Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1904-09-16
RURAL FREE DELIVERY
Bye. FRANCE THE independent" Lincoln, Neb,
August

growing so rapidly that one tesitates
to name any figures tending to show
the number of people served. AS long
ago as November, 1902. nearly twelve
thousand routes had been established;
the carriers engaged travelled 275,O00
miles of country roads and served
about seven millions OF the strictly
rural population with their daily mail.
It Is likely that the number Is much
nearer ten millions today.
Give the Devil His Due.
Due credit must be given the repuD-
lican administration for developing
this gigantic system of rural free de-
livery. The republicans have always
been lavish money-spenders-but this
s the first instance where public reve-
lues have been expended under repub-
,ican direction in the interest OF ALL
the people, instead of for favored
'ew-because it is just as desirable for
he urbanite to be able to reach his
'ural brother by quick mail service, as
is for the rural citizen to be
reached.
Where Greatest Credit Belongs.
The creates credit for any blessing
@ mankind is always accorded him in
yhose mind the thing originated. No
]ody today thinks of giving credit to
present day makers of steam engines
or the application of steam power to
manufacturing and transportation, but
he public mind instinctively turns to
Watts. Robert Fulton and few others.
The blessing of rural free delivery is
lue to the energy and well directed
,fforts" Of Hon. Thomas e. Watson OF
Georgia, the peoples party candidate
or president. He it was who, seeing
rec delivery of mail in the larger
titles grand success, and seeing Post
master General Wanamaker's expert
nents with free delivery in smaller
titles and towns (under the misleading
,ame of rural delivery, conceived
he idea that if the United States could
,xpend the public revenues in deliver
ng mail to the urban population,
equal rights to all. special privileges
o none," absolutely demanded that the
ural population should have similar
ervice. Mr.. Watson was too far
lighted a statesman to attempt the
establishment of rural free delivery at
me fell swoop. He knew the forces
,e had to deal with. He knew how
lifficult it would be to secure an ap-
,ropriation to be expended in behalf
If any but the beneficiaries of special
privileges in control of the govern
1ent. So his first demand was so
uodest-only a paltry $4,000, mere
'agatelle to the spenders of billions Of
he peoples money-that, with persist
mt watching and hard fighting, he
'nally secrued what he asked for.
Republicans Compelled to Act.
For something like four years the
,ostal authorities refused to expend
he Watson appropriations; but finally
start was made in small way. one
# the first routes being out of Hyatts-
lille, Md. So rapidly did the system
pring into public favor that the re-
publican administration was compelled
develop it, even in face of the
knowledge that the sOcialiZing effects
VI rural free delivery must finally ac-
omplish the overthrow of that party
COR the farmer has been, and still Is.
he mainstay of the republican party,
ut after his intense individualism Is
7orn away by the use of rural tele-
homes. rural free delivery of mails
God roads and the like, he will be
etter equipped for cooperative action
nd this will ultimately take him away
rom the G. o. p. Cooperation among
armers has been difficult of accom-
''ishment heretofore. because cooper
ton can not live without ready com
,unication. And the rapid growth o.
lrmers' cooperative shipping associa-
IONS can in large measure be traced
'irectly to that then unnoticed appro-
ration of ten thousand dollars Sc
ured by Mr.. Watson.
Always Spurious Claimants.
Wherever blessing to mankind has
cen introduced. it is not long befor'
defenders spring up on every hand
laiming the credit for its discovery OF
Introduction. Credit for the blessine
# rural free delivery is due directly
Thomas e. Watson. AS the Mis-
ouri World truthfully remarks:
Every one of the tens of thousands o.
'ural mail boxes is stump speech If
'avor of Tom Watson for president >
Md on election day there will be tens
f thousands of farmers who will re.
member the stump speech made by his
nail box.
For the benefit of those who may
'e mystified by the claims and coun-
erclaims of various individuals. The
Independent has taken the trouble to
make thorough investigation of the
Congressional Record. asst year both
,enators from Georgia (Clay and Ba-
'on) made the claim in behalf of Mr.
Watson and the state of Georgia for
originating the idea of real rural free
,elivery-and it was not controverted
W any senator present. The following
quotations from the record can be veri-
ed by any person who will take the
lrouble to do so.
Senator cIay's Proof.
Mr. Clay: Mr.. President, l desire to
-ay to the senator in charge of this bill
hat | wish to submit some remarks
and that l shall not take more than
'en or fifteen minutes of the time of
he senate.
The Presiding officer: Does the SEN
'tor from Illinois yield to the senator
rom Georgia?
Mr.. Mason: yield to the senator
'or his remarks. but the senator from
Maryland (Mr McComas) has asked
-