vain"
I-,t~r price, obislncd for farm .rr.durt.
lhroneh more direct cnm,"anirn,ion with
lhe markets aud prornptrT Information "f
komr hundreds OF Iniic. "f country rnsd..
bcrn graded specifically In order TO obtain
Rurnl free delivery. Higher esiucnti In.
buence-. broader circulation NJ the means
\ kri With the great world of activity citrnd.
III to the homes of heretofore isobScd rural
! kon,muhittes.
what Mckinley Said.
Prcsfcnt Mckinley. In his mcssaRc
10 Congress In moo. speaking Of the
POSTAL service. said
Its most striking new Development Ia the
Ixtcnsion Of rural free delivery.
fhis service amciiornt"s tn. Isolation nf
Jnrtn llfr, ronducr. to eood roads. and
|uickcnv and extends the dissemination Of
|rneraI Information EAp-rirncr thus far
las tended to allay tho apprehension that
would he expensive ns to forbid tts
cnrrai adoption or make u a serious bur.
\ len Its actual application ha. shown that
Increases postal receipts aud can br me-
1 k,mpapicd by reduction In other branches
l tho service. 80 that tho augmented rev.
|nucs aud accomplished saving together
Materially reduce the net cost.
When President Roosevelt assumed
Nn,ca he vigorously chnmpioncsl extension
Id the service. In his first mcssnRe to
fongrsrs he sal,l
II Among recent postal advances tho Success
/ rnrnI free delivery wherever established
M been 40 marked aud actual experience
\ ~ nindr Its benefits so plain that the de-