Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1908-10-28
WORLDWIDE
PENNY POSTAGE
Made Possible by Recent Robust,
Constructive Republican
Policy.
Convention Between America and
England in Effect Oct. Its
Blessings TO Foreign
Born Citizens.
ORDER NO. 1867.

Inc Postal Administration of Great
Britain having concurred therein:
1t is hereby ordered, That, commence
ing on the 1st day Of October, 1908,
the postage rate applicable to letters
mailed In United States, addressed for
delivery at any place in the United
Kingdom Of Great Britain and Ireland,
shall be two (2) cents an ounce or frac-
ton Of an ounce.
Letters unpaid or short paid shall be
dispatched to destination, but double
the deficient postage, calculated at said
rate, shall be collectible of the ad-
dresses upon the delivery of the I'M
paid or short paid letters.
G. V. L. MEYER,
Postmaster General
Behind this simple statement is a
vast amount of Republican construc-
tive Legislation which resulted in the
significant accomplishment, set forth
by the Postmaster General. 1t is elo-
quently prophetic of worldwide pen
ny postage, for which the credit will be
due to Republican administration.
Sixth Universal Postal Congress.
The Sixth Universal Postal Congress
convened in the city of Rome, Italy
April and continued until May 90,
1905. SiXty-tive countries, including the
United States, were represented. The
assembly was for the purpose of dis
cussing the postal systems of all nations
and, If possible agreeing upon measures
for the improvement in all practical
ways, Of the regulations governing in
ternational intercourse through the
mails. The first congress of this kind
met In Berne, Switzerland. In 1874.
The United States Postoffice Depart
ment was represented in this World
Postal Congress by two delegates-the
Superintendent OF Division of Foreign
Mails. as in previous postal congresses,
and the Hon. Edward Rosewater of the
Omaha Bee, who had also served in the
preceding postal congress.
Move for Universal Penny Postage.
At this Universal Postal Congress
representatives OF the United States
proposed universal two-cent postage
to all, a.'ti"as- Tha Hon. J. Hvnnik~r-
Heaton, NJ. T., who is the father of the
two-cent idea In England. speaking of
Americas action at the Rome conven-
ton, in standing out for universal
two-cent postal rate said:
The British members stood coldly
by. They did not recognize that this
was great historic occasion, a worthy
parallel of that solemn scene on July
1, l1I6. when the Declaration Of indie
pendence was adopted: for II the
Americans are willing to adopt penny
postage To all parts Of the world. IL fol-
lows that they are willing TO establish
1t to the British Empire and form with
us Restrictive Postal Union.'"
The Hon Whitelaw Reid Americas
Republican minister to the Court of ST.
James praised the work of the Ameri-
can delegation and solicited the friendly
cooperation of the British government
at Fourth of July banquet speech In
London in 1906 Mr. Reid said:
THE American people hoped for
closer and cheaper communications
with all other nations as the best means
OF promoting better acquaintance and
friendship. They were
gratitied TO find that the British apostle
of penny postage Mr.. Heaton) at this
moment focusing his efforts on what
ought TO be the easy task Of perSuad-
ing the authorities on both sides of the
Atlantic, that ii was rs cheap TO carry
"A letter from London to New York as
from London to Calcutta; or from New
York to Mainland quite as useful"
American Republicans Lead the WAY
So it has come 10 pass that the Unit
ed States. under its Republican admin
iStration, has finally succeeded in en-
tering into a convention with Great
Britain whereby after the LIST OF Octo-
Der this year. two-cent postage rate
will obtain between this country and
England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
We already have such an arrangement
with Canada, Mexico, Cuba, Panama
and our colonial possessions. This great
accomplishment is universally recog-
nized as the proper beginning which is
TO result in a universal two-cent postage
rate around the world
Important Things Accomplished.
Two other important things that the |
Republican administration ACCOMPLISH |
ed at the Rome Universal Postal Con-
gress through its representatives, must
not be lost sight of. One was the adop- |
ton Of a universal return coupon |
stamp, in exchange for which upon its
at postofIice In another
country, the person presenting it shall |
receive a postage stamp Of the value of
3 cents, good in any country of the |
tb,,O apabIfpy naonIo