Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-21
CHANCE FOR ALL
y
Letter Carriers Listen to En-.
couraging Addresses
MADE At BIG Meeting
Told They May Aspire to Office Of
Postmaster General.
REMARKS BY DIR. GRANDFIEID
Believes In Straightout Pension
System for superannuated
DeHverers Of Mail.

| That the ONCE Of Postmaster General
| should be post to which letter car
rier may aspire was the keynote OF
| speeches made last night at a great gath
ering Of letter carriers from all over the
nation. many Of them delegates to the
| United States Civil Service Retirement
Association: Post Once Department Of
| ficials and postmasters Of several cities.
all guests Of Capital Branch, No. 142,
| National Association Of Letter Carriers.
held in Eagles' Hall, 9Th and e streets.
The occasion was the installation Of the
newly elected officers Of the local branch.
His belief that q straightout pension
was due letter carriers superannuated
after years of service on pay that did
voiced by First Assistant Postmaster Gen.
| eral g. p. Grandfeld. w. r. Spillman.
superintendent Of the division OF city
delivery Of the Post Once Department.
was one Of those who believed that the
letter carrier had q right to look for
higher things In the service.
| w. r. Kelley, president OF the Ma
tional Association Of Letter Carriers. de-
| ciared Tor q policy OF Cancellation and
persuasion toward effecting improvement
| the mails, and acknowledged the CO.
| operation OF Post Office Department OH
Gals.
Vice President Gaynor Of the national
litcal conditions. and brought tidings of
glad joy-the kingdom Of the letter car
rier is at hand.
Many Addresses Made.
Other speakers were Postmaster Nor
man A. Merritt. w. II. p. Woodrow, presi-
dent OF the Oriole Branch. N. A. L. c.; M.
F. Ftnnan Of the executive board. N. A.
L. C.: John NJ. Ronx, retiring president
Of the Capital Branch, N A. L. c., and his
successor, President ]. W. X. Young.
Among the guests were L. ]. Robin
son. assistant postmaster Of the Wash
ington post office; w. III. Haycock, super
intendent of delivery; C. B. Mathews, su-
perintendent Of carriers: G.. M. Hunt su-
perintendent of the registry division: o.
H. smith, superintendent Of the Post Once
building: e: ]. Cantwell, secretary. N. A
L. C.; L. j. Barnard. superintendent Of
station A; Sloan Simpson. postmaster,
Dallas Tex. and George L. Fort, presi-
dent Of the Washington branch, Post
Office Clerks Association.
| The officers install ed were: President.
]. w. X. Young; vice president. ". J.
Hamacher: treasurer, e. s. Leman: finan-
| cial secretary. g. e. Winkleman; record
| ing secretary. HI. C.. Butler: collector,
| mutual benefit association. w. 8. Craw-
| and trustee, f. J. Barker.
gold-mounted baton was presented
| to Leader Hass, of the Postoff1ce or
| chestra- The presentation was made by
| gift of the local branch of letter car
| riers.
To John NJ. Ronx. who retires as pres.
ident after serving five consecutive terms.
| was presented as the gift Of the Capital
Bdanch, a gold watch and chain. His
| successor In Office. President Young,
made the presentation address.
| Evening Enjoyable One.
The evening was one Of fast and furious
fun. The Post Office Orchestra provided
music until the arrival OF the Baltimore
Letter Carriers Band, twenty-eight
pieces. each man in uniform, which then
gave q concert. There were solo contri-
buttons. vocal and instrumental
DR.. Grandfield. introduced to address
the letter carriers, was rOundly ap-
plauded. He expressed his advocacy Of
STRAIGHT pensions for letter carriers.
1.-THE letter carriers ought to have an
old-age pension. The people Of the United
States should be willing to take care of
| old men In the postal service who have
been carrying the mails for years.
I'm some branches Of the postal service
be desirable Not for the letter carriers,
| however, who, 1 believe, should not be ex-
pected to contribute to retirement funds
| not enough left out Of a carriers pay to
contribute to such q fund. The govern
| ment ought to be liberal, so that after
| twenty five or thirty years. or whatever
term Is fixed. he may retire on his pen.
| sion."
| Expressing the opinion that the Post
Office Department does not think 1t right
to keep letter carrier on duty twelve
L R~rv H. n~f-
eight hours Of actual work. he explained
the difficulties of providing in all cases a
larger swing. than two hours between
shifts.
Gives Credit to Oflcials.
Vice President Gaynor Of the national
association denounced the burlesoue Of
American politics which allowed the Sc
lection Of "a horse doctor to be at the
| head Of the postal service" He gave
credit to the incumbent officials of the
department for giving friendly aid and
| comfort to the letter carriers. He said
the Post Once Department was about to
emerge from condition Of feudalism
| and become q democratic institution.
where the humblest employe might seek
| the highest post.
letter carrier may cast his eye on the
chair of tho Postmaster General without
profaning It with his glance" he assert
ed. A voice coming out OF the west.
which he did not identify. was to &C.
complish all this.
President Woodrow OF the Baltimore
branch introduced the Baltimore Letter
Carriers Band and delegation of over
sixty from the association in that city
Supt Spillman expressed his desire to
come in close contact with the letter
carriers through get-together meetings.
like the present occasion. He saw in
it the opportunity for better understand
ing. He encouraged the letter carriers
and said that the supervisory positions
| in the service should seek for in
cumbents from their ranks.
The installation ceremonies were pre-
sided over by National President Kelly.
George F. Winkelman was chairman Of
the committee on entertainment.
uAIE HpAnnATES tn DINE