The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-09
sTREET-RAILWAY EMPLOYEES.


complaint the freS10ents
PITTSBURG, May S.-The convention of
Amalgamated Street Railway Employees of
America wound up it's business tonight
with the election of officers President, w.
D. Mahon, Detroit treasurer, Resin Orr,
Detroit. Chicago was selected for next
place of meeting.
To-day was one Of the busiest of the con-
vention apd much was accomplished. The
morning was devoted to discussion Of ad-
ditional amendments to the constitution.
This work was completed and the entire
constitution as amended was adopted. The
new provisions are to go into effect on
June Is. The convention decided this after
noon to address an open telegram to Pres
ident Roosevelt reciting alleged abuses of
the mails iby different street car companies
and asking him to demand of the postmas-
ter general that he enforce the postal laws
and correct the abuses.
Some grievances were brought up by
delegates In the manner in which the United
States mails were used in San Francisco
and New Orleans during the time that the
street car men were having trouble with
divisions Of the union. 1t was asserted that
in San Francisco the mail of the street car
men was held up; that letters were opened
and photographs were taken from the let
tiers, which, In many cases, were posted by
the employers at the various carbarns This
was donei it is alleged, in order to deter
employees from joining the union. In New
Orleans similar methods were practiced in
order to suppress the forming of unions.
The convention denounced in strong
resolution this sort of use of the United
States mails, and appointed committee
of five to convey their disapproval of such
practices TO President Roosevelt. This COM
mttee, composed of Miss Josephine Casey,
of Chicago, the only woman delegate to
the convention; A. w. Morrison, Missouri;
r. Cornelius, California; William Kava-
Indiana, Grew up t. the Following telegram :'
Whereas, undsputed proof of the open
and fragrant abuse Of the United States
by the Office officials, notably in New Or
leans and in San Francisco, has been
brought to the notice of the eighth biennial
convention Of the Amalgamated Associa-
ton of Street-railway Employees of Amer
lea: and.
whereas, the purpose of said abuses is
to deprive the members of our organization
of their sacred rights by having postoffice
officials hold UP and rifle letters of the
members of this association for the pur-
pose of giving undue information, contrary
to the law, to street-car companies, to the
detriment of our members, and of street.
car companies by placing United States
mail signs, contrary to the ruling OF the
postmaster general, on cars not carrying
mails, in time of trouble between street.
car companies and our association, for the
express or designed purpose of restraining
our members from enjoying the rights due
them; therefore, be ii
Resolved, that this, the eighth biennial
convention of our association, by unani-
nous vote. condemns the action of the
postal officials for their negligence in not
enforcing the postal laws governing de-
livery and transmission of mail. and that
the committee appointed to bring this mat
ter to your attention ask your Excellency,
as the chief executive of this Nation, to
use your good offices in demanding of the
postmaster general and his subordinates
! that the postal laws be enforced and these
| abuses corrected.
| The reading of the telegram was received
| with cheers, and was adopted by a rising
4 vote.