The Teton peak. [volume] (St. Anthony, Idaho) 1899-1904, 1904-10-20

1uced il the claim made by some OF the
leaders Of that party that the blessings
It 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
ADMINISTRATION FLATLY RE-
FUSED TO HAVE ANYTHING TO
DO WITH THE NATTER, 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 a boon to the people has
been bitterly fought by Democratic Con-
gressmen, urged on by Democratic news
oapers.
Democracy has been well named the
party of obstruction" Two-thirds of
che Congressional Record is taken up
With speeches and debate in opposition
% wise Republican measures, and near
b half of every session of Congress is
wasted by Democrats either in openly
llibustering or in talking against time,
With the view of delaying or killing bills
eAat would beneht the people.
Will of Congress Defied.
And Democratic opposition to a benef
cent act does not always cease when
Congress has passed the law, as was the
0se with rural free delivery. Near the
close of President Harrison's admins
evation Republican Congress APP
oropriated $4,000 for the purpose of
establishing experimental rural free de-
livery routes, and Postmaster General
Wanamaker began experiments on six
eoutes. Before anything material could
- done, however, a Democratic admin
istration came into power. Mr.. Bissell
was appointed Postmaster General, and
b, with Mr.. Clevelands consent, de-
elined to carry out the law. Congress
appropriated money again, with the same
eesult-A DEMOCRATIC ADMINS
TRATION 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-
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 Ia thus shown that Democracy did
tia 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-
htive branch Of the government, and
virtually told Congress that it was SUBJ
ordinate to a Democratic admnistra-
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
D~mocracy's claim to the honor of giving
farmers free delivery of their mail, fig
ores from government reports are here
reproduced. The first appropriation fol
rural free delivery was $4,000, in 1894
The same amount was allowed by Con
eress 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 mai
routes had been established, and thes'
had been partially put into operation
four years previously under Presiden
Harrison. Democracy did nothing dur
ing the Cleveland administration, excep
to block the wheels of progress.
Now mark the difference when the Re
publicans came into power. Postmaste
General Smith. unlike his predecessors
urged the establishment of many new
routes. In his annual report he said
The benefits accruing from the extension
e postal facilities TO the rural communi
ties may be summarized as follows: In
creased postal receipts, making many o
the new deliveries almost immediately
self.supporting. Enhancement of he valu
Of farm lands reached by this service an,
better prices obtained for farm product
through more direct communication wit
the markets and prompter information o
their state. Improved means of travel
some hundreds of miles of country roads
especially In the Western States havim
been graded specifically in order TO obta
rnral free delivery Higher educational In
duences broader circulation of the mean
Of public intelligence, and closer daily cor
tact with the great world OF activity extend
ed to the homes Of heretofore Isolated rura
e0mmunities.
What Mckinley Said.
President Mckinley, in his messag
70 Congress in 1900, speaking of tn
postal service, said:
its most striking new development il til
9tsnsion of rural free delivery.
3his service ameliorates the isolation g
farm life. condnces to good roads, an
Gulckens and extends the dissemination c
general information. Experience thus IA
has tended to alay the apprehension tha
& would be expensive to forbid II
general adoption or make a serious bu
Cen Its actual application has shown ths
increases postal receipts and can be II,
eompanied by reduction In other branche
- thA fha
snues and accomplished saving togeths
oaterially reduce the net cost
When President Roosevelt assume
enlce he vigorously championed extensio
Of the service. In his first message
Congress he said:
Among recent postal advances the success
e rural free delivery wherever establishe
Aas been SO marked and actual c1perienc
has made its benefits 50 plain that the d
0and for Its extension Is general and u
Geaf. II I, just that the great sgricultur,