The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1906-04-04

ton. received a letJer from one OF our
readers. l.. NJ. Parker, asking him how
ne stood OH the parcels post question.
This is what Mr.. Humphrey says:
[ do not agree with you that the
time has come for a parcel post in this
country This law has been urged
especially by William r. Hearst, a
member of Congress from New York,
who has drawn his pay from the
Government for the last two years,
and L think | am safe in saying that
in all that time he has not attended to
his duties five days-at least l have
never seen him present in the House
in that time but twice. Yours truly,
w. e. Humphrey
In reply to this Mr.. Humphrey re-
ceived what might be called a warm
one, in which he was asked how Mr.
Hearst. The people want the parcels
Congress if he spent only five days
there. In reply to this Mr.. Humphrey
says:
Referring once more to the parcel
post. 1t is true that Willie does not
attend to his duties in Congress, but
Willie sits at home and "Willie's
Ma furnishes the money to publish
letters and documents to send broad
cast throughout the country to stir
UP Il sentiment in favor of the bill to
which "Willie's' name happens to be
attached. l am strongly inclined to
think that there is much merit in your
suggestion that there should be some
means whereby small savings of the
people could be deposited and absolute
ly protected, and | am in favor of any
practical scheme along this line. As
L have stated to you before, l do not
believe that, in the condition of our
postal revenues though it were
otherwise dViSable-the time has
come for the adoption of the parcel
post law. This law is universally Cd
posed, so far as L have been able to
learn, by all classes except the great
department stores of our cities who
desire to mOnopOlize this business. and
who could, and would, easily form a
trust to advance prices, and those peO-
pie who live in small towns, and some
of the farmers, but the smaller stores.
both in cities and villages, and COM
mercial bodies, have almost universal
ly condemned it. Yours truly,
w. e. Humphrey.
MI. Harker started out to learn
something, and he will do so before
he gets through. This is what he sent
back:
Il have all the big mail order
houses catalogues, and receive from
one to six letters monthly from them
and few others, and in no case has
any of them mentioned parcel post;
all of them claim there is no profit to
them in small orders, and ask as a
favor to have neighbOr club with you
or wait till you can increase yours
to such proportions as to send by
freight or express. As to their form
ing trust and raising the prices, if
they did We would still have the little
stores left to fall back
on. 'Willie's' bill must have some
merits in it, or 'Willie's Ma thinks
there is, or 'Willie'S Ma would not
furnish the money to push it. Please
ask Willie to send me a CODY, so /
may see whether | think there is or
not
The average Congressman either
doesn't know what he is talking about,
or else thinks some childish bluff will
satisfy the people. That is where he
is mistaken. 1t is hard to think of a
a more foolish policy than Mr.. Humph-
rey is following in regard to Mr..
Hearst. The people want the parcels
post and do not care who gets it for
them-thOugh they will remember
MN! For one man who is doing no