Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1912-07-19


the personal welfare Of several hun
bred thousand travelling men and Of
many, many wives and children. II
would involve the business welfare Of
q million retail merchants and fifty
thousand wholesale merchants. The
combined business disturbed would
run Into the billions Of dollars. Leais-
iatlon carrying with n such grave pos
slbIlIties should be made slowly and
not without the most careful eonsld-
Grafton. IL should not be Influenced
by selfish malI-order houses. neither
should II be considered except az for
the greatest good TO the greatest num-
Der. The city should not be selfish
and endeavor to secure legislation that
will tear down the country town-for
by so doing 1t is cutting off its nose
to spite its face. The city's recruits
always come from the country and
with a condition In America like that
existing in several of the foreign coun-
tries where the ail-order-parcels-
post propositions are in force, where
would the cities find the country men
sufficiently educated and capable or
taking up the metropolitan burdens as
they now do?
Travelling men stand for careful
investigation of the effect of parcels
post. They would like to feel that the
United States law makers know what
they are doing when they vote for
parcels post iaw-if they do.
What the Star Says.
The indianapolis Star in an edi-
torial on the proposed parcels post
bill says:
The honest and business-like way
for the government to secure cheap
and rapid transmission of small mer-
chandise would be to compel the re-
duction Of express charges and In
crease of express facilities. This, con-
gress is unwilling to do. and therefore
takes up the roundabout and expensive
method of bringing these charges
down by establishment of govern
mental competition. 1t Is the same
false and costly process we use OF re-
ducing public service charges by levy
ing upon communities to construct du-
plicate and unnecessary competitive
plants for gas. telephone. electric
lights and street cars"
Sham and Pretense.
John A. Ordway of Blodgett, Ordway
& Weber, Boston, Mass, said before
the New England Dry Goods associa,
ton:
Il say candidIy and truthfuiiy to
you, as diligent man Of affairs. that
there's a wond erful lot OF sugar-coated
sham and pretense about the parcels
post agitation. which becomes more
apparent the closer the subject is
studied. The proponents of this meas
ure advocate what? Nothing more or
less than that the present methods OF
distributing merchandise shall be
changed by legislative enactment, and
through and by the centralized power
of government control and operation.
They propose to ignore existing condi-
lions, rights or qualifications in the
carrying trade, or recognized path
ways of commerce.. and substitute the
theories that have become an obses-
sion with the dreamers, or have been
adopted by the cunning self-seekers as
a personal road to easy riches, with
the general government as the uncom-
dens; and as potent arguments to con.
vince those who accept broad state
ments at their face value, without
thought or analysis. they depend on
two stock phrases: first, the benefit to
the farmer, and second, the detriment
to the express companies. Sham one;
and again, sham two!"
Mr.. Ordway goes on to prove that
should the method of distribution be
shifted, the expense OF reaching the
consumer as proposed would ultimate
ly be greater, which, combined with
the mail order monopoly when once
established by governmental assist
ance, would cause the farmer many re.
grets. He cites the 1909 postal deficit,
second-class matter. at $64 .12S, 900, and
by comparison since that time brings
the figures to date with appalling
realism. He says. by way of com.
ment:
Il firmly believe that the develop
ment of the mail order house or the
increased adoption of direct selling
by manufacturers. aided by govern.
mental postal delivery, would not con,
fer one benefit on the consumer in
cheaper prices. The change of the
method of distribution would be mere.
ly the shifting of the final price from
one shoulder to the other"
Organize and Work.
Travelling men all over the country
should organize to fight the parcels
post. The action of the Iowa travellers
is fitting incentive to brother organiza.
lions. The proposed bill will material.
ly affect business in the country from
the time of its passage and will event.
ually put 80 per cent. of the travelling
men off the road. II you care anything
about the progress OF the rural com.
munities, If you have the love OF your
country at heart, do not hesitate. You
see brother knights daily. Speak to
them of this fight and act promptly.
for the time has come to strike from
the shoulder. and hard! The powers
that stand for selfishness and greco
never sleep, and you. in lighting the
cause OF right. must be vigflant. "a
we'll
BYRON WILLIAMS.
Old En1n&ss 4