The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1910-12-09
Back to Principle.


Monthly says there is only one reason
now-the express trust. John Wanna
maker had several reasons why we
should have the parcels post and about
one hundred per cent OF these we're his
big retail stores. The National Monthly
has some reasons, but they do not seem
to be altogether moved by an unselfsh
and disinterested patriotism.
Wouldn't it be more consistent il the
National Monthly and other interests
which have been DINING the public
ears with this parcels post clamor, after
all these years trying to discredit the
Nebraska statesman, should acknowI-
edge that they were the false prophets
and Bryan the sage Of Democracy.
II the parcels post theory is demo-
cratic then government ownership or
control is democratic, eminently so. II
the government should make contract
with the railroads for the proposed par
GELS post then the government to that
extent becomes a common carrier and
assumes control of the transportation
OF merchandise up to the eleven-pound
limit The government has already
assumed function in CARRYING four
pounds OF merchandise not strictly in
keeping with the letter OF our organic
system. Ii it is right to assume that
this function should be extended to
eleven pounds, from the same mode of
reasoning why should there be limit
in weight or amount OF merchandise to
be carried by the government. In other
words, il it is right for the government
to sMSn@l the transportation of small
merchandise why is it not right for the
government to s&zrlnb-si+e tpansportas
eNnaaf=lasse-Elsrahanaiee II the par
GELS post is right government ownership
O. control is right, and il government
ownership or control is right then the
logic OF Bryan's theory was correct.
But with the premises we do not
agree--neither government ownership
or control nor the parcels post. But it |
would not be so embarrassing to us as
to the National Monthly to acknowl-
edge the force Of Bryan s reasoning.
There is no socialism 10 pure democ-
racy. 1t is rule OF the survival Of the
fittest. There is no argument on earth
to Justify the ground that the people
should not have merchandise as cheap
as they can get IT, But this condition
should exist through healthy, Iegiti-
mate commerce, and fair and honest
rivalry cannot exist between the big
dealer and the rural dealer when the
undertakes to carry the
big dealers merchandise to the con-
sumeHkthereby engaging in the bust
ness oka common carrier and coming
in competition and contact with the
small dealers and concomitant interests
in the rural communities. In this way
there is no equity: kThe rural dealer is
crushed not by an honest rival, but by
an unjust government. 1t seems to us
that the government is violating its sol
emn pledges when il undertakes to de-
stroy the principles Of equal and exact |
Justice in distributing its favors. 1t is !
neither the principle Of Democracy nor {
Republicanism. If the factories and i
Dig dealers should devise some means I
IF reducing charges and facilitating
without the aid of the i
government then the rivalry in bust '
less would no doubt be normal and n
ust. But government aid means gov I
'rnment expenditure, and to tax the y
public to maintain the parcels post mo d
nan can successfully deny that it will il
AXE millions) means that the public a
flAA1it 10 liANuQtNf w Ot Dtltllitu re- ID
elves practically no benefit, while the k
actories and big dealers are enriched a
nd the rural dealer is reduced or forced n
} close his door. Il
With all this in view, is there a true U
Democrat who wants to increase the re
lriff by the additional expenditure Of al
parcels post system2 Where is there G
le shadow Of an excuse for a Demo- Ii
-at to advocate the parcels post? Ii
There is more importance in this sub 10
ct than some people think. The par til
is post is not altogether radical in the til
-oposed form, but the interests sup al
,rting it are simply offering it as an en- di
ring wedge, and If the system should
lin foothold and grow the CONNER tn
al interests Of this country would be b
with an iron hand. Sc
-- Nf
Christmas and Santa Claus are on the in