The Washington herald., 1914-03-07
I
APPROVAL GIVEN
CLERKS CRUSADE
Business Men and Members Of
Congress Encourage Fight
for Pensions.
CONVENTION ENDS TODAY
Commissioner Siddons Tells Delegates
D~t.--k C..t-- L
CONVENTION ENDS TODAY
Commissioner Siddons Tells Delegates
Retirement System Is Due to
Be Enacted Soon.

Two hundred delegates to the conven-
ton of the National Association Of Civil
Service Employees. at the old Masonic
Temple, yesterday. were encouraged in
their efforts for a retirement pension for
government employees by speeches of
leading business men Of Washington and
several Representatives in Congress.
At the opening session in the morning
Commissioner Siddons and William F.
GUIDE president of the Washington Cham
Der of Commerce, and Representatives
Logue and Donohoe. of Philadelphia. and
Hamill. of New York. spoke words of
cheer to the convention. In the afternoon
Representative German. Of Chicago. did
likewise.
Need Bill in Proper Form.
Members of Congress assured the dele
gates that all they need do Is get a bill.
in proper shape, on the floor of Congress:
that they need have no fear of the result
there or at hte White House.
Commissioner Siddons' speech might be
taken as typical. He said:
Your movement has reached the stage
where sentimental grounds have passed
away. 1t must be dealt with In a practi-
cal manner. The fundamental principles
of the proposition must be carefully
thought out.
In the consideration Of the matter
there are two things which must be
needed: First. the underlying funda-
mental principles must be determined: !:
second. you must then confine yourselves
to the accomplishment Of these principles,
and. at the same time. while working to
accomplish them. you must not forget the
very sharp differences OF opinion in men
In public life to whom you must appeal
in your efforts to accomplish your ends.
have reached that In in life tyh
l have come to lay aside. as all must
do. all that youthful enthusiasm of a new
idea, and to realize that after all the
march of progress is along the lines of
least resistance. / want to see a Just
retirement system realized early. think
that IL you will fairly debate and discuss
the question, as all American citizens
ought to do. approaching the problem in
the right spirit. / believe the time is
not far distant when the people OF this
country. through their representatives in
Congress. are going to write into the
statute books of the nation a retirement
system that will be just to all. In con-
clusion, / wish to sag that l hope that
the deliberations at this convention will
bring the results SO devoutly wished"
Differences of Opinion.
Despite admonitions from speakers.
some little differences of opinions among
delegates as to the proper form OF
retirement bill cropped out. An effort
t. have all government clerks, whether
affiliated with the association or not, ad- |
mitted to privileges of the floor was
squelched by Chairman Mckee, of New
York. who is also president OF the asso-
ciation. This ruling was made to keep
down animosity such as that which dis |
ordered proceedings a year ago. when !
the organization was formed.
The delegates represent more than Is
600 voters and a membership Of more
than 10000 government employees They
had an executive session in the evening |
for transaction Of routine business. There |
will be another session this morning and |
one this afternoon. after which the con- |
vention will be adjourned. Unfinished |
business and election of.officers will take |
up the morning session.