Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1908-10-08
TWO TOWNS AFTER MEETING
Portland and Milwaukee Contest for
Rural Carriers Convention.
GOOD ROADS AND MORE PAY ASKED
Mrs. Ruth Kenyon, who Fought for
Omaha Last Year, May Get
Elected vice President
of Association.

Preliminary addresses over the National
Rural Letter Carriers association began
the real work of the convention Wednesday
morning. President Lindsay and other off
GERS gave their annual reports and were
followed I'm the afternoon by two addresses
on good roads. which. next'to their pay 10
the theme nearest the delegates hearts.
Politics and the question of the site Of
the next convention came in for little dis
cussion Wednesday. the delegates being
called into convention soon after they had
bre akfasted and. save at the noon hour
intermission, having little chance to pull
wires or gossip.
The conviction that p. L. Lindsay with be
reelected president without opposition IL
gaining ground, but for some offices be-
meath this a fight probably will ensue. The
contest over these is tame, however. COM
pared with that for the 1909 convention. for
which Milwaukee and Portland are wasing
a battle royal
lwaukee and Portland.
Milwaukee has in its favor the fact that
1t has tried three times before to land the
meeting and came near 1t twice. This per-
slstence may be a telling fact. Also the
Wisconsin metropolis is located in the mid
die west and more easily reached than the
OTtBun CITY, On Ln6 OlTeT manu- EoTNldUu
has.this time been putting up what Is un-
deniably an admirable fight. the delegates
under the leadership OF John II. Coins
working enthusiastically and systematically.
This has commanded respect in itself, the
campaign as whole proving to be an
argument as we'll as the representations
Of the men making II.
Milwaukee might have won Il from
Omaha last year had 1t not been for the
spirited speech in favor ,of this city by
Mrs. Ruth Kenyon, whom many are talking
of candidate for vice president. The
memory of her address will prove potent
in pulling votes for her IL she is placed
In nomination.
Delegates assembled Wednesday with
their minds full of either the subtilties of
Satan expounded on the stage or the
sophlstries of Bryan, made clear by Gov
ernor Hughes.
They first heard letters of regret from
Senator Norris Brown and Fourth Assist
ant Postmaster General P. " DeGraw,
who is their head In Washington.
President Calls for Meeting.
President Lindsay began his annual ad-
dress.
Let us all work together he said in
closing. mot as carriers, but as citizens,
earnestly and Systematically for the bet
terment of the roads of the United States.
BY so doing we shah be helping not only
ourselves but the whole country.
1T is the proudest moment in my life
when 1 rise to speak for this organization;
when reflect that Of 10000 men who have
been In the service only twenty-five have
proved dishonest. Think of It! Twenty-Five
out of 4Oo0O!"
Changing from eloquent to a humor-
GUS vein. the speaker went on: 1--WE are
growing more honest too. The figures show
that we have been per cent more honest
this year than last"
I'VE are growing moro careful" sug-
gested delegate from Iowa, whom, for
tunately, the convention did not hear.
President Lindsay told the convention
that in his annual petition to the postal
authorities he had respectfully called atten-
tion to a number of things in respect to
which the carriers might be benefited. One
OF these was in regard to the two-mile
mileage system which works a palpabe
injustice to many carriers; another. recog-
milton of length of service; a third, com
pensation for extra equipment when re-
quired. and, fourth. the penny nuisance"
brings Loud Applause.
Many carriers at this clapped vigorously
the hands which have been frostbitten on
account of this evil. 1t seems that pa
irons may put coins into the box for post
| age with unstamped letters. These in
wintry weather freeze to the bottom of
the metal receptacle and cause much suf-
fering to the mail men. 1t is desired that
| ruling may be had that collecting or
| declining for the day of unstamped letters
may be left to the discretion of the col
! lectors.
President Lindsay declared that follow
! ing the instruction OF the last convention
he had notified the department that the
National Rural Letter Carriers associa-
tion was in favor of the parcels post.
There are many reasons why we want
| it," he said in hts address Wednesday,
"but the paramount one is this-the
amount Of business whfch our service will
do ana the amount of benefit which we
shall render our patrons will be enor-
mously increased If parcels post be es-
tablished. In recognition of the great sum
which the government expends on our
work we wish to make the fullest possible
return in the way Of serving and promot-
ing the commerce and industry OF the
country"
This expression met with decided favor.
Secretary and Treasurer.
President Lindsay was followed by the
secretary and treasurer, who showed that
the membership of the association is grow
ing and that its finances are in an exceed
ingly healthy state. An address on the good
OF the service was then given by L. A.
Thompson. postoffice Inspector.
do We Need Good Roads?" why
Haven't We Them?" How Shall We Get
Them?" These and other questions were
fired at the delegates in the afternoon by
e. r. Maxey OF Jerseyville, ILL.,, who. with
NJ c. Adams, president of the Iowa asso-
citation, talked straight from the shoulder
on the good roads proposition.
Mr.. Maxey spoke concisely on his theme
and drove home his points with great
charts on which his vital facts and figures
had been printed. Three men in each
township Of my state" said he. the road
commissioners, waste or graft. S2.246,O7S an.
nuslly allowed for construction. They work
nominally, 2s2 days in the year. Do away
with these road commissioners Instead OF
the three of them put one road worker IN
each township. At a straight salary OF