The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-02-24
SHoRTSIt..iTi.D PANIC.

SIORTSiG.iTED PANIC.
We regret to note that the Richmond Credit
Mems Assoc a,ion has permitted itself to be led
by the narrow argument of those who see in the
parcels post a menace 10 local business in favor
OF the "mail order houses
1890 At a mecIlug held Thursday evening, the as
ISOLATION undertook to petition the Virginia rep
resentatives in Congress TO oppose in the in
terest of Virginia business. measure which
for years has had the honest endorsement of
all classes Of The people with the exception Of
those who, directly or indirectly, are interested
in the excessive profits now collected by the ex-
press companies for Il service that elsewhere in
the world is done at oue-quarter the cost
charged against the American consumer.
In passing this remarkable resolution, the as,
ISOLATION followed the speech of Norman II.
Johnson editpr OF the Merchants Journal u
Commerce., lending itself TO his argument that
the parcels post would prove incubus Of ex-
pcnse TO the government. would put the small
retailer out of business. would seriously cripple
the iobbine trade. and would result in an office
holders trust TO the prejudice of all pure pa.
triots.
Limitations OF the language prevent de-
scription of such assertions in short and coin
elusive word. The weakness of the complaint ~
evident In it's fear. We think better of Vir-
gina merchants, retailers, wholesalers and job
bers than the Credit Men appear to. We hest
tate TO think that business in these parts, or
has reached the point where with every advan-
tage OF centeI and propinquity to the trade 1t
has to seek the further advantage Of monopoly
tostered by excessive express rates. That, and
that only. is what the plea of the menace from
the mail order house amounts TO- 1t Is con-
fession that local business finds difficulty in
standing alone and making its own way, 1t Is
a denial OF the right OF the people to that free
and full. competition which is. and has been
for years, the demand of militant democracy.
It is not thing that We enjoy seeing Rich
mond organization of business men endorse.
.ss,s as veyy whaGess shsnla at this time Ati
derstand one thing with all clearness. The
laws are being framed. the one hand, to
avoid undue oppression CT small business by
big business they wockins, on the other
hand, 10 establish for the people broad and
cheap market subject to competitive conditions
For years, the cest of freight rates and the
cost. ns express cha sss lake orerned potentis
to raise the .eost of nyr2. The government in
theory has control OF al means Of interstate
communication and carriage. IT already mo-
nopolzes the postage business, Yet it has per
mitted feature Of that business elsewhere gen
orally utilized. to become monopoly in the
hands OF private interests. The parcels post
legislation proposd by Mr., Taft is simply and
solely a beginning toward The abrogation or
that monopoly We do not for a moment think
that the disasters Which formed the basis Of
Mr. Johnsons oratory could follow the inaugu-
alton Of the system. But one thing is quite
certain. and that is that # does not lie in the
mouth OF aaY legitimate business to ask that
II be promoted and preserved at the expense OF
tie people. Such an implication at once and
forever vti2tes the best Of argument.