Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-01-17
Postmaster General Furnishes
Congress Information Regard
ing Carriers Dismissal
ANSWERS HEARST RESOLUTION
Campaign of the Rural Carriers for
an Increase in Pay and Indications
Were it Wa. Largely In the Nature
Of a BIuff-cunninsham's Instruct
Ions Quoted.

washington, Jan. IL. - .eOSIl1ldSlei
General Wynne transmitted to the
house yesterday "a statement of facts"
relative to the dismissal of James c.
Keller. president of the City Letter
Carriers Association, and Frank Cum
ningham, Warren lumber and H. w.
Aldrich, officers Of the Rural Carriers
Association. The information is in re-
Spouse to a resolution introduced by
Representative Hearst, and agreed to
by the house. The response says Mr..
Keller was dismissed for being alb
sent from his post Of duty without
leave. In his showing by the depart
ment Mr.. Keller states that he receiv-
ed oral leave from the late Postmaster
General Payne to be absent from duty
for year. When the department or
dered his return to duty he filed a let
ter saying it was impossible for him
to do SO at present. His dismissal fol-
lowed.
The campaign Of the rural carriers
for an increase of pay is set forth in
the communication in a number of
circular letters credited to the three
named carriers, and all based on an
expedition made by Carrier Cunning
ham to New York. where he interview
ed Chairman Cortelyou Of the repub-
lican national committee; Chairman
Taggart Of the democrat national COM
mittee. and Representative Overstreet,
secretary Of the republican congress
eional campaign bureau.
Tho p1or 011f1Snod a q dinner
In st. Louis, and Cunningham instruc-
ted to make the best bargain pos
sible" with 1.-THE politicians" 1t was
proposed that Representative Over
street should give out newspaper in
terview'' to the effect that at the COM
ing session he will allow to be reported
out of the postoffice committee the
Fairbanks bill (the situation in 1ndi-
ana is that Fairbanks will be defeat
ed, the republicans are Of that opin-
ion and should be glad of chance to
make this trade). then that this IN
terview will be flashed all over the
country by the Associated Press, that
Overstreet will do this.
1--WE will then get in our work of
getting congressman and candidates to
commit themselves to vote for the bill.
We will then get out the Free Dellv-
cry News with an extra whooping up
for Overstreet that he is not such
bad fellow after all, and urge the car
riers to support the whole ticket.
"But, if Cortelyou does not agree to
this plan, then we must do our turn in
q game Of bluff-say to him that we
will support the head Of the ticket, but
as we have nothing to expect from a
republican house, we will support the
democrats for the remainder Of the
ticket"
The comment is then made: 1T is
an old plan, but it is better TO go along
ttf,an>to stand stuls~.Roth political par
ties think ,~and believe we have much
more strength, many more members
In our organization and more perfect
organization han we really have. This
is very much in our favor, and all
comes from the quantities of kilograms
and petitions sent to Washington last
winter"
Carrier Cunningham reported to
Carrier lumber by letter from! New
York, Of Oct. IA, 1904. as follows:
Saw cortelyou and Tagsart.
s.I seen Cortelyou yesterday, and he
said that he had long talk with Ov-
erstreet and that he could not give me
any encouragement, as Overstreet
would not commit himself. I seen Mr..
TagEart in the afternoon and he talked
as though the democrats would without
doubt pass the bill If elected. told
him, however, that we would only sup
port a democratic house. l will meet
him again this morning"
After a meeting between Cunning
ham and lumber in Buffalo, Oct. ~,
1904, a long circular letter to carriers
0as prepared by lumber. In 1t, he
says: 81 have presented to you the
advice Of the executive board. It is
their best judgment that all carriers
and their friends should support the
head of the republican ticket, but
democratic house."
The postoffice department states
that all of the rural carriers named
were absent from duty without leave,
IN addition to their activity in politics.
The carriers were dismissed Dec.
IS, 1904.