Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-06-19
Iona Newspapers
AN EVOLUTION.
[Sioux CITY Journal.


The government has expended
great deal Of money in expanding ana
lettering the postal service. 1t has
carried and is still carrying mail at
loss. The proceeds of good business
have gone and are still going TO help
with the deficit Of bad business.
Many mai! trains do not pay. and the
fast mai, is a high grade luxury. The
aim of the government backed by the
representatives OF the people in con-
gress. is. and for many years mas
been to serve the people as nearly
without discrimination as possible y
2-cent stamp will carry a letter from
New York to San Francisco. and the
letter will be gathered from the point
Of most convenience 10 the sender ana
at its destination delivered 10 the
street number indicated in the ad-
dress-all for . cents, Free collection
and delivery in the cities in the course
of time suggested the expansion OF the
privilege to people residing in the
country-to the farmers.
Free rural devilery has been great
boon 10 country life, II has placed the
farmer in daily touch with his market
town and with wha, is going on IN the
world The telephone and the auto
mobile are collaterals Of free rural de-
livery OF mail. All things have
worked together for better living in
the country. In many ways the druid
gerry Of the farm has been hghtened,
and with the betterment has come an
Increased measure OF Intelligence. OF
independence. and of appreciation OF
opportunity.
Was free rural delivery mistake !?
The prosperous farmer carries cash
balance. Nothing contributes more to
the freedom OF the customer than
cash balance Thus equipped the
farmer can go from store to store. and
he can sit down a, home with his
newspaper and his magazine and feel a
genuine interest In bargains. II was all
trade on credit. In all forms Of bond
age little knowledge has been found
TO be a dangerous thing.
The farmer would like to have his
mail privileges still further enlarged
He would like to be able TO order
small parcels from his town merchant
TO be delivered by his mail carrier on
the next trip He would like TO or
der from a distant marke, II it suits
hiS purpose: and how is he TO be pre-
vented and is il worth while 10 Try to
prevent him"
Wherever there is railroad station
there is the service Of some express
company The express company. If it Is
so minded can serve in the carrying
Of parcels in successful competition
with the postoffice department and this
suggests way OF regulation OF the
/ charges Of express companies. The
town man can have the express pack
age delivered 10 his door, and the farm
er would IKE 70 share in that kind OF
service But the local merchant Is in
c!ined 20 say that the farmer is already
giving too much of his business 10
mail order Understanding, OF course.
the big houses that issue attractive
catalox. The local merchant is a firm
believer In the policy Of trading at
home: and ye, he may not live strictly
70 that principle in making his own
purchases.
Opposition TO the parcels post comes
from the express companies and from
traders not very largely engaged IN
mail order business. There were those
who feared that free rural delivery un-
der existing law would swamp the
treasury Of tine postoffice department.
but such misfortune has not happened.
II may De lNdI the pdECeIs punt ~oo'eA
prove burdensome: but 1t Is a fair pre-
sumption that the express companies
! would do what they could to make II
otherwise.
Men in all relations will do what
they can to protect and advance their
! personal interests. In way. compe-
tition was never more active than 1t Is
now when so much is said about throt-
! ting competition. Communities are
competitors; trade centers are COM
! petitors character and mentality serve
everywhere in the competitive struggle
! for self preservation and supremacy. Ii
ough, not TO be disheartening to find
, that rural life is encouraged to enter
| into competition with town life.
| People ought to prefer to trade at
home, and traders should be diligent
in the work OF making it easy and de-
! sirable 70 trade at home. But what
We are trying to DO generally In this
country is to weaken, IL not destroy
unjust and unequal discrimination
And very considerable Roadway mas
been made in that cause
! The local dealer and the loca! trade
should be the best OF friends; they
should strive FOR the betterment OF con-
ditions and the advancement Of mutual
interests. They can not afford to be Al
enrnity