The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-11-19
PARCELS POST WANTED.
President Barrett Says Insurgents,
Regulars and Democrats Must Get
Busy and Prividc THIS Necessity for
the American Farmee.

Farmers Union;
National in its scope. and including
every shade OF political belief In
America. IL Is essential that the Far
mers' Union get together In non
partisiam program for reforms In
which they are mutually interested.
regardless OF political divisions or
alignment.
One Of these reforms--or rather ad-
vancements-I believe II Is our spe-
cial duty To- push at the forthcoming
session OF congress Is the establish
ment Of parcels post
Last session. took a census of con-
gress and found that enough repre-
sentatives and senators were In favor
OR at least said they were in favor
of this feature to secure It's en-
actment In some form.
IL Is now incumbent upon US to get
In behind all congressman alike and
make them redeem this promise.
There Is just one obstacle In the
way. That Is the avarice Of the ex-
press companies. and OF few small
merchants who affect to believe their
revenues will be depleted by a par
cells post.
1t Is time the express companies
stopped cutting melons at the public
expense. and II Is time they stopped
halting rural developments In this
country because az their lust for div
idends.
Congressman all look alike to u.s..
Insurgents or regulars. democrats
or republicans. pcpulist or socialist
lit Is up TO them to come across and
give Ne something the entire country
wants ana that 40 man can logically
or honestly oppose
We have international lpsrcels post
agreement with as natJ,ns. with a
maximum weight OF II pounds. with
the postage IL cents per pound. The
maximum weight inside this side is
four pounds. The rate is l6 cents a
pound. II you want to send four
pound package even 10 miles, 1t will
cost you SO cents. You could send 1t
20 Naples or T.oudor for IS cents.
'. 10 parcels post is right. profitable
.nd feasible from on international
atandpoint. n is right. logical and
Profitable from a national stand
point.
The American farmer has an espe-
cial interest in an American parcels
post.
In England. where the maximum ~
IL pounds ana the. rate reasonable
the farmers Sre shipping eggs and
other tru~k products by post at such
rates as make II profitable to raise
these products.
Consider what the American ex-
press companies charge you for IL,
poun Is OF your farm products. eth
er fo- so or 500 miles and you see
where YOU are being bled.
Consider what IL would mean II
you had the advantage OF the British
peSsan,. IL would increase the value
OF thousands Of farms by large
hsure.
That Is just one OF the farmers
counts.
You are paying needless tribute on
every ounce OF supplies you receive.
IN the express classification. to the
express companies The aggregate
totals a tax OF millions upon Ameri-
can farmers each year There Is no
justice. no sense In this practice.
There L. another side To H. often
you are compelled 10 lose time and
spend money. sending into your
county site for bols food. clothing
or other supplies. a parcels post.
working In connection with the ru-
raj phone or the mail itself. would
reduce that expense by great big
fraction.
10 h this same rural parcels post
that does away with the argument of
the small merchant against the pro-
posed innovation. His trade would
Immensely prodt by II. And, at any
rate. he cannot hope much longer To
defect every item of farm trade from
the manufacturing centers. where
prices must be cheaper, TO himself.
These are some ~ the le ling rca-
sons why the farmer. why every
American citizen should be In favor
OF parcels post. Proper pressure
this season by letter and c0rversa-
tion upon congressman Of every party
viii get results before the end Of next
summer.
Charles $. Barrett
Union City. Ga, oct. 81. 1910.