The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-01-31

from Arkunaua.
Editor T. p. A. Page.
Little Rock. Ark. January 2s.--Arkan-
gas division seems to have taken on new
lie within the past month. and 1t can now
be truthfully said that association matters
are vertably hummin' In this neck o. the
woods. This. no doubt, is largely owing to
the fact that the social features OF the Or
Ranization are being pushed more promi-
nently TO the front. whereas hitherto tho
insurance seemed to be the only thing con-
sidcred by our membership. The previous
order OF things appears to have been prac.
tically reversed; hence. instead OF having
barely quorum present at the regular
meetings. large and enthusiastic crowds
are invariably In attendance. The spell
was probably broken on January /, when
| by special arrangement, Palmors great
Madison Square theater success young
Mrs. Winthrop" was produced at the Cap
itai theater. this city, matinee and night,
under the auspices Of Arkansas division,
/ 7. i. A. 1t was quite a success. financial
| ly and otherwise, the gross receipts being
nearly $1,000. besides the commercial tray
| touch with the very best people within her
borders.
An undertaking of this kind is certainly
a great interest producer, and any division
inat is suffering from case OF ennui would
do well 10 try the experiment 1t is the
intention OF our members to follow this up
with similar entertainments.
Post 4 of this city has recently estab.
iished headquarters that compare favorahly
with any TO he found anywhere in tho
country. They have leased a lovely suite
OF rooms in tho Kahn building. and they
have been furnished In a manner befIttile
their Importance. The rooms are convp
niunty located, being accessible TO the
principal hotels OF the city aud arc fast
growing in popularity among the members
An assessment Of 81 per annum has been
levied upon the members Of the post Il
maintain tho quarters, payable semi-an
nually In advance. and thus far the amount
Is being paid without any material opposi.
tlon. or course, there were few who
objected TO the plan. and in consequence
some have transferred their membership TO
other posts and divisions
The three other posts OF the division arc
likewise IN a flourishinF condition, new
members being added almost every week.
With unitei effort now our members car,
easily be Increased to over 800 by the time
the association meets in National conveu-
ton In June.
The State legislature "a in session here,
and bill is now pending reducing rail
road fare to cents n mile flat The meas
IRE is being champoncd BY Hon. MIR. va
don Of Sebastian county. and 1t is meeting
with considerable ENCOURAGEMENT from the
oiher members Of the house In order TO
ascertain the true light in which the bill
Is regarded. the writer interviewed fully
ihree-fourths OF the members In reference
thereto and received such encouragement as
to warrant the belief that. with proper
management. there is really nothing In the
way Of its success
The constitutional amendment offered by !
Secretary Simmeiing OF Maryland division, (
published In these columns on Sunday !
last. "a not. in our humble judgment. any !
Improvement on the method that now OBJ \
tains. In fact. | believe it would cause
greater confusion unless the renewal or re- |
ceip; cards were sent 10 the state sccrct5- |
rles In blank form. to be filled out and |
oourtcrsigned by thoin upon tho payment
OF dues by member. In such case new /
and extra work would be required Of The !
state secretary hitherto performed by at
'aches OF the National office. aud would.
very likely result in a general strike for /
hlsher wages among the secretaries OF the
various divisions. There Is entirely too
much rcd tape about the present sy.
TEN, which the method under discussion
would serve to Increase. instead OF dlnin.
ish The weak shoulc be sinplificb AND
IA almost sll the trouble arises in the
transmission OF the renewal or receipt
CARDS tho matter can be very easily rene
dicd. These cards should be mailed direc,
TO members from the National office. and
any other source is useless eXtravagance OF
time and postage When a member pays
MS dues be wants and expects his renewal
card In few days. According 10 our pres.
en- sEstem. these cards arc sent 10 tho
state secretary accompanied by a nicely
typewritteH list, giving number OF certifi
cate, date Of expiration, etc. and ala, I
showing the pos, to which each member
bolongs). who makes the necessary entry
In his register and forwards them on ,also
accompanied with n lisu 10 tho secretaries
OF the various posts Of the division The
Iost secretaries make similar entry, AMI
i,lnaly the cards are mailed to the respect
I've members. Now. this necessarily re- I
qnires considerable time and AZ the rlodus
operandi is not appreciated by the members
u N0fY naturally creates suspicion" This
typewriter list from tho National office.
spoken OF above, is sufficiently ample for
the state secretary, who, In turn. can send
q list TO the several post secretarles tn
se,her with their pro rata Of such renew
ais In very short while after a batch nt
renewals from thc secretary OF the division
~ received ct National headquariers mem,
oers would be In receipt Of their cards.
hnu III ms manner the confusion and delay
lhcident to the prevailing system would be
enure'y eliminated. The method OF re
ml.'ing dues TO the National secretary need
hot IN 'he least interfere with. thus retain
ing Tor the State organizations the major
portion OF their boosted autonomy.
rN-Nalonai director j. ID. Mershon has
moved MS family to Morrilton. this state
az which place they viii In tho future re'
side Since their residence here they have
earned many pleasant acouaintances. and
the regret Is general that thcy have re-
moved from our midst. VIII n Ba,s
Member National Press Committee.