The daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1904-1905, 1904-10-18

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
ADMINISTRATION 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 a boon to the people has
been bitterly fought by Democratic Con-
gressmen, urged on by Democratic news
papers.
Democracy has been we'll 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
" half of every session of Congress is
wasted by Democrats either in openly
fibustering or in talking against time,
with the view of delaying or killing bills
that would benefit the people.
VII of Congress Defied.
And Democratic opposition to benefi-
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 Harrisons admins
tration Republican Congress APP
propriated $4,000 for the purpose of
establishing experimental rural free de-
livery routes, and Postmaster General
Wanamaker began experiments on six
routes. Before anything material could
be done, however, Democratic admin
istration came into power. Mr.. Bissell
was appointed Postmaster General, and
he, with Mr.. Clevelands consent, de-
clined to carry out the law. Congress
appropriated money again, with the same
fesut-A DEMOCRATIC ADMINS
TRATION THE SECOND TIME DE
FLED THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE,
AS EXPRESSED THROUGH THEIR
REPRESENTATIVE 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
mllflOnS OF uOllhrS
1t ia 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 a Democratic administra-
ton 1t was a case of the servant die
tating to the master-an unwarranted
usurpation of power for a harmful pur-
pose.
What Republicans 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 are here
REPRODUCED The first appropriation for
rural free delivery was $4,000, in 1894.
The same amount was allowed by Con
gress 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 a dozen rural mai
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, 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
Of postal facilities to the rural commun1
ties may be summarized follows: In
creased postal receipts: making many o
self-supporting. Enhancement OF the valu
of farm lands reached by this service ant
better prices obtained for farm product
through more direct communication witt
the markets and prompter information o
their state. Improved means Of travel
some hundreds OF miles OF country country roads
been graded specifically in order to ohtai
rural free delivery. Higher educational in
nuences, 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
communities.
What Mckinley Said.
President Mckinley, in his MESA g
to Congress in 1900 speaking Of tn
postal service, said:
Its most striking new development is til
extension Of rural free delivery.
This service ameiorates the isolation {
Quickens and extends the dissemination
general information. Experience thus I;
has tended to allay the apprehension, :, thu
1t would be expensive as to forbid i
general adoption make 1t a serious bu
den. Its actual application has shown Thu
1t increases postal receipts and can be a
eompaned by reduction in other branch
of the service. so that the augmented re
enues and accomplished saving togeth
materially reduce the net cost.
When President Roosevelt ASSUME
Office he vigorously championed extensi'
of the service. In his first message
Congress he said:
Among recent postal advances the succe
Of rural free delivery wherever establish
has been so marked and actual experien
A.s suade fen benents % plain that the {