Omaha daily bee., 1908-10-10
BANQUET RURAL CARRIERS
Iowa Association Host to the National
Gathering in Omaha.
GOVERNOR SHELDON A SPEAKER
Advocates Road Improvement and
Tells of Value of the Service
Number Of other Inter-
estIng Addresses.

A pleasing and at the same time unex-
pected feature Of the entertainment Of the
officers Of the National Rural Letter Car
riers' association and delegates to the con-
vention now in progress in Omaha at the
Grand hotel last evening by the Iowa state
association was the presence OF Governor
Sheldon Of Nebraska, who was accorded q
most hearty reception both Upon his arrival
at the meeting and when he arose to make
an address.
Governor Sheldon was introduced by Ma
tional President Linsay. who halls from the
state Of Georgia After expressing his
qualification at being present and meeting
such a large number of representatives Of
what the governor termed one Of the great
est branches of the postal system, Governor
Sheldon spoke briefly on the Improvement
OF the country roads which, he declared,
would, In his opinion. be brought about
through the efforts of the rural letter
carriers and their organizations.
The Improvement Of the rural roads, he
said, was a question In which all were in
terested, and while 1t had been a long time
coming, he believed hat It would not be
long before good in place OF bad roads
would be the general rule throughout the
country districts.
The benefits from the rural free delivery,
he said, were incalcuble. The benefit from
an educational point Of view was almost as
great as the public schools, as through 1t
the dweller on the farm remote from the
cities was enabled to have delivered at his
door daily the newspapers, magazines and
other sources of information of the worlds
doings. He reviewed briefly the great de-
%velopment of the rural free delivery system
from the star mail route, and while 1t
might be that the rural free delivery de-
partment showed a deficit at the end Of the
fiscal year, II had paid for itself over and
over again in great benefits to the people
which it was designed to serve. 1T may
not pay In dollars and cents, but It pays
many times over In the lnestlmable bene-
fits to the people OF our rural communi-
ties" declared the governor in closing.
Attendance is Large.
There was a large attendance, the big
ball room Of the Grand hotel being taxed
to It's capacity and many had to stand In
the hallway. c. NJ. Adams of Davenport.
president of the state association, presided
and introduced the speakers with brief but
pointed remarks which showed he was the
man in the right place. Mayor Maloney
extended a welcome on behalf of the city
and b. b. Chids or Nevada, secretary OF
the state association. responded.
stmas Hazelton of this city on be-
half OF the Pottawattamie County associa-
ton, presented President Adams for the
state association with a gavel. accompany
Ing the presentation with a shcrt address
in which he paid a tribute to the rural
mail carriers.
Other addresses during the evening were
made by Superintendent Spillman OF the
rural mail delivery department; Special
Agent Thompson. National President Lin
say, w. H.. James, president Of the county
association; Inspector Funkhouser OF Indi-
ana, V. f. Bender. Henry Sperling and G.
r.. Long of the railway mail service, The
latter spoke on the benefits of organization
ard the i~nadequacy of the pay received by
the rural carriers. I'VE are getting the
business men interested said Mr.. Long,
and 1 advise you to do the same. Bring
them in touch with your needs and through
them reach the members Of congress. /
know the congressman are somewhat hard
II hearing at times. but there have been
lines when they could hear even a whis-
per. Their hearing was first-class when It
vas suggested that the salaries Of the
members of congress be increased. The
salaries were increased, Keep at 1t, some
lay they may hear you"
At the close Of the speeches refreshments
we're served and then the visitors were en-
tertained at the Maloney moving picture
show opposite the Grand hotel.