The Owosso times., 1903-09-11
RURAL CARRIERS MEET.
The County Organization Held Sue
cessful Meeting Here Saturday.

IN the county twenty-four were present.
The meetings were held in the G. A. R.
hall. an adjournment being taken at
seven o'clock for banquet at the Ex-
change Hotel. The election of officers
took place after the banquet, at the
hall.
i The afternoon meeting was called to
order by President John Sprague, the
first carrier to serve in Shiawassee
county. Mr.. Sprague called S. d. Will
SON, of New Lothrop, to the chair, ask
ing him to preside over the session.
Mr.. Wilson, who by the way is presi-
dent of the state association of rural
letter carriers, made short speech on
taking the chair. The principal theme
of Mr.. Wilson's address was the pre-
sentation of the fact that the rural car
rier is as yet a much under-paid official
Of course, as Mr.. Wilson pointed out
the service is still new and is not even
yet regarded by many as being past the
experimental stage 1t has however
become permanent part of the postal
service and education looking toward
better pay for the rural carrier is one of
the important duties which rural car
riers now owe themselves Considering
the fact that the rural carrier has to
pay for two or more horses besides his
wagon and harnesses, that he has to
keep the latter in repair and feed the
former as well as pay blacksmiths and
occasionally veterinary's bills for them,
often amounting to fully fifteen dollars
a month, the pay is not large enough.
Postmaster H. H. Pulver of Laings-
burg, was called on for remarks. He
spoke of the effect of the growth of the
service on the general enlightment of
the country. 1t encourages the people
to read and to think more which in it.
self has tendency to make better citi-
zens of them. He expressed the belief
that the government would in time
make the remuneration of the service
more nearly what it should be.
Senator A. B. Cook took the same
ground with even stronger emphasis.
He has been patron of the No. route
from Owosso ever since the service was
begun and voiced his appreciation of
the service in no hesitating way. He
also took occasion to express himself on
another matter which lies near the rural |
carriers hearts, the subject of good
roads. He expressed his sympathy
with the carrier in this respect and |
hoped that the farmers would not |
their service by neglecting |
their roads.
G.. T. Campbell, editor of the Argus,
was called on and complimented the
carriers upon having been the first to
carry out their county organization and
to have been in the lead in the matter of
getting the state organization started
with its resultant national organization.
The hard work. the long hours when
,he roads are bad, furnish needs enough
'or such organizations. The rural car
'iers should be paid as well proportion
lily as the employees in the other
of the service.
Carriers J. J. Mackey, of Durand, L.
W. Woodin and Phil Shepard of Owos-
o, addressed the meeting, discussing
ways and means of advancing their in
erests as well as the good of the service.
n addition to this however they took
occasion to thank the newspapers of the
ounty for the steadfast support which
hey have given them whenever possible
n their work
At the meeting after the banquet the
nnual election of officers was held.
The result of the voting was as follows:
President-John Sprague, Owosso. :
Vice " IS D. Wilson, New 10th
op.
Secretary-Philip Shepard, Owosso.
Treasurer-W. M. Wooley, Lennon. s
Executive ommittee-James Hop
ins, Owosso; d. E. Hinkley, Morrice;
|. G. McClintock, Laingsburg; c. Judd, ,
lew Lothrop: and Charles Hovey, st.
ohns.
Delegates to State Association, which I
ill meet next July at st. Johns-B.
Laingsburg; U. G. Stiff, f
urton; G. Judd, New Lothrop.
At the evening meeting the carriers
ere addressed by Postmaster E. o. r
ewey, of Owosso, who told them that p
3 believed that they were entitled to
uch more pay than they were now re- /.
'iving. He said that the pay now re-
lived by the city carriers, which no one
inks too large, is also not too large for |
lral carriers. Mr.. Dewey compliment
the carriers on the service which
ey were giving the county and made
me suggestions regarding the further
g of their interests in respect to an in
ease in pay At the close of his re-
arks vote of thanks was given him
r the interest he had uniformly mani
sted in their behalf ever since the es- |
blishment OF the first route in the
unity. Postmaster V. q. VanLieu, of l
,nnon, also expressed similar senti-
ents regarding the work and compen-