Lewiston evening teller. (Lewiston, Idaho) 1900-1900, 1900-09-03

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parade today and the nth annual con-
vention of the National Association of
letter carriers, which begins its business
sessions here tomorrow morning. It is
estimated that there were fully 5000
men in line this afternoon. Large dele.
cations, each with its own band at its
head, were furnished by Chicago, Cincin-
natl, Grand Rapids, Columbus and Ann
Arbor' Toronto Hamilton and other
cities across the border were also repre-
sented by fraternal delegations.
The line was led by John n. Parsons,
national president, and other officers of
the association. Occupying seats on the
reviewing stand were the guests of honor
among the number being Postmaster
General Smith, A. W. Machen, superin-
tendent of the free delivery system; ".
Edens, superintendent of the free deliy-
cry system of the western district, and
Postmaster Gordon, of Chicago. After
the parade luncheon was served to the
carriers in the Light Guard armory,
while the visiting bands gave concert
This evening there will be reception
with addresses by number of men of
national prominence.
The sessions of the convention will oc-
cupy several days. The most important
matter to be considered is the "pension
BILL 1t is not the purpose of the car
riers to ask congress TO give them any
thing, but simply to ask for the passage
of law requiring percentage of their
salaries to be deducted, the money so de-
Quoted to be used to create fund, on
which carriers having served twenty
years or more may be retired on half
pay. The reports to be presented to the
convention will show that the association
has made gratifying progress both nu-
merically aud financially during the last
twelve months. The same is true of the
mutual benefit insurance branch of the
association.
The present officers Of the National AS.
sociation are: President, John N. Par
sons, New York; vice president, Charles
d. Duffy. Chicago; secretary, +. ]. Cant
we'll, Brooklyn; treasurer, xander Nc
Monald, Grand Rapids.
The association was given birth at
conference of letter carriers held in Mil
waukee in August, 1889 The idea of the
founders was that tnly by unity OF pur-
pose and method could the condition of
this important body of I 900 federal en-
ployes be improved. The main object
at the time of organization was to secure
an increased salary for letter. carriers, and
its labors during the first year of its ex-
istence were chiefly to that end. The
first annual convention was held in Bos.
ton in 1890. About fifty cities were rep.
resented, and there were 6fty-three
branches of the association. During the
last decade the association has increased
rapidly in membership until it now EN-
braces the carriers III all the chief cities
OF the country Since the Boston gath
ering conventions have been held in De-
troit, indianapolis, Kansas City, Cleve-
land, Grand Rapids, San Francisco, To-
ledo and Scranton.
The policy of the association is now
and always has been to cooperate with the
postoffice department for the improve
ment of the service, and as result the
utmost friendly feeling existsbetweeHt the
officials of the postofiice department aud
the National association. In the last r.
port of Perry S. Heath as First Assistant
Postmaster General, he spoke in the
highest terms of the association and gave
IL great deal OF credit for the high state
OF efficiency existing in the free-delivery
ssrvice.
OdeIl for GOyer1Or