Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1914-07-23
SLATON ANSWERS LETTER
OF CANDIDATE HARDWICK
Couerno Saton Pins CONGRESSMAN Don Facts LerUiew
Ciuen to Press of State Hardick Friend OF the Express
Companies and Foe of Parcel Post.
HARDWCK OPPOSED TO THE DEMOCRATIC ADMINISTRATION

First, l do not consider that it
is any part of the business of the
government to engage in the bus
mess of a common carrier, to
transport either persons or prop
erty for hire.
Second We had conferred on
the interstate commerce commits
sion, by the Hepburn bill, full
power to regulate the charges
and practices of the express COM
panies, and it seemed to me this
was the real way to control them,
just as We control the railroads.
Third, l feared that if we in
stalled the system, in as large a
country as ours, something might
happen just about like what the
senator from Florida (Mr. Bryan)
recently claimed has happened,
or is threatened: we get our
mail by freight, and our freight
by mall"
This is the difference between us-1
advocate the interests of the citizens
Mr. Hardwick advocates the interests
Of the Express Companies.
1t is we'll to call the attention of the
citizens to the fact that the parcel post
now established over Mr.. Hardwick's S
objection and without his vote, is ben
eficial to every man, woman and child
in the nation. The country or city
merchant can order through it's agency
and it initiates against the business
of no one. Mr.. Hardwick's position
would establish an internal pro-
tective tariff in favor of the Express
Companies. In his letter he says the
Express Companies did not deliver
along rural routes and therefore he
favored the limitations to the specific
rural routes of the parcel post. Why
does he feel called on to guarantee
the Express Company profits, or by
law secure them business to the dam
age Of the citizens?
But since Mr.. Hardwick wrote that
letter stoutly maintaining his position,
he has been about the countrq and
has felt the coming storm. He has
heard from the people. His friends
have rushed about him and told him
the impending disaster if he did not
recant. He wrote two weeks ago, in
reply to my attack, that he still dis
approved The General Parcel Post
Law now in force and passed by a
Democratic Congress and approved by
President Wilson. l replied that if he
thought that way, and he was elected
to the Senate, he would be compelled
under his oath to vote to repeal it or
amend it, and certainly he would be
counted among its enemies.
Now, after week further absence
from Congress, and hearing from the
folks, he backs and says graciously he
will not attempt to repeal it, but will
abide by the action of a Democratic
Congress in overruling him and the
prior Republican Congress.
Doesn't it appear to the people that
if he had lived among them, instead Of
sojourning in Washington away from
them, he would not have committed
the initial mistake Is not his argu-
ment against Congressman Fleming
who urged experience, and whom he
beat, possessed of some force, now
that sympathy with the people and
their needs is more necessary than
that experience which makes a rep.
resentative advocate Express Com
panies rather than his constituents?
Dent let us get away from the plair
question bv the injection of a fat rate
and some theories. This is the prim.
| ;+;,,o ond tronenarant rise of the mi.