Birmingham age-herald., 1895-09-08
FREE FIGHT WAS IMMINENT I
THE LETTER CARRIERS GROW TURBULENT
The Old Jealousy Between New York and Brooklyn Breaks Out in an Election.
 Peace Restored.

Philadelphia, Sept. 7.-What closely appeared an encounter was the feature of today's closing session of the annual convention of the National Association of Letter Carriers.
 The early business of the session was quietly transacted and the place for next years convention decided upon. Three cities were in the contest Buffalo, Rochester and Grand Rapids. Before the vote was taken, however, Buffalo withdrew, and when the returns were announced, it was found that Grand Rapids was the choice by large ma jority. The election of w. H. Flaherty of New Orleans to the executive board followed
 President Couden was then succeeded in the chair by Vice-President D. w. Kessler of New Orleans. and the latter announced that the ballot for member of the committee on legislation would be taken.
 There has been i'll feeling between Brooklyn and New York carriers for sev- eral years, and it burst forth in all its fury today when Delegate William J. Morrison of Brooklyn announced himse1 a candidate for election to the commit- tee.
 Just as the routine work of casting the ballots had been finished and Chair man Kessler had pronounced the vote closed, Delegate Morrison, who was the chairman of the Brooklyn jntingent entered the hall and stated that ho de sired to cast the twelve votes of his del- egation. The matter was placed before the convention, and the latter signifying its assent, MT. Kessler requested the tellers to accept the ballots.
 This course was objected to by the tellers, who refused to accept the votes on the ground that the balloting was over and it would be a violation of the laws of the organigation to do so. MT. Kessler declared the tellers out of order, and then the trouble took definite shape. For fifteen minutes the hall was a scene of wild disorder The delegates crowded about the presidents rostrum, arms were wildly waived in the air and about the only sound ineligible above the great din was the repeated rapping of the chairmans gavel.
 After repeated efforts T. J. Donovan of New York succeeded in gaining rec ognition, and announced an appeal from the decision of the chair in accepting the Brooklyn votes The point was greeted with loud shouts.
 Secretary Victor then took the chair and a vote was taken on Deelgate Don- ovan's appeal. It resulted in its defeat and the Brooklyn votes were admitted. This ended the row, and the election of MT. Morrison was announced by a vote of POT to 203 for w. Honche of Richmond, Va, his opponent.
 Comparative quiet having been ob- tained after the disorder, the convention quickly disposed of the closing business.
 An amendment to the associations by laws, that Treasurer Charles H. Cutler of Boston be put under bond, was reported negatively by the committee on constitu- tion, and the report was adopted.
 communication was received from the managers of the Atlanta exposition, bot bor he known as letter carriers day and extend ing an invitation to the members to att tend. The invitation was accepted.
 The convention adjourned sine die.