The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-11-29
REBUKE BY DEPARTMENT.
Government to Probe Into Letter Car
riers' Acts.


Washington, Nov 29.-The affairs of
the National Association of Letter Car
riers are in disturbed condition at pres
ent. owing to the active interest that
several branches of the government are
displaying in it's operations. The United
States civil service commission is after
the president of the association. while the
postoffice department has delivered an
ultimatum to the organization which is
looked upon something like a black
eye.
A special mooting of the executive
board of the Carriers association has
been called to straighten out the situation
and its members are now in session IN
this city. Steps will be taken to mollify
the postoffice department officials, ard
in all probability a scapesoat will be pick
ed out to suffer for the report that has
been generally spread over the country
that the Carriers association was re-
sponsble for the defeat of Congressman
Loud of California, the chairman Of the
house committee on postoffices and post
roads. and whom the carriers blame for
the failure of the bill to give to thea in
creased wages Ever since the election
black clouds of official displeasure have
been gathering and concentrating over
the heads of those at the head of the
Letter Carriers association The latter
have observed the signs of the storm and
are hurrying to cover. 1t is predicted
that James G.. Keller. the president of
the National Association of Letter Car
riers. will soon be deposed by the action
of his associates even Il he is not dis
placed as the result of an investigation
that is now being made into the part he
IS alleged to have played in the California
elections The situation is an interesting
one. and a few moments talk with the
officers of the Carriers association shows
that they are greatly alarmed over the
outlook.
The relation between the postonioc de-
partment officials and the officers O: the
the most harmonious sort for some time
past. The active opposition to Congress-
man Loud BY the carriers. and the threat
that was pretty generally circulated that
the carriers would beat the Californian at
the coming elections did not serve to ill
prove conditions. Things came to a
climax few days ago when the carriers
made what was considered by the jepart-
ment officials as an unwarranted ara
impudent demand, and were in turn en-.
phatically called down.
1t is stated that the civil service COM
mission is making an investigation OF
President Keller's connection with the
campaign in Representative LIQUIDS dis
trict. During the campaign Mr.. Keller.
who is a letter carrier in the city of
Cleveland. Ohio, got leave of absence to
attend the postal clerks convention in
Denver, Col After the adjournment OF
that convention he continued to the Pa
cifc coast. and made himself active i'll
Mr.. LIQUIDS district. The department Off.
Gals heard of this and ordered his recall
to Cleveland. Mr.. Loud's majority of 1909
in 1900 was overturned and he was de-
feated this year by "A Democrat. In view
Of the understood intention of the car
riers to do him up his defeat has been
generally scribad TO the efforts of the
letter carriers. Those who have looked
into the matter say that it was not the
votes of the carriers themselves that de-
feated Mr.. Loud. but that he was showed
under through the influence they exerted
1t is said that fund Of $4,000 was col
lectcd by the Carriers association for the
sole purpose of beating the chairman of
the postoffice committee The aid Of the
labor unions in his district was sought
It is alleged, and the result was due as
much to the votes of the members of the
labor organizations as to the votes of the
men in gray. Enough facts reached the
United States civil service commission to
induce them to order an investigation
and it is said that charges of pernicious
political activity have been preferred. or
will be preferred, against President
Keller.
At the headquarters of the National As
ISOLATION Of Letter Carriers in this city,
n stout denial IS made of the story that
the carriers worked to bring about Mr..
LIQUIDS defeat