The Oskaloosa herald., 1911-01-12
ANENT PARCELS POST
Some of the Reasons Why the Sys-
TEN Would be Bad for ALL.
(Consributed.)

Ia
Post question. Only one side has
ever been presented to the consum-
ing public, owing 20 the fact that the
mail order publications are interested
in getting the Local Parcels Post bill
through to build up the mail order
houses, as naturally the more the
farmers order by mail The more the
mail order interests feel justified in
!, spending for advertising in farm pa
pers, and so the system grows by
what it feeds on.
The idea has become prevalent that
there is very little opposition to the
Parcels Post, and While to a certain
extent that is fact, nevertheless,
there are more than million and a
half mercantile concerns in this com
try that are opposed to it.
The bill that is now before con-
gress asks for local rural parcels
post system. That is, the govern
ment is being asked to transport
packages of about eleven pounds in
weight along the rural routes, but
this package must start, if Uncle
Sam is going to, carry it, at the local
rural free delivery central station;
which, in short, is asking subsidy
20 help the retail mali order houses
, of the country develop at the ex-
pense of the small towns.
The census returns are now COM
, ling in and these returns indicate
that the large cities are increasing in
populaton whine the small towns OF
the country are barely holding their
own or decreasing. so that it is evil
dent that the drift of population is
, toward the large cities. Population
, always follows trade. Too much
Capitalization, either in government
or in cities, is a bad thing. Village
life and the citizenship developed by
lit constitute the only hope for the
a Iperpetuity of the free institutions OF
y this country. The most grave and
y serious dangers that now menace our
o future, result from the overgrowth oil
the large cities and the consequent
q degeneration of the average citizen
. shin of the nation. In the place OF
-, the plain people, whose country en-
E vironment has made them stable
\ steady-headed, self-reliant and indie
p pendent in thought and character
! we would have the volatile city multi
tude-a floating population anchored
to nothing, owing to real estate OF
property, and blown about by every
!, breeze of popular prejudice or pas
Cd du or rach nynnrimpnt
!. social or political. ~
. There was so much opposition
!. from all parts of the country and
! from the Express companies to the
|. general Parcels Post bill that its ad
vocates withdrew il and dragged in
! this wooden horse of the Greeks" la
being it the Local Rural Parcels
q Post" This proposition is supposed
Ito please the farmer because he Is
supposed to get something for nom
ing. It is supposed (firsD to please
the country merchant, because he
. will be able to deliver his goods out
: on the rural free delivery routes
without a wagon and horses of his
. own. (Second) 1t is supposed tC
please Uncle Sam, because his empty
rural free delivery wagons will travel
: loaded. (Third) 1t is supposed tc
be against the express companies, be
. cause if Uncle Sam carries the goods
= they won't get the business. Bur
when it is analysed it can readily be
seen that these suggestions are moi
true.
II the Local Rural Parcels Posi-
bill were passed (firss) the advant
ages to the farmer would only be
temporary because this bill would
! give a monopoly of the trade to the
one or two great retail mail order
houses that are equipped 20 handle
| it, and it would not be long before
this mail order trust had its hand a.
the consumers throat, choking grea1
a er profit from him, without any com
t pensating return than the retail deal
D er, with his present multitude Of
: competitors, will ever be able to do
t (Second) The local merchant is
E not equipped with the paraphernalia
J. to get general business from the con
SuHleT uultSS me COlouluSi SoIhSs
into his store.
81 (Third) Last year the government
) incurred a deficit that amounted to
! approximately $27,000,0O0 in operat
/ ling the rural free delivery system
} which was limi.ed to the carriage OF
/. mail matter and merchandise up to
four pounds. A great many of the
most successful routes are made on
horseback, over country that is mac
. cessibie to wagon, so thai the deficit
in. spite of the income received from
/. the carriage of packages, would be
J very much greater than at present
and the taxpayers, as a whole, would
have to pay increased saxes to make
lup the loss incurred by this subsid
lied system.
| Any measure that jeopardizes the
business OF the local dealer leopard
, ICES just as strongly the business OF
the farmer, who depends upon the
J dealer not only to furnish his necessi'
dies but TO take his produce. II the
Local Rural Parcels Post bill is pass
ed the small town will be eliminated