River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-10-20


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
FREE DELIVERY, A DEMOCRATIC
ADMINISTRATIVE FLATLY 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 A STUMBLING BLOCK
IN THE PATH OF PROGRESS.
Every great national policy that has
proved TO be II boon to the people has
been bitterly fought by Democratic Con-
grcssmen, 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
fiIibustering or i'll talking against time,
with the view of delaying or killing bills
that would benefit the people.
VIII of Congress Defied.
AuI Democratic opposition to beneh-
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 admins
tration Republican Congress APP
proIriated $4,000 for the purpose of
establishing experimental rural free de-
livery routes, and Postmaster General
Wauamaker began experiments OH six
routes Before anything material could
be done, however, Il Democratic admin
iStration came into power. Mr.. Bissell
was appointed Postmaster General, and
nc. with Mr. Cleyeland's consent, de-
cliucd to carry out the law. Congress
appropriated money again, with the same
Icsult-A DEMOCRATIC ADMINS
TRATION THE SECOND TIME De
FLED TIE WILL OF THE PEOPLE,
AS EXPRESSED THROUGH THEIR
REPRESENTATIV IN CON
GRESS. AND REFUSED TO IN
ACCURATE THE RURAL FREE
DELIVERY SYSTEM.
Mr.. Wilson followed Mr.. Bissell as
Postmaster General, and he also decided
that rural free delivery was impracti-
cable. President Cleveland was. Of the
same opinion, basing his objection to the
scheme on the ground that it would cost
millions of dollars.
1t 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-
lativc branch of the government, and
virtually told Congress that it was sub
ordinate to Democratic administra-
ton. 1t was case of the servant die
Eating to the master-an unwarranted
usurpation of power for a harmful pur-
pose.
What Republicans Did.
TO further show how utterly false is
Drmocracy's claim to the honor of giving
farmers free delivery of their mail, fig
urcS from government reports are here
reproduced The first appropriation for
rural free delivery was $4,000, in 1894.
The same amount was allowed by Con-
grcSS for 1895 and 1896, but the money
was not used for the purpose intended,
"a has already been stated. In 1897,
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.
New mark the difference when the Re
puhlicans came into power Postmaster
4 IL L., H.
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 communi
ties may be summarized as follows: In
creased postal receipts, making many Of
the new deliveries almost Immediately
Self-suppOrting. Enhancement of the value
Of farm lands reached by this service and
better prices obtained for farm products
through more direct communication with
the markets and prompter Information of
their state. Improved meaus of travel,
some hundreds of miles of country roads,
especially in the Western States, having
been graded specifically in order TO obtain
tiuenccs, broader circulation Of the means
OF public intelligence, and closer daily con-
tact with the great world of activity extend
ed to the homes Of heretofore Isolated rural
communities.
What Mckinley Said.
to Congress in 1900, speaking of the
postal service, said:
Its most striking new development is the
extension of rural free delivery.
This service ameliorates the isolation OF
farm life, conduces to good roads, and
duickenS and extends the dissemination of
general information. ENl nrience thus far
has tended to ailay the apprehension that
l. would be so expensive as TO forbid its
general adoption or make it a serious bur
den. Its actual application has shown that
it increases postal receipts and can be ac-
companied by reduction in other branches
of the service, so that the augmented rev
cnues and accomplished saving together
materially reduce the net cost.
When President Roosevelt assumed
office he vigorously championed 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 actual experience
has made its benefits so plain that the de-
Inand for its extension is general and ur-
81, AI,-r i.a,f1f, 74,al