The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-05
RURAL CARRIERS WANT BETTER ROADS Endorse Plan for Tennessee to
 GuIf' Highway CLAYTON CANNOT ATTEND After Electing Officers the Carriers Listen to Addresse, Among Them
 Being One By Postmaster
 J. Rivers Carter.
CLAYTON CANNOT ATTEND

The Alabama Rural Letter Carriers as- sociation closed their fourth annual meet ing early yesterday afternon. Next years meeting will be held in Montgomery on Labor Day.
 The most important feature yesterday was the election of officers to serve the ensuing year. The following were elected:
 President, Julian Merritt, Dothan.
 Vice president, J. D. Huff, Attala.
 Secretary-treasurer, R. C. Bears, Boaz.
 Delegates to general convention in At lanta, c. E. Allison, Town Creek; J. M. Riley, Huffman. and E. l.. Moon, Por- tersville.
 Executive committee, W. B. Trotter, Birmingham; W. F. Cowln, Anniston; A. J. Brown, Birmingham.
 W. B. Trotter presided in the absence of J. F. Brown, the president. J. A. Roun- tree, secretary of the Good Roads asso- citation, addressed the convention on Good Roads and How to Obtain Them"
 MT. Rountree advocated agitating the matter of good roads and have the county build them first. He also stated that the Good Roads association would tackle the legislature to the end of having them is- sue bonds for the construction of these roads He further stated that President Roosevelt had said the states must start the work before they could expect an ap- propriation. Mir. Rountree closed by ast- Ing the cooperation of the rural carriers with the Good Roads association.
 Congressman Henry D. Clayton had been invited to address the meeting, but was unable to attend. A telegram from him was read, expressing his regrets. In 1t he congratulated the association and said that he heartily approved the object of the organization and would at all times do all in his power to further the inter- ests of the rural carriers
 A letter from Fourth Assistant Post master General P. V. McGraw was also read, in which he stated that organiza- ton of carriers. which had for their puf- pose the betterment of the service would aid of the department, but organiza- tions with other points in view would be detrimental.
 J. Rivers Carter, postmaster of the Blr mingham office. then addressed the meet ing. He advised them to do all in their power for the betterment of the roads.
 Reports from officers were then read, which showed that the organization was in splendid condition, the treasurer's re- port showing a neat balance on hand.
 The committee on constitution recom- mended some changes in the constitution, which would cause the work of the as- sociation to be handled in better shape.
 The real hit of the day was the song by Miss Esse Gould who sand "The Rural Postman." of which the words were composed by Allen Letchworth and the music by Sol steinlein. and is ded- cated to Miss Ethel Roosevelt. Miss Gould is 8 Birmingham girl and her singing met with hearty applause.
 ne following resolutions were intro duced by Secretary Beavers:
 "Whereas, we have heard with great deal of pleasure of the work that Is being oone by the Alabama Good Roads asso- citation, and being vtally interested in good roads, therefore be it
 Resolved. first, That Alabama Rural Letter Carriers association in conven- tlon assembled. hereby pledge themselves to lend their assistance toward building