The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1909-09-09

feel it duty to serve them before
ourselves This, | believe, is the true
principle of living, and while it is
true that charity begins at home. yet
this can be carried to extremes, and
II we conniye to make everything
work to our own advantage first, we
shall find ourselves growing selfish
and narrow; and certainly we cannot
do our best in our chosen work, what
ever that may be.
Then these meetings are beneficial
to us by giving us an opportunity to
discuss ways and means of perform
ing our work in the quickest and
most satisfactory manner BY SO do
ing we win the appreciation of our
patrons and are recognized by the
great department of government
which we serve as faithful and con-
scientious employees. The meetings
can be made highly instructive and
| interesting. 1t is good to meet broth
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hear from their own lips an account
of their varied experiences and to be-
come acquainted; We are interested
| in the same line of work and should
certainly meet for a day once every
year to exchange views, to enjoy each
others company, and to relax care.
We shall take back to our homes
memories, pleasant and lasting.
A few years ago, l believe it was
in 1885, one trial rural route was es-
tablished Who dreamed that in so
short a space of time there would be
Al 900 rural routes spreading like
net over the whole United States, yet
such is the case and number of
! hundreds of routes are being es-
| tablished every year. Fellow car
riers, we know we are working for
the best government on the earth. Do
we realize that the postotfice depart
ment is one of the largest and most
important departments of our govern
ment and that it is growing in size
and importance rapidly; also that the
rural delivery of mail is getting to be
very important branch of this de-
partment? 1t certainly is, and is so
recognized by the postoffice officials,
congressman, senators and all. Its
growth is something phenomenal;
there is an incessant cry going up
for the laying out of new routes;
soon there will be $4,000 carriers,
then 10000 and 1T cannot stop much
short of the 100000 mark. What an
army of men! Think of a petition
with $4,000 names attached being
presented to the postoffice depart
ment, not an unreasonable petition
but one founded on justice and COM
mon sense, and from men who have
taken civil service examinations and
are under bonds to serve with the
best that Is in them. The officials
cannot turn a deaf ear to such petit
tions. AS individuals we are denied
the right of appeal; this Is why 1t is
so important to organize. THIS Is
not a union of labor against capital;
it is simply a banding together for
mutual improvement, and is encour-
aged and sanctioned by the depart
ment. The city carriers have had a
similar organization for years. The
postoffice clerks, also the postmasters,
have their organization, why not we?
believe the two last increases in
our salary are directly traceable to
the effort of our national association.
| believe our next one will be, then
the association can intercede for gov
eminent aid in securing better roads
doing away with penny nuisance,
longer vacations, Standardization of
boxes, and in numerous ways aid and
protect the interest of the carrier
body for all time. Our county, state
and national associations give us
prestige and standing before the
! WHOI6 udllOn WHICH 10 Vi lhN SANs'N
est importance to us as government
employees. If only enough numbers
are present to give us a quorum,
whatever they say goes for the senti-
ment of all the carriers in the coun-
try which is manifestly unfair, but If
they cannot be prevailed upon to at
tend a meeting they have themselves
to blame | wish to impress upon
you, fellow carriers, what believe to
be the duty of us all, namely, to ex-
haust every means to induce all the
carriers in Somerset county to join
FOUR association, thereby enhance our
own interests, and thereby augment
and encourage the entire Rural Let
! ter Carriers body.
RURAL CARRIERS MEET.