The Springfield herald., 1904-10-21

fFODuDly tHe STeutcbL Va
Democratic gall the campaign has pro-
duced il the claim made by some of the
lenders 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-
xressmen, urged on by Democratic news
papers.
Democracy has been well named the
ssparty 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
6libustering or in talking against time.
with the view Of delaying or killing bills
that would benefit the people.
Will sf Coaeress DefeJ.
And Democratic opposition to bench
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 ap-
propriated $4,000 for the purpose of
establishing experimental rural free de-
Evorv routoa Postum General
Wanamaker begon experiments on six
routes. Before anything material could
be done, however, q 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
result-A DEMOCRATIC ADMINS
TRATICN THE SECOND TIME DE-
FLED THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE.
AS EXPRESSED THROUGH THEIR
REPRESENTATIVES, IN CON
GRESS, AND REFUSED TO IN
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-
lative branch of the government, and
virtually told Congress that it was sub
ordinate to Democratic administra-
ton. 1t was case of the servant die
tnting to the master-an unwarranted
usurpation of power for harmful pur-
pose.
What Republicans Did.
To further show how utterly false is
Democrncy'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,
as 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.
Now mark the difference when the Re-
publicans came into power. Postmaster
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 communi
ties may be summarized as follows In
IaI t.I nt.,ty FIttsV s.f
the deliveries almost immedia;clv
self.supportlng. Enhancement of the value
of fnrm 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 means of travel
some hundreds OF miles of country roads.
especially In the Western States. having
rural free delivery. Higher educational In
huences. 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.
President Mckinley, in his message
to Congress in 1900, speaking of the
postal service, said:
Its most striking new development Is the
extension of rural free delivery
This service amelorntes the isolation of
farm life, conduces to good roads. and
quickens and extends the dissemination of
general Information. Experience thus far
has tended TO allay the apprehension that
Il would be expensive as to forbid Its
general adoption or make 1t serious bur
den. Its actual application has shown that
II increases postal receipts and can be nc-
companied by reduction In other branches
of the service. so that the augmented rev
enues. and accomplished saving together
materially reduce the net cost.
When President Il osevelt assumed
office he vigorously clampioned 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 marked and actual experience
has made its benefits plain that the de
mnnd for its extension Is general and ur.
gent. 1t is just that the great agricultural