The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-02-01
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WILL PROTEST
Ten Thousand To Sign Petition To
Congress Because Of Postmaster
Generals Orders.

DENVER, Col, Feb. Revolt ID
spreading fast among the railway
mail clerks and other postal employees
revolt against Hitchcock's "eceno-
my" program and drastic use OF the
gng rule TO prevent protests.
Now they're going to take their
protests over Hitchcock's head-to
congress--relying on their constitu
tional right to petition, without
jeopardy to their jobs.
Urban A. Walter, editor Of the Har
pooa, il leading the fight Walter II
an old railway mail clerk. His Har
pooh Is a militant journal of protest
In the current January issue he calls
for 10000 signatures from railway
mail clerks, to go on the petition &c
congress. He Ia getting them, and
along with them food Of information
that bids fair to cause a genuine sen
cation when published.
Rumors OF a possible strike come
from many directions, but such action
IL not generally advocated. The in
slant dismissal Of st. Paul clerk
who signed a telegram of protest on
behalf of 200 fellow clerks, has in.
famed the men In the service, how
ever. and added much to the under,
current Of bitternss.
'Rsponses to. my call for signatures
to the congressional petition received
up TO date indicate clearly that the
men In the railway mail service will
carry their grievances over Hitch
cocks. head says Editor Walter.
The petition In intended to call p'ib-
lie attention to the fact that Mr.
Hitchcock has set aside our guaraD-
teed constitutional rights, as well az
to present our. other grievances.
Il have already forwarded to con
gress a report of 140 unsanitary mail
cars. That offers an excellent oppor-
tunity for Hitchcock to save the price
Of car rental, for the government has
every right to throw out bills for such
service from the railroads"
Take up the slack" IL the order
from Washington that has started
most Of the fuss--the order that tied
up Christmas mails In a fearful
tangle, and drove railway mail clerk Ks
to desperation. In effect, II Is an or
der against any additional appolnt-
ments OF clerks, despite increased
business, or even to fill vacancies, II
the work can possibly be piled on the
present force, whatever overtime work
without extra pay IL puts upon
them. Walter has obtained copies of
two letters sent out from Washington
In October to superintendents OF the
railway mail service, one of which
quotes the following order OF the sec
ond assistant postmaster general:
II am returning to you a number OF
cases for the appointment Of add
tional clerks in the railway mail SER
vice. In regard to these and all other
cases of new appointment or employ
ment in the service the division super
intendent should hereafter submit In
each case the statement that he knows
OF no slack in the service in his d.
vision which could be utilized TO meet
the needs for which the appointment
Is asked. This instruction IL given
IN accordance with the directions OF
the postmaster general. ."
A second order, issued soon after
says that the above order to take up
slack is intended to apply not only
to proposed increases In the regular
force, but also to the employment of
temporary clerks for emergency SER
vice. OF substitutes for clerks on yaca.
ton. of acting clerks In place OF
clerks injured while on duty"
Walter publishes In the current Is
sue Of the Harpoon a mass OF lnfcr7
nation regarding Christmas mail con-
gestion, with highly Illuminating
photographs. Some OF these show
the congestion still terrific after
Christmas. In peaceably taking
photographs OF undistributed mail
stacked high In the depot at Denver,
Walter was temporarily placed under
arrest, and the smashing OF his plates
was threatened. But significant sec
ond thought resulted in Walters quick
release, with plates hninjured
Children Cry
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