The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-05
LETTER CARRIERS PARADE
OPENING OF THEIR ANNUAL con-
VENTION AT SCRANTON.

Six Thousand Of Them Reviewed by Pest
master-Gsnsral SrSith-Nsw York Post
men Parade in This City Before Starting
for scrnnton-Objects of tho Meeting.
SCRANTON. Pa, Sept. 4.-The parade which
opened the convention OF the National Letter
Carriers Association In this city this afternoon
brought out 5000 uniformed and 1000 non
uniformed men into line. 1t was favored By
pleasant weather and great outpouring OF
people. The only disappointment was the fall
ure Of Gov. Roosevelt OF New York to arrive.
For the first time In the history OF the Letter
Carriers Association. the parade was reviewed
by a Postmaster General. Charles Emory
Smith reached Scranton at 2 P. NJ. and was
warmly greeted by the carriers. Gov. Stone
and Commissioner General Of immigration I.
V. Powderly were also on the reviewing stand.
Greater New Y ork was represented py 2.2OO
letter carriers. The last section OF their train
arrived at O'Clock. and at 9 O'Clock. having
participated In the parade. all the postmen
were speeding homeward.aEain.
This evening there was a public reception
and banquet to the visiting postmasters. To-
morrow there will be business session OF the
convention and an excursion to Lake Ariel.
Nearly 1000 letter carriers OF the Greater
New York mbled yesterday morning. pre-
phTdtOEy W tTlp W SCEhutou, W
attend the. tenth annual convention OF the
National Association OF Letter Carriers. and
before departing they marched In process
sion. and then passed in review before
Postmaster Van Cots. who stood upon
the porch OF the Brevoort House at
Eighth street and Fifth avenue. The start
for Scranton was to be made at 10 A. M.
and In order to be on time the letter carriers OF
Manhattan and the Bronx. 15O0 in number.
had to be up early In the morning. for they had
agreed to make two deliveries OF mail matter
In the morning before they quit work. They
did this and then with number Of men from
Brooklyn assembled In front Of old Clinton
Hall under the shadow Of the statue Of Sunset
Cox.
When all the clans were gathered. they
marched across Eighth street to Broadway and
thence. by way OF Ninth street. to Fifth avenue
and down Fifth avenue to Washington Square
past the reviewing stand at the Brevoort
House. At the head OF the column marched
Drum Major John W. Higgins. bearing brand
new baton and leading the playing OF the Let
ter Carriers Drum Corps. Behind the drum
corps came the rank aud file, arrayed In
new gray uniforms. and In the midst
OF the column were the new colors OF
the letter carriers carried by Noah Bruford Of
Station o. who was the color bearer OF the
Seventy frst Regiment at San Juan Hill.
The parade was under the command Of COL
NJ. A. Fitzgerald. President OF tho New York
Letter Carriers Association. 1t was mar
shalled in the battalions by Majors Allen.
Bolton and Harvey. The mon are we'll drilled
In military evolutions and they made fine
appearance. Station was In the lead with
forty men. under command OF Capt. John
Stanton. Then came the men OF Madi-
son Square station with the colors. under
command OF Capt. Frank Campbell and behind
these came the Station o men under Capt M.
+. Taylor. those OF Station l. under Capt An
drew Mckee, Station under Capt William
Beal. Station D under Capt William Holm.
Station 8 under Capt. J. F. Powers. and Station
+ under Capt. James Curry.
With Postmaster Van Colt at the reviewing
point were his son Richard and his secretary
Junius Laffsrty and he was Joined later by
former Postmaster Dayton and James Meehan.
The line OF march. after passing the reviewing
point. was through Washington Square to Mac
douEal street and thence across town to the
| Christopher street ferry. 1t took three special
| trains to carry the postmen to Scranton.
| The delegates will remain at the meeting for
three days. but the rest OF the party 10 to return
| to this city in time to resume work this morn
| ing at the first or second delivery. The chief
| topic to be discussed at the convention is the
proposed increase Of carriers salaries to 81. 200
| a year and the provision OF q pension for old
and disabled mail carriers,