Evening star., 1914-07-17
VOTE TO AFFILIATE
WITH THE AZ. OF |:
Chicago Letter Carriers Ap-
prove Proposition Which Was
Rejected in Washington.

The Chicago branch of the National
Letter Carriers Association. according to
reports received here. has gone on record
as favoring the affiliation OF that asso-
citation with the American Federation OF
Labor. The decision was reached. IL ID
said. in a referendum vote taken as the
result of conclusions reached when the
subject was introduced at the SAM
Francisco convention OF the National
Letter Carriers Association in 1913.
The action OF the Chicago letter
carriers was announced at the meeting
of the executive council of the A 81
Of L.. now in session in Washington.
The Washington branch of the ass
sociation took it's vote the third week
in May and. according to the states
ment Of one OF its officers today. voted
almost unanimously against the props
position. the half dozen dissenting
votes being cast. it was explained. by
letter carriers already affiliated with
the American Federation OF Labor ID
other lines.
Without Official Notice.
First Assistant Postmaster Generse
Roper said the subject of the afilliatiou
Of the letter carriers organization With
the American Federation OF Labor had
not Yet reached the department In an
official way and that all he knew OF 10
was through rumors or press reports. He
said the department had not receded
from its position taken in former years
upon the subject, and which. he boz
neved, was now embodied in the law.
The department. the second assistant
postmaster general said today, did not
take any stand against the American
L<AI~
that 1t was improper for any employe OF
the postal service. who had taken the
regular oath Of office to affiliate with any
other organization which prescribed an
oath that might interfere with the opera
ton Of the service or with the duty due
from the employe under his official oath.
The resident officials of the National
Letter Carriers Association could not be
seen at their offices today.
The vote Of the Chicago branch OF the
carriers association is regarded as ex-
pressive OF a sentiment in some quarters
of the department. where. 1t was ex-
planned, the department would probably
not be obliged to act until the sentiment
developed into overt acts on the part OF
the letter carriers. AS the result of the
agitation in 1910 and 1911. It was stated. .
more than dozen employees either lost
their positions or were reduced or other
wise disciplined. The present law was
passed after that time.
Matters Before Federation.
Many other matters OF Importance
to wordngmen are being considered
by the executive council of the fedora
tion today. Several matters OF equal
Importance were discussed at the ses-
sion held yesterday.
One Of the features OF the session
yesterday was the consideration of the,
it was directed by the last convention
should be studied. The executive couns
Gil is preparing a comprehensive res
port of this subject 1t will be presents
ed at the next annual convention.
Another subject which is receiving
considerable attention is the PROPOSE
tion to establish legal department OF
the federation. Several attorneys. upon
request, submitted plans for the forma q
tion and working of such a department.
The individual members of the coun-
Gil are to consider each of the plans
submitted. Endeavors are to be made
to draft a full report upon the SUBJ
ject for submission to the next annual
convention.
1t was decided that the executive coun-
ell and officers should continue efforts to|
secure the enactment Of satisfactory
retirement law for superannuated fed-|
eral employees.
1t was decided to send an exhibit
showing the work being done by the fed-|
Grafton for the prevention of occupa- 4
tional diseases. to the International Con-
eress of Occupational Diseases, to meeti
in Austria in 1914.