The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-04-26
FROM THE LETTER CARRIERS
Meeting of the Maine EBranch of the
National Association.
(special to the PREss.)

Lewiston. April 25.-In these days of
Organizations the men who deliver your
Letters are keeping well up to the front
ranks of the procession. In 1889 an or
ganization was formedi under the name
of the National Association OF Letter
Carriers. The society was incorporated
in 1891 and since then have been formed
in nearly all the states of the Union.
Maine until this year has not had So
eiety, but has been represented in the
management of the parent association by
the appointment of vice president, the
office now being held by Mr.J. +, Sulli-
van of lewiston.
On Washington's birthnight, prelim-
mary meeting of Maine letter carriers
was neld in Portland and steps taken for
the formation of state branch of the
National Association. Today's meeting
in thia city was the first annual conven-
tion of the Maine Letter Carriers Asso-
citation, TO it came delegates from cities
having the carrier, system. These are the
gentlemen who acued as delegates:
Waterville-R. L. Welch.
Augusta--T homas. A. Brennan.
Portland-Geo.O o. d. Soule, jeremiah
Callahan and +. r. Jones.
Rockland-John E. Hanrahan.
Lewiston-R. R. Reed, George S, Long
ley.
Biddeford-H Gray.
Bath-H. A. Owen.
Auburn-Charles E. Merrill.
The meeting was held at the Rocking
ham at 8 80. and the nature of the mat
ters considered explains the objects of
the national organizatiasa, and it's state
branches. These aims sre, in brief, of
course. the promotion of the interests
of the carriers, especially as affected by
legislation passed By Congress. At to-
days meeting were adopted resolutions
pledging allegiance to- the national asso-
ciatlon and favoring the passage of the
tenure of Office bill by Congress. This
measure would embody In the statutes
provision that no letter carrier shall be
removed without an investigation at
which he shall have a chance to defend
himself against the charges alleged as
grounds for his dismissal. The same
system now obtains under an order is
sued by Postmaster General Bissell,
but the carriers want it placed on the
statute book to remove any posi- hillty
of its abrogation.
Another matter which occupied the at
tention of the delegates was the ques-
tion of the manner in which uniforms
are said to be made in some cases. 1t
mas Deen aiieQeu IuaG SOmo COntrhCIOrS
have the clothing made in sweat shops.
The Maine. carriers adopted no resolu-
Istions, but the sentiment of the meeting
was strongin depreciation if the prac-
tice Of it exists. Besides the discussion
| of these matters he convention chose
the officers of the association as follows:
President-Thomas A. Brennan, Au-
gusta,
Vice President-F. r. Jones, Portland.
Secretary-T. R. Welch. Waterville.
| Treasurer-H. Gray, Biddeford.
Executive Gonmittee-J. F. Sullivan,
Lewiston; j. e. Han1ahan, Rockland; HI.
| A. Owen, Bath.
Delegate to thess National Convention
sod. Soule, Portland.
| Alternate-F. r. Jones, Portland.
| Committee on By-laTs-Geo. Longley
| of Lewiston, Charlet E. Merrill of Au-
burn and jeremiah Callahan of Port
| land.
| The national convention VIII he held
| in Philadelphia next September. 1t was
voted to hold the next annual meeting
of the Maine association at Augusta on
Fast Day, 1896.
This evening there was a banquet at
which large numb ber were present.
speeches being made by a number of gen.
tlemen, and the boys who wear Uncle
Sans gray uniforms enjoying to the ut
most their day off. Every letter carrier
has hosts of friends on his route. No
man Is more anxiolsly expected and the
people who know him will wish his soei-
ETY. every success in its efforts to guard
his interests.