The Penn's Grove record., 1904-10-28
CREDIT TO WHOM DUE.
OINTIIII To HUM q
Thomas E. Watson and A Democratic
Congress Started Free Rural

Cn6 Tree rural delivery. NOG only old
the Democrats in the national halls of
Congress not aid in the creation of this
branch of the post-office Department,
but they as well %endeavored in every
possible manner to balk the Republicans
plans. These obstruction methods
awaited them nothing beyond delaying
the carrying out of the plans, and to-
day, solely through the efforts of the
Republican party thousands upon thou
sands of the residents of the rural dis
tricts are enjoying the service"
1t is nothing unusual for the G.. O.
P. to claim credit for all the great
blessings and benefits both of Provid-
ence and legislation. and many editors
have not the information to know bet
ter.
The following from the Nebraska
Independent will enlighten many. 9th
ers who have missinformed their read
ers will please copy:
Due credit must be given the repub-
Ican administration for developing this
gigantic system of rural free delivery.
The republicans have always been Law
1sh money-spenders-but this is the first
instance where public revenues have
been expended under republican direc-
tion in the interest Of ALL the people,
instead of for a favored f~ew-because
it is just as desirable for the urbaniteto
be able to reach his rural brother by
quick mail service, as it is for the rural
citizen to be reached.
The greatest credit for any blessing
to mankind is always accorded him in
whose mind the thing originated. No
body today thinks of giving credit to
present day makers of steam engines
for the application of steam power to
manufacturing and transportation, but
the public mind instinctively turns to
Watts, Robert Fulton and a few others.
The blessing of rural free delivery is
due to the "energy and well directed
efforts'' Of Hon. Thomas E. Watson,
OF Georgia, the peoples party candidate
for president. He it was who, seeing
free delivery of mail in the larger cities
a grand success, and seeing Postmaster
General Wanamaker's experiments
with free delivery in smaller cities and
and towns (under the misleading nam
of %"rural'' delivery, conceived the idea
that if the United States could expend
the public revenues in delivering mail
to the urban population, equal rights
to all, special privileges to none" alb
%solutely demanded that the rural pop
ulation should have similar service.
For the benefit of those who may be
mystifed by the claims and counter
claims Of various individuals. The In
dependent has taken the trouble to
make a thorough investigation of the
Congressional Record. Last year both
senators from Georgia (Clay and Ba-
con) made the claim in behalf of Mr..
Watson and the state Of Georgia for
originating the idea of real rural free
delivery-and it was not c~ontroverted
by any senator present. The following
quotations from the record can be veri-
fed by any person who will take the
trouble to do SO:
Mr.. Clay: Mr.. President, an exami-
nation Of the Congressional Record of
February IL, 1893, shows that the post
Office appropriation bill wa pending in
the house of representatives and when
an item of free delivery service, includ-
ing existing experimental free delivery
offices, of ST., 254 ,943 was reached.
Hon. T. E. Watson, who was then a
member of the house of representatives
from Georgia, introduced the following
(. amendment:
For free delivery service, including
existing experimental free delivery
offices, $11,294 943, of which sum S10,-
900 shall be applied, under the direc-
ton of the postmaster general, to ex-
perimental free delivery in rural COM
munities other than towns and villages.
Mr.. Loud. That is already provided
for; the gentleman will accomplish
nothing by his amendment.
Mr.. Watson: 1t is not provided for
in rural districts other than towns and
villages. There is no experimental SER
vice in rural communities other than
towns and villages.
Mr.. Buchanan of New Jersey: You
mean truly rural"
MI. Watson: Yes, sir; the real coun-
try.
MI. Holman: / think there is some
misrepresentation as to the law on this
subject. / would like to ask the gen.
tleman from North Carolina in charge
CT this bill what the existing law is?
Mr.. Henderson of North Carolina,
There is no law on the subject provid-
ing for rural free delivery or expert