The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-05-18
PULLING OF WIRES
FOR PRESIDENCY
A Feature of the 7. P. A, Con-
vention in Louisville.
|. VLATASTE, MONTGOMERY
Is Prominent Candidate Very Little
Hope Entertained for Reduction in
Rates on Excess Baggage-Re-
port of Hotel Committee.


Louisville, KY, May 1.-THE morning
session of the Travlers' Protective assoeia-
ton was devoted to the pulling of wires
and laying plans for the annual election
of a president of the order. Sam p. Jones.
of Louisville, who was regarded as a GER
tain winner, having withdrawn, the race
becomes a more open one with three candi-
dates. They are H. L. Benson, of San
Antonio, Tex; l.. V. LaTaste, of Mont
gomery, Ala, and Charles Duffin. of Terre
Haute, Ind, who is the present head and
a candidate for reelection.
There is also talk of a dark horse to be
sprung some time tomorrow afternoon.
This rumor is given color by the fact that
the Illinois and Missouri delegates held
meeting this morning to select their cam
didate. They refused to state on whom
they had agreed. If they do not spring a
candidate of their own they will support
either a southern or western man.
A wrangle arose over ruling of Presi-
dent Dufin with regard to the filling of
vancancies in the list of delegates. 1t was
contended that these vacancies could be
filled on tho floor of the convention. The
president took the stand that they would
the date of the convention and on a vote
he was sustained.
Just before adjournment for dinner Pres
ident Duffin read his annual report. The
association now numbers ,12S members,
net gain of 976 Six hundred and fifty
two claims were paid during the year, ag-
gregating $4,000. The president spoke OF
the advantage of interchangeable mileage
tickets.
AT the afternoon session the report of l..
w. Phaien, of Chicago, chairman of the
railroad committee, was laid before the
convention. 1t discussed at lelgth the
move to secure reduction in rates for ex-
cess baggage. The report held out little
or no hope of a change in the rates. An
interchangeab bic ticket for excess baggage
might, however, be secured in the near flu
ture. The outlook in this direction was
much more favorable The report called
attention to the haphaZard way in which
some of the railways in the south and west
are run. Instead of speeding trains to
make for lost time, shorter stops are made,
time being allowed merely for taking on
and off the mails, instead of for accommo-
dating passengers and allowing their bag
gage to be put on and off. In such in
stances the report recommended that diff
ferent travellers forward their comp. ANTS
to the division railroad committee, which
should in turn complain to the railroads
themselves. The report was clear and
well worded and was listened to with in
terest by the delegates 1t was followed
by the reading of the reports of the rail-
road committees of Wisconsin, Missouri
and Indiana. A vote OF thanks was given
the railroad committee for the able man
ner in which its business has been trans
acted.
The report of the hotel committee sug-
gested that action be taken to have run
ners from hotels wear badges to prevent
thieves from posing in their places and
making way with travellers baggage.
Colonel John S. HARDWOOD, of Richmond,
presented the report of the national legis-
lative committee. 1t reviewed the legisla-
ton favorable to the association secured
during the year, and took a sharp rap at
trusts, to thwart which, it stated, national
legislation would be necessary.
The report of the national employment
committee was of very favorable nature
During the year III applications for places
were received from members, while on the
other hand merchants asked for 104 sales
men, the request being filled in seventy
seven instances. A verbal report was made
by National Chaplain Homer T Wilson, of
Fort Worth. Texas. He referred to the
charity of the organization, and stated
that inquiries elected the information that
twenty posts heard from had in the past
year given 500 each on an average for char
table purposes. The post at Knoxville
Tenn had in twelve years distributed
$4,000 in charitable fields. Rev. Wilson said
that from further inquiries he found that
the majority of the Travelling Protective
association devoted as much as $40 year
at least to charity, making a grand total
of at least $4,000 year from the 14,0O0
members of the organization.
The annual report of Attorney Henry T.
Kent, of St Louis, reviewing the litigation
In which the association is involved, was
read.
The balance of the afternoon session was
devoted to reading the reports of the differ
ent state posts, showing the progress of
their divisions