The Detroit times., 1910-08-18

made after having had called 10 our
attention the letter OF the postmas-
ter-general relative TO the admission
OF periodical publications OF benevo-
lent and fraternal societies and or
ders as second-class mail matter In
consideration Of the bill, house record
22,23s, appearing on page 9,503 Of the
Congressional Record OF June 25th,
1910. This letter over the signature
OF the postmaster-general. dated June
10th, 1910, was calculated to defeat
the passage OF the bill In the senate.
The letter is built up wholly on mis-
conceptions and hypothetical opinions
(Which the postoffice department
hitherto has never been known TO
give), and It Is wonderful exhibition
OF skill in constructing a strawman
to be destroyed by its own creator.
Postms ster-oenerai Fears Deficit.
THE whole presumption of the let
ter, and the major premise Is that the
faternal papers OF America are going
To cause the government deficit,
but the postmaster-general neglects
TO state why they are not now caus-
ing a deficit. Our fraternal journals
are being transmitted through the
mails now at the second-class rate,
but the postoffice department has
been making decisions, \, such as the
Modern woodmen decision, which are
leading up TO further interference
with the weaker publications.
THE fraternal journals OF America
are paying. by average, q half cent
per pound more for the second-class
privileges than any other class OF
journals in America. This Is due to
the department compelling the pay
ment OF one cent copy for each copy
mailed to members residing In the
home city of the order.
The postmaster-generaps letter Is
tho most covert, yet daring attack
that has been made on the fraternal
system In its history. III the life ana
the death OF our fraternal journals
Is placed in the hands OF an ever
changing postoffice official, we can
hope for little advancement, and there
certainly will be a retrograde move
ment when we have been deprived OF
this method OF communication with
our members and the world through
cur own press.
Advertising Is Essential.
THE greatest amount OF fuss made
In this letter OF the postmaster-gen-
eral Is over the idea that a fraternal
journal SHOULD want to insert adver-
Using in its columns to help pay the
expense OF publishing the journal
IF the postmaster-general knows
the history OF advertising in America,
he will know that all our big COM
merciaI institutions have been raised
10 their present grandeur by rhgp Uwcr
OF the press The advertisement ap-
pearing in the public press of Amer
lea is the greatest feeder OF revenue
to the postoffice department ever in
vented. II advertisements were TAX
en- out of all the publications OF Am
erica tomorrow, the country would
become dormant, the postoffiee de-
partment would lose one-half It's rev.
enue--then we would not have two
cent postage, but would have three or
fiye-cept postage, such as our fore
fathers had. before the days Of
rapid press and rapid means of
communication.
Says Statement Is Malicious.
THE postmaster-general also says:
"It also must be apparent that II this
privilege is extended to the publica-
tions comprehended in this bill, It
will be but a short time before con-
gress will be called upon to remedy
this apparent inequality and to pre-
vent every other publisher from OBJ
tanning subscriptions through the
medium OF an organization, rather
than the merit of his paper to the
individual.
THAT this statement is inserted
with malice to our fraternal societies
would perhaps be a pretty broad al
legation TO make. Still can think of
no other language at this time that
will more nearly express my opinion
OF IL, and express IL without malice
to the postmaster-general."
Reception to Mrs. Olson.
Mrs. Frances Buell. Olson, superior
chief of honor of the Degree of Hon.
or. is to be rendered a reception by
the ID. CT II. lodges In Detroit on Fri
day evening at the ID. of II. temple,
Twelfth-st. and Grand River-ave. Mrs.
Susie l. Bishop Is chairman Of the
reception committee.
Mrs. Elizabeth +. Auburn, superior
recorder. of Sioux City. Ia. Mrs. Mary
A. Pratt. superior usher, OF Cold
water, Mich, and Mrs. Kate Blewett,
of jamestown, n. D., p. s. c. OF H.,
will be guests Of honor.
Mrs. Olson is one of the big women
in point OF importance attending the
convention. She has been identified
with the congress for a number Of
years and Is regarded as one OF the
leaders in fraternal work In the Unit
ed States.
Mrs. Bishop Is Prominent.
Mrs. Susie |. Bishop, wife of Attor-
rey A. c. Bishop, No. go Montcalm-st.
east, Detroit, is one OF the prominent
figures at the convention. She is a
member OF the Degree of Honor Or
der, but is not at the convention as a
delegate. She Is the assistant to the
secretary, a position she has held for
the past ten years. In 1901. when the
congress first met IN Detroit, she be-
came assistant TO the secretary and
since then has attended each annual
convention In her clerical capacity. In
the decade she has become well ac-
uuainted with all the members OF the
cor gress and has all the detail work
OF the secretary's Office at her finger
ends. II any delegate wants to know
anything IL is to Mrs. Bishop he goes,
and he never fails to get The desired
information. Since the congress met
A.. L. 1Qnf Mro niohna ha o.