The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-02-23
REILLY TALKS
 OF MEASURES IN CONGRESS
Clerks, Carriers and R. F. D. Men Tn Triple State
 Convention
GREAT BANQUET AT
 ARMORY TONIGHT
Upwards of 1,5Oo Postal Elm ployes and Wives Are
 Royalty Entertained

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 Wearers of the gray uniform of Uncle Sam in various branches of the postal service, took possession of Bridgeport today. From every nook and corner of the state they came clerks, carriers and rural free delivery carriers-to attend the annual state convention of the three organizations.
 From the little four-corners store far back in the snow drift cd country, horses were hitch ed to sleighs early this morning that the drivers might take trains from larger centersst to Bridgeport. With their wives and friends postal employees here about 500 strong.
 Meetings of the executive boards were held this morning, 5. while the regular convention of sfhe Rural Free Delivery car rfers was convened in Arion Hall. Mayor Clifford Wilson in a short speech to each body ex- tended the freedom of the city and spoke of the individual and united work which the great army of peace was doing for the happiness and welfare of the country.
 At 2 o'clock in Odd Fellows Hall, separate conventions of the Postal Clerks and Letter Carriers were held. It was ex- pected that with the retirement of presidents each officer would be removed up one step without opposition.
 A feature of the conventions was the presence of Congress- man Thomas L. Reilly, who spoke on pending legislation affecting postal employees.
 An executive meeting of the Posta1 Clerks Association was held this morning in the Bridgeport club, Pres aI meeting to order at Il o'clock. There were present the executive committee including Gordon B. Haggerty ot Bridgeport. Francis F. Horan, Hart ford: Francis T. Wade, New Haven John A. Mclaughlin, New Haven TFTu1sm O. stowen. Jr., Meriden; Wal ter H. DeForest, Derby; Richard A P1rrkitt, Stamford; J. William Gard ners Waterbury, and Sidney C. Kdeft AGiddIetown-
 A banquet rendered by the Charity Rebecca lodge I. O. O. F., was helc in Foresters, hala this afternoon al which over 100 rural carriers with their wives and friends were seated.
 Congressmen and high officials ir the mail service arrived in town early today and were taken to the Strait- m field hotel ~W4lere Che reception com rnfttee greeted them and arranged fol their presence at the Banquet tonight
 CARRIERS CONVENE
 At the meeting of the State Branch of the United National Association of Letter Carriers at Odd Fellows hall at 2 o'clock DC Darrow, of New Bri- tain, president, presided. Those ex- Dected to be elevated were: J. H McGuinness, Stamford, vice. president; w J. Burns, WaIlingford, secretary; D. c. Saunders, New Haven, treasurer. The executive committee of the orga- nfzatfon comprises Adrian R. Dunn, Meriden, chairman; John N Count han, Norwich; Peter w. Fox, Water bury.
 At the opening of the Carriers con- venffon President Darrow expressed pleasure at seeing so many members present and such great interest dis played in the organization. He spoke of the good work fostered by the as- sociation since the last convention mentioning the eight hour law which had so far proved great blessing to the men It was remarked that this and other measures was brought about through organization and the able assistance of friends in Congress
 President Darrow expressed great regret that the retirement bill had not been enacted as a law and hoped that united effort would be made to ssnnra it. It was his pleasure to an