Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1912-04-05
HARD L|CKS FOR
THE PARCELS POST
Major Tynes Thinks Present
Condition Of Roads Will
Not Permit Deliveries.

| SS'A " youi iSCenI lHNlldllOn, anent
the Parcels Post, submit as follows: ::
The Hon c. B. Slemp has, very
properly. as we see it, referred the
matter of a "Parcels POST law to
his constituency, of all. parties in the
Ninth district, which he has the
honor to represent. This being the
first time for many moons that this
writer has been consulted on a sub
ject of so much Importance by the
ruling powers, and the very first time
he has been made the subject of the
Referendum, he hastened to reply,
by answering Mr.. Slemps three ques-
tions, as propounded through his cir
cular of recent date, as succinctly and
as fully as we, with our limited in
formation, was able to do. In the
first place we are unalterably opposed
to the Initiative, Referendum and
Recall' as the settled policy of a
representative government. In this
case we used the privilege so court
eously extended to us and replied to
his interrogatives, practically, as
follows:
list. Do you favor general Parcels
Post?
| do nut.
2nd. Do you favor n Parcels Post.
=. limited to r. F. d. parcels?
Less than general law.
3rd. What is the sentiment of YOUR
community regarding both these ques-
tions?
As it looks to this writer there are
several reasons, most of which are
satisfactory in themselves, again st
the system in either form as propos-
ed. However, as to discuss these
would unduly lengthen this paper, we
will connie our reply to the Cong
ressman's three questions.
FIRST
In country like ours of long dis
tances, so vast in expanse. sparcely
settled, with comparatively limited
transportation, with very large pro-
portion of such roads as never before
vexed people, the Parcels Post
would be found rather troublesome
and a very costly system, by no
means the cheap OF convenient luxury
its advocates endeavor to show up. all
the expense of which will, in the last
analysis, come out of the people
the tax payers.
SECOND
This, as we see it, would not be
constitutional, as it certainly would
be class legislation of the boldest and
most unblushing variety, discriminat-
ing, as it would do. against those
who were removed from the favored
routes.
THIRD
This lat this date, very difficult
question to anwser intelligently or
satisfactorily. However, as we have
been challenged, from more than one
quarter for reasons for our opposition
to the Parcels Post and in partial re-
ply to this third interrogation from
Mr.. Slemp, we desire as briefly as
may be- to offer at least two more
among many, reasons for our object
ions to the system. A Parcels Post
would be, practically, ruin to the
business of the country and village
merchant. 1t is unnecessary to dis
cuss how the Parcels Post is to affect
the business class referred to-this is
apparent to the dullest. Iti the
WHY, that vitality concerns us at
present. We could get volumes of
reasons why we should have the sys-
tenn. Political leaders on the Make
would make our rural citizenship be-
lieve that all he has to do, practical
ly, is to receive his goods at his front
gate-yes, provided he has the price,
if not, then he must do without as
the system he has very probably vot-
ed for. has ruined and run out of his
neigbhorhood his old friend and
. grubstaker, who perhaps never re-
fused credit, and would patiently wait
for his pay until the crops were mat
, ured. or the stock sold. The great
department stores and the great ant
bloated mercantile organizations OF
, our cities, now behind this movement,
, will, if needed by those who do moi
stop TO think for themselves, induc.
t them to believe that the greatest ser
vice ever rendered country citizen
ship is to come through the Parcels
Post. Replying to our Congressman
r the writer declined to even attemp
to approximate the trend of publi
y opinion. We did say that in our dali,
: intercourse with our fellows, we fin
n among the business men of middl
n and mature age and experience, me
: who are in the habit of thinking fo