|
|
"A comprehensive, collaborative elections resource."
|
Fix the U.S. Post Office!
|
|---|
| Parent(s) |
Race
|
| Contributor | Chronicler |
| Last Edited | Chronicler Jul 11, 2005 07:39am |
| Logged |
0
|
| Category | Amusing |
| News Date | Monday, July 11, 2005 01:00:00 AM UTC0:0 |
| Description | One of the interesting things that I just came across today was a political debate of the election of 1912. At that time, mail order stores such as Sears and Marshall Field were becoming major distribution concerns by publishing their own catalogs.
A major problem, though, was that many rural communities did not have mail delivery. Instead, farmers usually went to their local market town once a week to do routine business, such as visit the bank, post office, blacksmith, etc. In the early decades of the twentieth century, with such large orders as mail order houses (American Foursquares or Bungalows), mail order farm equipment, and mail order mechanical systems (cookstoves, etc.), the small rural post offices, operating out of local general stores, were becoming filled with large packages awaiting the purcahsers. [Mail order brides? Mail order husbands?]
With the growth of the mail order catalog business, however, coupled with the growing use of the automobile, farmers began to request that the free delivery of the mail, already available in urban areas, become extended to rural areas.
Would you believe that this was a major campaign issue of the presidential election of 1912? If not, read below. In the discussion section, I will post the RFD planks of the various political parties. Enjoy! |
| Share |
|
|
2¢
|
|
|
| Date |
Category |
Headline |
Article |
Contributor |
|
|
