The San Francisco call., 1897-08-28
LETTE-CARRRIERS
WILL NOT COME
They Say the Rates West
Are So High as to Be
Prohibitory.
Great Pains and Energy Lost
by Sudden Changes of Com
mittee Plans.
Local Workers Stand by the Fight
in the Face of Seeming
Disappointment.

which was to have been helu in this City,
beginning on September 6, has been re-
moved to Chicago. There has been some
lively telegraphic correspondence on the
subject and the local committees have not
yet given up the fight.
The news that the National executive
committee had changed the place of meet
ing because the rates west OF the Missouri
River were not congenial to the Eastern
purse came to the local workers like
clap of thunder out of a clear sky, and
they have not yet given up all hope, des-
perate as the case now seems.
The local committee and the citizens
have been greatly interested in having the
convention come here, and there has been
every disposition to favor the carriers by
liberal contributions.
There is general feeling that the &C.
tion of the Eastern people has been too
hasiy, for the spirit of the Caifornians is
such in the matter that fund could have
been raised to bridge over the difficulties
of the situation if the local delegates had
been notified in time.
The following terse correspondence tells
the story of the case as it is SO far known:
CHICAGO. Aug. 27, 1897.
Frank z. Smith, Chairman, San Francisco: I'M
Pacific roads refuse fair rates. Declare con-
ven tion off. Arrange TO come to Chicago Sep
tember 6. Return mail and express matter at
Postoffice and hotels to Great Northern Hotel,
Chicago. Await particulars bout rates for
you. Make best OF bad situation. We all re-
greet it. JOHN N. PARSONS.
To this the following reply was sent:
To John F. Victory and John N. Parsons,
Washington, D. C.: We will not give up the
ND II
worked day and night Have the money and
everything t. carry on the convention. If
you cannot get rates al your end let US try at
this end. We are now, IL 40 P. NJ, out with
the convention association people working on
the matter Don't declare the convention off.
We won't under any ons:deration, submit to
the convention going to any other city.
FRANK f. SMITH, Chairman.
CONRAD TRIEBER, Secretary.
The answer to this came this morning,
as follows:
WASHINGTON D. c., Aug. 27.
Parsons now in New York. BY long-distance
tele phone says convention must meet in Chi
cago. Executive board approves. See Super
intendent Flint about rates. Eastern dele
gates assessed for Westerners' expenses. No.
tice of misfortune mailed everybody yester-
day. Everybody come East.
JOHN F. VICTORY, Secretary.
After discussion of the matter the fol-
lowing telegram was forwarded:
SAN Francisco, Cal. Aug. 81.
B. D. Cdld,0eH Esq, Chairman Western Pas
senqer Association, Chicago. III: The Califor-
MIA convention committee is informed by
letter-carriers that the meeting place will be
changed owing to failure OF railroads west of
Chicago TO grant satisfactory rates to San
Francisco and return. All ARRANGEMENTS per-
fected for gathering here and large expense
incurred. Our citizens are much interested,
and will greatly. appreciate your favorable
tirmative action. and communicate with
John F. Victory, Hulchins building. Washing
ton. j. ID. PHELAN,
d. NJ. CARMAN, Secretary.
Postmaster Montague sent supple
mentary dispatch to B. D. Caldwell, and
the following answer was received:
Your message received to-day. Unable to
see Western Passenger Association to make
reduced rates for letter-carrierc' association
at San Francisco. 3. d. CALDWELL
The following telegram was sent to
the National president and secretary:
What is considered a fair rate? AS we un-
derstood, the railroads would not agree to
any rate less than $72 30, round trip from
Chicago.
To this there was no answer. The second
telegram asked them to wait until they
heard from San Francisco before taking
further action, and TO this there was no
answer.
The carriers have been working hard for
the past year for the success of the con-
yenticn, during the past six weeks they
being at it night and day, and everything
is in readiness to receive the delegates.
Through the liberality of tho citizens who
have come to their aid with funds, fruits,
wines ETC., they are in position to ex-
tend O California welcome. 1t is proposed
to return funds to individuals who have
donated money as far as possible. Il is
believed that this amount is about $500.
In addition to this the letter carriers
have incurred obligations for badges,
halls. souvenirs, printing. banquets, etc.,
to the amount OF about $4,000.
The money taken at the Chutes to-day
will help to meet these obligations. and it
is hoped tha: the attendance will be large.