The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-07-08
THE LETTER CARRIERS.
THEY HELD THEIR ANNUAL CON.
VEhTI0N HERE FRIDAY.
Assistance Postmaster T. Il. Wallace
Made the Address of Welcome and
Mr. Arthur Prempert Responded.
Mr.. w. B. Stewart, of lGreensboro,
Reelected President-Tbe Copxep-
ton Meets Next Year in Raleigh.

clifton, was held in this city July 4th,
VIII Asheville. Greensboro, Raleigh,
W~lnston-Salem and Wilmington we'll
represented.
The association convened at IL a. m.
sat Pythian Castle hall on North Front
street, with the president, Mr.. W. B.
Stewart, Of Greensboro, presiding. The
secretary, Mr.. w. L. Vest. of Winston
Salem, was at his post.
After the convention had been called
ITO order, Mr.. 7. E. Wallace, assistant
postmaster at Wilmington, delivered the
welcome address in behalf of the local
branch. He was introduced by Mr.. A.
B. Guyton, of the Wilmington branch
and vice-president of the State Asso-
citation. Mr.. Wallace's address was as
follows:
1T is no unusual expression to a let
ter carrier to hear that he is welcome,
for of all classes there are none whose
coming is more anxiously looked for
than the letter carrier. Il is not neces-
sary that he should De so told, as the
Frightening of the eye, the animated
look of pleasure, and entire change Of
appearances indicate that something
OF an unusual and pleasant nature has
place. While l am in this in
stance not actuate by the same feel
ings that influence and affect the re-
cipient of mail, L want the carriers of
this association to feel that they are as
welcome to our city for the purpose of
holding their convention as one of you
would be to the fairest maiden expect
ing her first billet-douX-and you all
know how that is by Many
of you, no doubt, know that no mis-
take was made in the selection of Will
mington as a place to hold your meet
ing, being familiar with her people and
the cordiality with which the letter
carrier would be received, and to
those who have this to learn 1
a assure them that this will
not be the time that Whining
ton will be recreant to her duty as a
host. L might be pardoned for saying
that Just at this season your aSSocia-
ton was fortunate m selecting this
city as a place of meeting, as our
beaches will afford you members an
opportunity for pastime when seeking
relaxation from your labOrs during the
intervals of your meeting, and 1 know
the committee who has that particular
part of your entertainment in hand
will not be lax in presenting all the adj
-N~S NAA0N O~A ~ $4,000 ~ SNO
city in that respect
Il will not impose on you by going
into a dissertation of your hardShips,
your diligence, our f~aithfulness, your
annOyances and your many, many trials
in the successful n intelligent per-
Torrance of the duties of your posi-
tion-you know them, 1 know them in
a general way. The public will never
knO them, as hey are only interested
in the delivery of their individual mail,
and l guess it is but natural they
should be interested no further-in
fact, they have not the time-but 1
cannot resist the Inclination to say
that a portion of the public is at times
inconsiderate as we'll as unreasonable,
though I am pleased to add that the
portion referred to is not large.
The postal service is one of the
greatest Importance, as all branches of
and the Industries of the
country are dependent on it, to a very
considerable degree rendering it essen
tial that all features, of it should work
in accord so that a harmonious accom-
plishment of the results desired may
be brought about.
"A feature of the postal service Is
that it is a business more vast in its
magnitude, and more intricate in its
details than any other that has been
formulated by the mind of man. This
has been made evident by h action of
the congress just adjourned in appro-
priating for it's m~aintainence during
the current fiscal year 1SS 1-2 millions
of dollars which Is A millions of dollars
more than has been appropriated for
the support of the army, and go million
more than the naY received. There
is no study more interesting to the
economist than the evolution of the
postal service-its conception, growth,
development, n / am almost empted
to say maturity, if 1 was not aware of
the fact that those who are at the head
of the service are constantly looking
for new N of benefit to the pub
lie and are constantly creating them.
making b~roadness of mind and readi-
ness of grasp distinguishing character
istics in the officials at the head OF this
department, and we can all say with
pleasure that those who are in charge
at the present time will measure up TO
that standard.
while the public has been largely
considered in the various changes that
have beer made, ard the regulations
that have been adopted for the better
ment of the service, there has also been
an eye eve watChful for the ammel-
ioration of those upon whom they have
been dependent for the intelligent per-
Torrance Of their ideas, and in this re-
Spect you association has been OF
great assistance in lie unbiased pre-
sentation of conditions as they existed
enabling them to adopt lei rules
which while not trespassing on a single
right Of the public have made the work
of the carriers lighter and more rea-
sonable. This, gentlemen, Is as I I'M
derstand it, one of the purposes Of you
organization and is so laudable that
every encouragement should be given
to you, in order that your strength and
usefulness may be increased
Your other features of insurance
and retirement you are we'll able to
handle for yourselves and there is no
doubt from surface Indications there
your national officers are we'll qualified
to guide you.
Il again say that you are welcome
TO Wilmington and in saying so l speak
for its officials as we'll SIS its citizens,
and 1 trust that your deliberations will
be productive Of good to yourselves and
of advantage to the service, not only
as it may affect the department but