The La Jara chronicle., 1904-10-21

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duc.d is the claim made by some of the
leaders of that party that the blessings
of the rural free delivery system were
conferred on farmers by Democracy. No
more patent untruth was ever uttered.
INSTEAD OF PROMOTING RURAL
TREE DELIVERY, A DEMOCRATIC
ADMINISTRATION FLATI.Y RE-
FUSED TO HAVE ANYTHING TO
DO WITH THE MATTER. EVEN
AFTER CONGRESS- HAD APPRO-
PRIATED MONEY TO ESTABLISH
ROUTES.
The fact is. DEMOCRACY ALWAYS
HAS BEEN \ STUMBLING BLOCK
IN THE PATH OF PROGRESS.
Every great national policy that has
proved TO he n 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
tlbustering or in talking against time,
with the view of delaying or killing bills
that would benefit the people
VIII of Congress Defied.
And Democratic opposition to a bench
cent act does not always cease when
Congress has passed the law. as was the
case with rural free delivery. Near the
close Of President Harrison's adminis-
tration a Republican Congress ap-
propriated $4,000 for the purpose of
establishing experimental rural free de-
livery routes, and Postmaster General
.Lr.r i'm. SiN
routes. Before anything material could
lie done, however, a Democratic admin
istration came into power. Mr.. Bissell
was appointed Postmaster General, and
he, with Mr.. Cleveland's consent, de-
clined to carry out the law. Congress
appropriated money again. with the same
Iesult-A DEMOCRATIC ADMINS
TRATICN THE SECOND TIME DE
FLED THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE.
AS EXPRESSED THROUGH THEIR
REPRESENTATIVES, IN CON
GRESS, AND REFUSED TO IN
AUGURATE THE RURAL FREE
DELIVERY SYSTEM.
Mr.. Wilson followed Mr.. Bissell as
Postmaster General and he also decided
that rural free delivery was impracti-
same opinion, basing his objection to the
scheme on the ground that it would cost
millions of dollars.
II is thus shown that Democracy did
the very opposite of inaugurating rural
free delivery. Members of that party
fought it in both houses of Congress,
and President Cleveland and his cabinet
officers put themselves above the legis-
lative branch of the government, and
virtually told Congress that it was sub
ordinate to Democratic administra-
ton Ii was a case of the servant die
tating to the master-an unwarranted
usurpation of power for a harmful pur-
pose.
What Republican,. Did.
To further show how utterly false is
Democracy's claim to the honor Of giving
farmers free delivery of their mail. fig
ures from government reports here
reproduced. The first appropriation for
rural free delivery was $4,000. in 1894.
':he same amount was allowed by Com
rrcss for 1895 and 1896, but the money
was not used for the purpose intended,
"a has already been stated. In 1897 g..
when the Mckinley administration came
into power, only half dozen rural mail
routes had been established, and these
had been partially put into operation
four years previously under President
Harrison. Democracy did nothing dur
ing the Cleveland administration, except
to block the wheels of progress.
Now mark the difference when the Re
publicnns came into power. Postmaster
General Smith. unlike his predecessors.
urged the establishment of many new
routes. In his annual report he said:
The benefits accruing from the extension.
Of postal facilities to the rural commuui-
lies may br summarized ms follows: In
creased postal receipts: making many Of
sclfsupporting. Enhancement Of the value
~ farm lands reached by this service and
better prices obtained Tor h,rm product.
through more direct communication with
the mnrk"ts aud prompter Information uf
their state. Improved means Of travel.
especially Ia the Western States. having
been graded specifically In order TO obtain
rural free delivery. Higher educational In-
ruenccs. broader circulation Of the means
II public Intelligence. and closer daily con
tact with the great world Of activity extend
rd To the homes Of heretofore Isolated rural
communities,
what Mckinley Said.
President Mckinley. in his messa ge
to Congress in 1900, speaking of the
postal service. said:
Its most striking new development is the
extension OF rural free delivery.
This service nmeliorntcs the isolation of
farm NE ronduces to good roads aud
qnickens aud extends the dissemination Of
general Information Experience thus far
has tended To alay the apprehension that
II would be so expensive ns to forbid its
general adoption or make II serious bur
It Increases postal receipts and can he ne
companied by reduction In other branches
of the service. that the augmented rev
enues and accomplished saving together
materially reduce the net cost.
When President II oscvelt assumed
Office he vigorously chnmpioned extension
Of the service. In his first message to
Congress he said:
Among recent postal advances the success
OF rural free delivery wherever established
has been So marked and nctual experience
has made its benefits SO plain that the de
mund for Its extension Is general aud ur.
gent. 1t Is Just ihnt the great agricultural
pI hNrn rncErLEp roo mEI