The weekly Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1911-1922, 1911-12-21
MOON MAKES
ABLE ADDRESS
AT WASHINGTON
{ Continued from page 1 }


time tried method is superior is
evidenced by the fact that the re-
tail order houses have not been able
to meet this competition except by
cutting quality of goods.
A large retail mail order house
when indicted for using the mail to
defraud took refuge in the technical
ity that they would not be brought
from one judicial district to answer
in another. A manufacturer of
stockings has been shown to have
placed his regular brand upon stock
inngs sold by a retail mail order
house, inferior in material, length
and make, to those carrying his
brand and sold for a few cents
higher by retail merchants.
The analysis of guaranteed"
paint sold by such retail mail
order house. and containing "a per
cent water, was shown in the last
! hearings.
| The profits of such retail mail
order houses are generally larger
| than those of wholesaler retailer
combined. The statement OF one
large retail mail order corporation
issued Dee. 81, 1910 showed that
their net profits were u per cent of
the stock on hand. Some people
evince a peculiar pride in buying
away from home. The allurements
of pictures and catchy advertising
do the work with undiscriminating
buyers. The high cost of living
may be often better called the cost
Of high living. Complaint is as gen.
eral in countries having Parcels Post
as in the United States. Dispatches
from France, England, Germany
etc., tell Of high prices for food
stuffs. Congestion of population in-
to large cities is one cause for this
condition. In England and Wales
both of which have Parcels Post
from 1891 to 1901 the population OF
cities of 100000 to 100000 increased
44.61 per cent while in cities from
5000 to 10000 the population de-
creased 3.51 per cent. In towns
and cities under 5000 the population
decreased 1898 per cent. The rural
population increased only 2.94 pei
cent. In Scotland in cities over
10000 the population increased 1855
per cent, in the villages % per cent
In the rural districts it decreased
400 per cent.
Sentiment for Parcels Post has
been largely manufactured by many
journals of general circulation carry
ING and bidding for the advertising
of "direct to YOU concerns. A
Parcels Post would give a delivery
{, system at less than cost of carriage
to their advertising patrons. The
farm journals have a combined cir
culation of 30,0O0,000 copies month
ly. The proposition of the gain OF
business. of the retail mail order
houses will be that of the retail mer-
chants.
The right of eminent domain gives
the state control of private property
for public purposes only. For the
government to take the business of
A and give to B through a subsid'
would be in the words of Chancellor
Kent" a gross abuse and fraudu-
lent attempt upon private right
| A local rural Parcels Post would
be an enternting wedge for a gen.
eral system. Orders shipped by
freight or express could be mailed by
clubbing agent to rural patrons
Rural carriers are now permitted to
{, carry parcels generally through ar
engagements with patrons. The Post
. master General has never exercised
authority to fix uniform rates of
compensation.
The Al 900 rural routes serve only
about half of the people in the