The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-12-20
MAKES SPIRITED ATTACK
ON PROPOSED PARCELS POST
Scheme Utterly Opposed To
Good Business Principles"
Says Cleveland Man.

In plain, straightforward talk that
rang with conviction, John A. Green,
OF Cleveland, secretary of the Ma
tional Retail Grocers' association. de
nounced the proposed parcels post
law before the Detroit Credit Mems
association, in the Hotel Pontchar-
train, Tuesday evening.
The proposed parcels post is ut
terly opposed TO good business prin-
ciples, said Mr.. Green The physi-
cal conditions of the country, the
large area, make Il impossible to op-
crate IL on a fiat rate without a huge
deficit. Ii would centralize trade in
the large cities, and would. therefore.
intensity the problems OF centralized
population, for population follows
trade. II would decrease the number
OF farmers and. therefore. tend to in
crease the cost of living. II would
wipe ont the small farms and isolate
the American farmer, who is the bull
wark OF our civilization. II 1t were
carried out to the end II could result
I'm the decay OF our national institu-
tions and end in monarchial form
of government. The tendency to
monopoly would be greatly increased
by the parcels post. II is worth while
stopping to consider whether these
dangers are worth incurring for the
sake of getting back at the express
companies which may have been
charging too much for their service"
Mr. Green then went on TO describe
the result Of the parcels post on the
commercial system in England, and
ha Itc nf hn NNyfnf nj nf IN
small shopkeeper. and showed why
the conditions which we're urged as
proving the success of the parcels
post in Europe had no bearing on
the conditions in the United States.
Let us not turn commercialism
from its regular and normal chan
nels," said Mr.. Green. Let us not
stifle that spirit OF individualism
which has made America, but let us
rather foster 1t and open free field
for fair fight, and may the best
man win"
Preceding Mr.. Green, Referee in
Bankruptcy Lee f. Joslyn spoke to
the members on the creation OF a
fund for the prosecution OF fraudulent
debtors. He laid special emphasis on
the stock jobbing companies which get
into the bankruptcy courts after OBJ
tanning credit on the strength of a
capitalization based on assets which
consists of property of decidedly
doubtful value.
When you have convicted few
Of the men who are defrauding the
pyJlic as well as the business men,
and the fact that you have a fund for
the prosecution OF fraudulent debtors
becomes generally known. the at
tempts TO defraud will diminish" said
Mr.. Joslyn. 1T Is a duty that you
owe to your community"
Prosecutor Hugh Shepherd followed
along the same line and offered the
services of his department in aiding
10 bring fraudulent debtors TO justice.
He paid high tribute TO the work OF
the newspapers in showing up wrong.
doing, and said that IL the same pub.
licity were given to the work OF the
association along that line as was
given 20 the work that has been done
by the prosecutor there would soon be
very few fraudulent debtors.
The annual election OF officers re-
suited In the reelection OF William
a. PetZold, of the ]. l.. Hudson Co, as
president A L. Johnson. OF the PIN
gree Co, yice-president, and Charles
r. Talbot. Of the National Bank OF
Commerce, treasurer. The following
executive committee was elected Ed
ward Bland. John Ballantyne. II A
Eberline, +. r. Hamburger. Wade
Mills and Charles b. Sawyer