Smyrna times., 1915-07-07
A, B, CONNER RETIRES AFTER
LONG RAILROAD SERVICE
AGENT AT FELTON,. BROTHER OF
MRS. j. W. CLIFTON OF SMYRNA
Had Served Nearly so Years in the EN-
ploy of the Company, But had
Time to Give TO Politics.

Had Served Nearly so Years in the EN-
ploy of the Company, But had
Time to Give to Politics.
With the retirement July l. of AL
vim B. Conner as station agent of the |
P. B. & W. r R. Company. at Eel
ton, Del, which position he has held !
since 1867, went one Of the oldest
railroad men in the emplOv of the
Pennsylvania Railroad on the Della
ware Division out of active service.
Mr.. Conner. better known as "Al'
Conner, started with the railroad
company in July. 1865. as an assis-
tant to William Walker, the then
station agent at Dover. Mr.. Conner
had practically all of the work to do,
including the sending Of kilograms,
freight work. and delivering MESA
ges. Mr.. Conner remained at Dover
until March, 1867, when on the death
of his brother at FELTON,, his father.
who was the agent at that place. de-
sired that his son Alvin come to Eel
ton to assist him. The transfer was
made and in March, 1867. he was
transferred from Dover to FELTON,, as
an assistant agent at FELTON, until
1900. when his father being retired
on the age limit he was made chief
agent. Mr.. Conner father. James B
Conner. who has been dead but a few
years. held the position as chief agent
at FELTON, for 43 years and o months.
Found Time For Dabbling in Politics
Besides holding the responsible po-
sition of agent for many years. Mr.,
Conner has served his state in several
capacities. He was state senator
from the Fifth Senatorial district Of
Kent county for two terms. the first
of which began with the January ses.
sion Of 1903 and the second term be-
ginning with the session of 1907. At
one of the sessions of the second
term he was elected president pro TEN
Of the Senate. While a member of
the legislature he was appointed on
the state house commission. which
conducted the remodeling of the state
house as it now appears. the expen.
dlture of the commission being Si10.
00O lie was also q member Of the
state oyster revenue commission.
which staked out the oyster beds il
the Delaware Bay as they are at pres
snt, a thing which had not been prop
erly done for many years. and whicl
had been the cause of much dissensiol
among the Delaware and New JeTse,
oystermen. who operated in the Del
aware Bay. He was also a membe
of the state revenue and taxation com
mission of Delaware for a term 0
six years. this commission increasin
the revenue Of the state fully $40.
600 annually by an equal adjustmen
of taxes on certain enterprises an
business. He has been a director G
the First National Bank ut Dover, f6
over 80 years and has missed but fe'
Of the weekly meetings Of the boar
of directors during those 80 years
He has attended several banker,
conventions.
Has Been Mentioned for Governor
In politics Mr.. Conner is a RepuI
lican and has been honored by h
party on several occasions, havir
been elected three times, a delega
to national conventions and twice
an alternate TO such convention
During his term in the Delaware Sta
Senate, he was an ardent advocs
Of John Edward Addicks and vot,
solidly all the time for Addicks du
ing the heated days Of that senatori
contest. Senator Conner was prom
nently spoken Of as the candidate Z
governor in 1912, he having quite
large following as well as votes
the state convention Of that yea
but was defeated in the conventio
When spoken to concerning the CO
vention Of 1912. Senator Conner 10
occasion TO give notice that he pl
posed 70 enter actively into pOliti
in Delaware next year and it woU
not be improbable that he will pr
sent himself as the candidate
governor on the Republican tick
AS an expression Of his long q
faithful services as an agent of {
rnsylyniaa Railroad Of the De
ware division. the agents Of the d
aware Road rendered Senator Con
a banquet on Saturday night last,
Hotel DUPONT. Senator Conner
still active and vigorous