Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-06-04
RAIL WAY MAIL MEN
CAPTURE THE CITY
Opening Session of the Big Con-
vention Taken Up With Wei
come Addresses and Response
by President Garfield.


Most royalty welcomed are the dele
gates attending the annual convention OF
the Railway Mail association, which con-
vened at 10 O'Clock Tuesday morning. in
the hall OF representatives at the capitol,
and the city IS turned over to them with
the same trust and confidence that char
acterizes their daily labor in handling the
United States mails from coast to coast
They have found the latch string hanging
on the outside. and for four days they
viii carry the keys Of the city.
That the seventeenth annual convention
of this association should meet here, At
lanta IS Justly proud. and the enthusiasm
and spirit enveIOping the welcome ex-
tended the guests by the people and the
people's executive representatives shows
that the Gate City is glad they have
come. and that they are thrice welcome.
The convention was called TO order oy
John r. Bradley. chairman OF the local
arrangement committee
After the opening prayer by Rev Mr..
Thompson. and the first welcome address
Of superintendent L ". Terrell. OF the
Fourth Division. Mr.. Bradley commented
on the general regret If the enforced alb
sence OF Governor Smith from the city
and introduced the Honorable Murphey
Gambler, who spoke for the governor.
Mr.. Gambler said that he was much
embarrassed in having to act as governor
for the moment but that he wished TO ex-
tend for the state the heartiest welcome.
He declared that this was one occasion
when the state OF Georgia had gotten
ahead OF the city OF Atlanta and its pro-
Eressive mayor in getting to officially
welcome the delegates first. and that he
was glad TO take advantage Of the OPP
portunity.
he spoke Of how much depended upon
the mail clerk in this country, and that
the people generally were congratulating
themselves on having such an excellent
service.
PREJUDICE FORGOTTEN.
Mayor Maddox on behalf Of the city,
enthusiastically told the delegates how
welcome they were. and In a flight Of or
atory the mayor spoke Of the links now
binding all sections of the country, and
how prejudice was fast becoming forgot
ten
He urged them to come to Atlanta at
any time. and assured them that the key
that unlocked the mail boxes would also
loosen the gates to Atlanta
President ]. T Garfield, of the Mail as
ISOLATION, responded on behalf Of the Wis
itors-
HISTORY OF ORGANIZATION.
He said that II Atlanta could have got
ten the association here in previous years
he was sure-they would have never
gone anywhere else. He then gave a his
tory Of the organization. saying that there
were about 1900 mail clerks now I'm this
country. and that ninety per cent of all
the mails were handled by these en-
plOyes.
Mr. STUART SPEAKS.
Second Assistant Postmaster General
Stewart was next introduced and stated
that he had promised himself the pleas
ure Of attending this convention since
he received the invitation.
He assured the delegates that the
postoffice department was thoroughly in
sympathy with their organization. and
appreciated the value Of their great
service.
Dir. Stuart declared he had come I'D
through the ranks and knew the great
work they observation-disclosures that
they played the most important part in
the greatest business in the world. He
said his bureau had direct charge OF the
transportation OF mails and that the
organization Of the present association
was the greatest step in advancement
made IN the last decade-saying that
the system was probably the best in the
civil service He complimented them
in the extreme in the manner the asso-
citation conducted it's business and said
he had been personally interested in it's
welfare.
He said that he had recommended and
would continue 10 recommend a meas
ure 10 have a retirement pension for all
civil service employees. and that IL was
one OF his first official acts.
Mr.. Stewart again assured them that
the department was always open 10
them for appeals and that they would
sr.
the second assistants department.
LETTERS OF REGRET.
John Hogan. chairman OF the enter
tainment committee. then read a num-
Der OF letters from distinguished mem
bers Of the association and others, ex-
pressing regret at not being able TO