The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-07-28
FULL REPLY ID APPEAR
 IN THE POSTAL RECORD
Says Such an Attack Would nevel Have Been Made Had There Been Opportunity for Answer
 on Floor of Senate.
BY PATTERSON sTsALEY.

' EI
 Washington. July 2s.-tspeciai. 1-An through the last session of congress prominent members of both parties urged a favorable report from the house com mittee on postoffices and post roads on the bill reclassifying letter carriers. but every movement tending toward that end was blocked by the chairman of the committee, MT. Loud of California, who expressed himself as determined not only to oppose t.Ae bill but to exert all his influence against 1t so long as he was in position to dominate action on the measure. A few days before congress adjourned MT. Loud delivered speech on the bill violently denouncing the cam paign the letter carriers were waging for a better advancement in life and express ing to the house his astonishment at the audacity of these men in asking for in- creased pay when according to his opin- ion their labors did not warrant the sal- aries at present paid them.
 Stirred Resentment.
 This speech stirred the resentment not only of the letter carriers but of the la boring men all over the country, and MT. J. c. Keller, president of the National Association of Letter Carriers has pre- pared reply to Mir. Loud which will ap- pear in the August number of the Postal Record, the official organ of the associa- | tion.
 In analyzing this effort of MT. Loud s. | MT. Keller characterizes 1t as a most remarkable effort Remarkable" he says ironically, for it's inaccuraey as well as it's misrepresentation And then In the most emphatic language the presi- dent of the association brands as a lie | MT. Loud's charge that the carriers are I trying to lobby their bill through con- | gross by the use of money
 MT. Loud states comments MT. Kel- l Ter, that an offer to return money col- lected for this purpose was made but that some of the branches refused to &C., cept the return of that money and 1t still lies subject to call
 Says Statement is False.
 This statement is false from beginning to end, and l doubt if such a statement would ever be made or have been made were 1t possible for a carrier to personally answer such an attack on the floor The carriers of the country have no funds either direct or indirect, with which to pur chase their increase in salary or any other legislation. Every carrier knows that, and l believe Mir. Loud knows it. at least he seems to know everything per- taining to the carriers private as well as public life"
 take particular exception to that portion of the speech" remarks MT. Kel- Ter, in which MT. Loud. by inference. seeks to brand the carriers of the eoun- try as a lot of criminals. We can pass over his so-called statistical enumera- lions; we could even respect the man for his consistent opposition to any measure which he considers wrong in principle, but we do reserve the right to protest against the attacks made upon the integrity of the letter carriers. es- pecially when that attack is made on the floor of the house in a manner and un- der conditions which will not permit those attacked to answer the charges brought against them"
 Political chlcanery.
 In speculating as to the reason of Mir. Loud's deviation from the subject under consideration when the general deficiency appropriation bill was before the house and his discussion of the postal service as well as the salaries of letter carriers Mir. Keller characterizes it as ruse of political chicanery out of which to ere ate political capital Why any man should go out of his way to attack an- other" remarked Mir Keller, Tor why
  ployes was brought up at a time when matters entirely foreign to 1t were being considered. I do not know, unless 1t was done for the reason I have mentioned"
 The president of the association pleads earnestly for fair play. an attribute. he declares. MT. Loud is not afflicted with. and attacks the latter for urging that the carriers be burdened with increased Sunday work. MT. Keller goes into a technical discussion of the salaries of let ter carries and their substitutes, offer ing substantiated facts and figures to prove the emptiness of MT. Louds argu- rnents, that they are sufficiently remun- erated. In conclusion MT. Keller says One thing, however, is certain. No at- tempts to create dissension in the ranks of the carriers will ever meet with suc- cess.
 Have Met Every Condition.
 ''The carriers have met every condition imposed upon them by Presidential or departmental orders. They ask for an increase of pay as a matter of right and justice. They want it so that they may live, feed and clothe themselves in the manner expected of them but they want to get it honestly and in striving for better conditions they will never be led to abuse either the postoffice clerks or the railway mail clerks. We believe that these deserving representatives of the postal service are entitled to better con ditions, and like the carriers should get them as a matter of right and justice.''