Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-10
LIKELY TO LOSE PLACE
PRECEDENT KELLER OF AssoCIA.
TON, OF LETTER CARRIERS.
Is Employed in Cleveland Post Office
and Refused to Obey Order to
Return to Duty.

There Is strong probability that James
Keller. president Of the National Associa-
ton OF Letter Carriers, Will be dismissed
from theHservioO within few days. Mr..
Keller is q carrier attached to the Cleve-
land post Office. and has been ordered back
to his duties. he having been absent for
many months on business connected with
the association. 1t is understood that his
response to the orders of the Post once
Department was to the effect that 1t was
at this time inconvenient for him to re-
sumo his work. there being much for him
to attend to for the association that re-
quired his absence from the Cleveland
Office.
When an order Of this sort Is defled by an
employe it means nothing less than his sep
aration from the service. and such an end
may be confidently predicted in the case Of
President Keller. He has been written to
by the fourth assistant postmaster general,
who has charge of the carriers. to show
cause within three days why he should not
be removed from the service. His reply to
this has not yet been received at the Post
Office Department, and Is not expected for
a day or two, The three days limitation
for 1t will expire on Monday next. at which
time 1t is probable that his dismissal will
result.
Alleged Pernicious Political Activity.
AhShc nave bceu IildLy IuIuOIS TeSdTuluS
the pernicious political activity OF agents
or the letters carriers and Of the rural car
rlers' associations. but the department did
not care to take up the matter prior to the
election. judging that such action at that
time would rebound to the discredit of the
party In power. and appear to be perse-
cutlon OF the carriers for political pur-
poses. The election having become history,
the Post Office Department has gone Wig
70, IL
and also to look into the extended leaves
OF absence which have been granted to
Keller and President Cunningham of the
rurai carriers and attached to the Omaha
post Ofhce, and not reported by the post
masters at either place.
Absence Not Reported.
Letter carriers are allowed fifteen days
annual leave. and both Keller and Cum
bingham have. been absent from their
duties for months. This does not appear
on the records of the Post Office Depart
ment for the reascn that their absences
were not reported Otherwise, such absence
would constitute grounds for instant dis
nlssal. Several members of Congress
have complained that the agents of the
associations under discussion have tried to
learn the position of their congressional
representatives on the question of increased
salaries for the letter carriers. There be-
ing y, 1000 city carrier and 28,OOO rural car
riers, practically all of whom are members
of the associations. the political strength of
this body of men is not underestimate by
the memberships Congress who have been
approached by agents of either associa ton.
1t is understood that President Cunning
ham has returned to his duties at the
omaha oflee, but that fact does not con-
sttute a. Saving factor in his case as he
may be dismissed from the service because
of his extended absence from his duties. 1t
cannot be learned at the Post Office De-
partment whether or not President Cum
bingham has received note similar t. the
one sent to Keller, but the circumstances
being almost Identical it is likely that such
Is the case, and that he will be expected
to promptly answer, giving his reasons
why he should not be dismissed.