The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-09-20
TWO ADDRESSES DELIVERED BY
JAS. |. SLAKSLEE. FOURTH
ASSISTANT GENERAL.
Judge Ben S. Honecker Welcomes
Delegates to City-Business, Auto
Ride and Banquet Today. IL

The ninth annual convention OF she
West Virginia Postmasters assuha
ton was convened in two-day session
in this city yesterday morning at II
o'clock. Practically every first, sec
ond and third postmaster Of the state
was present. Interesting and instruc
tive addresses were delivered during
the day and al the evening SsSlon.
TIL principal address was by the Hon.
James |. Blakslee. four assistant post
master general. who arrived IN the
city from Washington shortly after
noon yesterday. He spoke at some
night meeting. indorsing the Demo
cratic administration in bringing
about the perfect postal service, &C
Tording 70 his declarations.
The session was opened with pre-
liminary remarks by Postmaster VIII
liam w. Irwin. president OF the asSo-
citation. who presided. He lntroduc~d
Judge Ben S. Honecker. who delivered
the address OF welcome in behalf or
the city in the absence OF Mayor h. L..
Kirk. The response was made ny
Simms Powell. postmaster al Parke:S-
burg. MIR. Powell was followed by
Mr.. Irwin who gave brief review OF
the organization of the association al
most decade ago and the good II had
accomplished. and extended welcome
10 the Firs, city. y number or new
members were enrolled.
The meeting recessed and all Inc
delegates were shown through the fed-
eral building and thu working depar'-
ment OF the post office by Postmaster
Irwin. Assistant w II. iiornish. treas
urer OF the association and Superin-
tendent Of Mails JohH =: Govt.
= ... Hodges Cannot Attend.
AT the eleventh hour Il telegram
was received from Colonel Thomas +.
Hodges, postmaster Il; NorgantOwn.
who was 10 deliver the principal adj
dress Yesterday afternoon, stating
that he would be unable 10 be present
owing 70 illness. The Hon. Mr.. Blak'
slice delivered an impressive address,
endorsing the Democratic admtnistrd-
ton and paid high tribute TO Presl-
dent Wilson. who had engineered me
best administration through the crisis
that ever confronted president. at
cording 70 the substance OF his dec
laration. He told Of the large appro-
priatious made for good roads, lnciuI-
Ing SIS, 900 for West Virginia. that me
rural routes may be better. Mr..
Blakslee told Of how President Wilson
had averted the railroad strike a few
weeks ago.
The speaker then gave his auditors
a heart-to-heart talk, telling them that
the community they served looked up
On them as a representative OF the ad-
ministration and that if they did not
come up to the standard the people
had little respect for the admlnistra-
ti2n. .,r ~, ,,o,.n,oo
paving hin high compliment as an
official and speaker. Mr.. Irwin incl
dentally paid a tribute 10 his assist
ants and employees Of the. wheeling
post office as good workers for :he
betterment OF the service. lie SAID
that the Superintendent Of Malls was
supreme as an official. Mr.. Irwin en-.
dorSed the two plan system that had
been tried out in the local office. he
asked for expressions from the post
masters present as to suggestions for
fine bettermept Of the service in gen.
eral. Postmaster Simms Powell. cf
Parkersburg, Col. J. H: Long Of Hum
ington, Grit 7. Smith Of PIT. Pleasant
and several other. delegates spoke
briefly taking up various phases OF the
service -:
With a large number OF members
of the association from all parts OF
the State present, and many local lay
men and postmasterS from across the
river in attendance. the night session
convened in the Federal court room
at $3.50 o'clock. with Postmaster Irwin
president of the association. presld-
ing. Mr.. Irwin made a brief speech,
closing by introducing General Blaks-
lee, who delivered a political address
in his endorsement Of the Wilson ad-