Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-07-28
KELLER DENOUNCES
LOUD MOST
BITTERLY
BRANDS AS A LIAR LIQUIDS STATE
MENT THAT CARRIERS ARE
TRYING TO LOBBY BILL
THROUGH HOUSE.

WASHINGTON, July R--FreSloent j.
c. Keller, of the National Association
OF Letter Carriers, who has just returned
from a trip through the west, has writ
ten a letter to the official organ OF his
association, the Postal Record, which
will appear in the next issue OF that
Journal bitterly arraigning Representa-
tive Loud, OF California, chairman OF the
committee on postoffices and post roads,
for that gentleman's opposition 70 the
bill reclassifying letter carriers. In an
alyzing the last speech Mr.. Loud made
in the house on this subject MI Keller
characterizes Il as a most remarkable
efrort. Remarkable" he says, ironically,
s'for its inaccuracies as well as its mis-
representation" Mr.. Keller, in the most
emphatic language. brands as lie Mr.
LIQUIDS charge that the carriers are try
ing TO lobby their bill through congress
by the use Of money.
''AIr. Loud states comments Mr.. KEEL
Ter, that an offer to return money col
lscted for this purpose was made, bur
that some of the branches refused to
accept the return OF that money and 1t
stu lies subject to call This statement
is false from beginning 10 end and
doubt IL such a statement would ever
be made or have'been made were IL pos
sible for a carrier to personally answer
such an attack on tho floor. The car
riers OF the country have no fund, either
direct or indirect, with which 20 pur-
chase their increase in salary or any other
legislation. Every carrier knows that
and I believe Mr.. Loud knows it-at least
he seems to know everything pertaining
to the carriers private as well as public
life
Mr.. Keller, in his letter. takes Mr..
Loud's speech by paragraphs, in order
to show that the California congressman
distorted the real facts of the case in
masquerade o. language. He dismisses
a great deal Of Mr.. LIQUIDS causerie as
unworthy of consideration, but resents
vigorously that portion Of Mr.. LIQUIDS
speech in which the latter, according to
Mr.. Keller's Interpretation, attacks the
character of the letter carriers.
''The portion TO which I take particular
exception" says Mr.. Keller, lis that in
which Mr.. Loud, by inference, seeks to
brand the carriers OF the country as
lot OF criminals. We can pass over his
so-called statistical enumerations; we
could even respect the man for his con-
sistent opposition to any measure which
he considers wrong in principle, but we
do reserve the right 70 protest against
the attacks made upon the integrity Of
the letter carrier, especially when that
attack is made on the foor of the house
in a manner and under conditions which
will not permit those attacked TO an
swer the charges brought against them"
Mr.. Keller speculates as to the reason
Of Mr.. LIQUIDS deviation from the subject
under consideration, when the general
efficiency appropriation bill was before
the house, and his meandering into a
discussion OF the postal service as well
as the salaries OF letter carriers.
"Why any man should go out of his
way TO attack another" remarks Mr.
Keller. "or why this question Of salaries
OF postal employees was brought up at
a time when matters entirely foreign to
IL We're being considered. 1 Go not know,
unless it was done for the purpose of
making political capital of IL, as stated
by the chairman OF the committee. Mr.
Loud. at the very beginning Of his
speech"
The president Of the Association pleads
earnestly for fair play, an attribute he
declares Mr.. Loud is net afflicted with
and attacks the latter for urging that
the carriers be burdened with increased
Sunday work. Keller goes into a tech
nical discussion Of the salaries OF letter
carriers and their substitutes, offering
substantiated facts and figures to prove
tho emptiness OF Mr. LIQUIDS argument
that they are sufficiently remunerated.
IN conclusion Mr.. Keller says: "One
thing. however. is certain. No attempts
10 create dissension in the ranks Of the
carriers will ever meet with success. The
carriers have met every condition i'm
posed upon them by presidential or de-
partment orders. They ask for an in
crease Of pay as a matter OF right, and
Justice. They want il so that they may
4 live. feed and clothe themselves in the
manner expected of them; but they want
10 get IL honestly and I'm striving for
better conditions they will never be led
10 abuse either the pOstoffice clerks or
IN railway mail clerks. We believe that
these deserving representatives Of the
postal service are entitled 70 better con-
ditions and like the carriers should get
them as a matter OF right and justice"