The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-26
ARE ON WAR PATH
Rural Carriers Are Very Much
Excited.
State Organization on Verge Of
Disruption.
FUSS ABOUT PRESIDENT
Head of Organization Under Ban
of Government.
Gets Endorsement Over Protests
of Delegates.
FUSS ABOUT PRESIDENT

The convention of rural free car
riers which opened on Thursday I'M
der such suspicious circumstances
struck a snag at their meeting Friday
afternoon. From the expressions of
some of the delegates it looks as
though the trouble may disrupt the
Kansas branch of the organization.
The trouble came up over the report |
of the committee which instructed the
two delegates from Kansas to vote for |
the reelection of National President |
Cunningham. The report of the COM
mittee was adopted by a vote of 8 to |
3 after stormy debate in which the
state president j. C. Colin, took a |
leading part.
F. H. Cunningham, who is now the |
president of the national association, |
is no longer q rural carrier, his head
having fallen under the ak of Fourth
Assistant Postmaster General Bristow. |
When the association was in its In
fancy a circular was sent out from
the national headquarters which the
department construed as a threat, and
as result all of the head officials
were suspended from their positions
with the government service. This
rule caused the present president, F.
H. Cunningham, to lose his position
along with the other members of the
naIlOnai ASSOCIATION ana caused Sucn d
fear to spread throughout the ranks of
the mail carriers of the United States
that it seemed for time that the ma
tional organization would go to pieces.
Many of the more tinid members of
the association now feel that they are
ljeopardizing their positions by retain
ing their membership in the assoeia-
ton, more especially If the present
president is retained as he has already
been suspended from the service for
! In I hnT I'M infa "
is a delegate from Douglas county,
said: II fear that the action taken by
this committee means the death of the
state association. know that the SEN
timent in our county is very strong
against the reelection of Mr.. Cum
bingham to succeed himself. The fight
is not a personal one nor have we any
charges to make against him, but the
majority of the members of the asso-
citation seem to feel that with Mr.. Cum
bingham at the head of the carriers
association means an antagOnistc
move against the powers at Washing
ton, as he is now under suspension by
the postoff1ce department 1 for one
feel that his retention at the head of
our association means great detri-
ment to our cauSes and know that
| it will keep many members from join
| ing our association, and one cannot
we'll blame them for not wanting to
! join an association whose chief officer
is under the ban of the pOstoffice de-
| partment. I am sure that do not
i know what action our county asso-
! citation will take, but know of several
associations throughout the state that
will refuse to further affiliate with the
state and national order if Mr.. Gun
ningham is reelected"
Mr. Arthur Bell, who is the dele
gate from Sedgwick county, said: II
am very sorry to see this friction come
up and particularly at this time, for
am sure that it will mean the dis
organization of the carriers in most OF
the counties in the state. In my coun
| ty 1 feel safe in saying that the MEM
| bers will not send another dollar of
dues to our state association. The fight
on Mr.. Cunningham is not a personal
one but we carriers all feel that we
are placing our positions in jeopardy
when we re-elect a man who has been
discharged from the service by the
/ postal authorities at Washington, and
| 1 think that it would show mighty
poor Judgment on the part of an out
side carrier to join the association I'M
der such circumstances"
J. c. Collin who has been president of
the State association ever since its or
/ ganization and who was depoSed on
account of his fight on the report of the
| committee said: II did what consid-
cred my duty in fighting the adoption
| of the report of the committee on resolu-
lions. 1 do not think that our delegate
should go to the national convention in
structed to vote for man for the pres
ident of the National association who
has been dismissed from the service
| 1t seems to me that if we endorse him
that we are not showing proper respect
for the authorities in Washington. 1t
is not at all improbable that an effort
will be made to unseat our delegate.
Mr.. Cunningham has made it a point to
attend every state convention OF the car
riers and has made his fight for the en-
dorsement on the floor wherever he has
been permitted to speak,.
Mr. Cunningham left the city immed-
lately after he received the endorsement
of the convention and could not be seen.
One of his staunch supporters. o.
Chacey, the state secretary, said: This
| fight that has been made upon Mr..
Cunningham is all wrong and is going
to hurt our association if 1t is not stop
ped. We elected Mr.. Cunningham
knowing that trouble was brewing; he
has stood for our interests and did what
| he considered was his duty and by so do
ing lost his position with the govern
ment and do not think that We should
desert him 1 do not consider that the
fact that Mr.. Cunningham was dismissed
from the service as affecting the assocl-
alton in any way, on the other hand
, think that he is the best man that we
, have for the place and think that he
! can do US more good than any one elst
! He is thoroughly qualif1ed, is We'll &C
! quainted with his duties and stands vel
: with the men now in authority in the
) postoffice department. I think that ht
will be elected by a larger majority
: than he has ever received before
Considerable feeling was aroused b'
| the report of the committee inStructns
the two national delegates, w E. Como
van and e R. Rust. to vote for Mr.
' Cunningham for the presidency anS
E many of the members left for nome a.
n soon as the convention adjourned.
J. E. Baumgartner was elected a.
e president for the state association ant
:. o. Chacey will succeed himself as sec
: rotary The next meeting Will be hei'
at Wichita next September
Robs Partner of SIS.
. -Ona of pa W