Evening star., 1934-12-09
Michael L. Eidsness Explains
His Policy of Conservatism,
Text of Washington S Speaker's address
at annual Banquet of Rubber City
Stamp Club, Akron, December I. :.

record Of the New Deal as 1t has af-
fected philately. 1t has had its good
points, and also its points not so good.
But you are familiar with the chronicle,
and I shall be content to mention
only one circumstance to demonstrate
why take the position I do concerning
the duty Of the Government to COL
lectors.
That circumstance Is the issuance Of
special imperforate sheets Of stamps
for sale to the philatelic public in con-
nection with conventions and exhibi-
tions. From the first I was skeptical
Of these novelties, and now I am con-
vinced that they are-very definitely
mistake. The Omaha printing Of
the Yosemite 1-cent parks issue was,
believe, one Of the greatest errors
made by the Post Office Department
in its relations with collectors. And
the reaction to its appearance has
hurt philately. Numbers Of people are
disguised, many are disillusioned,
dozens doubtless have quit collecting.
The Omaha stamp gave credence to
the theory that the department has
been tempted into making a racket Of
new issues. OF course, I hasten to add
that no such thing may have been in
tended and the complaints may be
partisan and mean and malicious But
it remains true that the effect has been
unfortunate.
All Of which goes to show how
badly needed is some better organi-
1ofioy, nf ynt1i1o fa1iSts Tn the a1d dQug
when we all were amateurs 1t did
not matter very much If we were
independent hermits, isolated from
one another. I can understand how
and why people took little interest at
that time in stamp clubs and stamp
periodicals. But philately has begun
to grow up. What once was small
inconsequential affair is now a major
industry. 1t has been estimated that
there are between 100000 and TO-
100000 stamp enthusiasts-adult and
juvenile. wise and unwise-in this
country. Obviously they should be
banded together for the protection of
their interests-particular for the
protection Of philately against any
and all parties who might wish to
exploit it for their own commercial
profit. And the trend is toward
greater and more effective solidarity.
The fellowship of stamp collecting is
one of its attractions, and men and
women, boys and girls now consider it
important to be affiliated with each
other Hence the growing strength OF
all philatelic organizations and the
increasing popularity of the philatelic
press. These are signs Of develop
ment proper at such a time and in
such a field, and we should rejoice
that they are so plainly evident.
But the end is not yet. The fact
that the Post Office Department could
and did perpetrate such blunder as
the Omaha stamp proves that phila-
telists are not yet possessed Of the
power which they should have. Had
they been strong enough, the depart
ment would have consulted them
before authorizing such special con-
cession. Granted the National Fed
Grafton of Stamp Clubs has been
organized and is functioning, it still
remains clear as daylight that collec-
tors should be bound even more
closely together for mutual protection,
aid and advantage.
I want to see organized philately
prosper-locally, nationally and inter-
nationally. The alternative is the
weakness which leaves stamp collec-
tors in the position Of the lamb who
fell afoul of the wolf. And eventually
the fate of temporary fads like NAH
jong and jigsaw puzzles might be the
destiny of philately were such warn
ings to 60 unheeded.
In conclusion, let me summarize my
thought in this way: Suppose the 1885
convention and exhibit Of the Amer
ican Philatelic Society is grand sue
cess; suppose it brings to Washington
great crowd of earnest and intelli-
gent collectors; suppose those visit
ors to the Nations Capital return
home to educate their neighbors-the
value of the meeting and the show
and the experience will be exactly
what philately needs, namely, the
power of union and social purpose
and high standards and lofty but
practical ideals.