Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-09-03

ton. Fifteen years of progress have
shown that Harrisburg is city
which will take second place to
none in the matter of civic improve
ments, and when we look about us
and see the wonderful things ac-
complished in the last decade or so
we can truly be proud of it and
not be ashamed to extend the glad
hand to strangers and tell them that
the city is theirs. And that what
do to you. ladies and gentlemen,
for the next two days Harrisburg
is yours, not ours. Accept the keys
to its portals from me-"
Start of Parcel Post
The Mayor also warmly COM
mended the postmasters for their
patriotic and energetic devotion to
duty during the strenuous war
period. They deserve all manner
of credit, he told them, and the
citizens of the State knew and ap-
preciated that fact.
f. j. Stackpole, eX-postmaster
and former president of the asso-
citation, was the speaker for the
Harrisburg Chamber of Commerce.
Mr.. Stackpole complimented the
postmasters for their war efforts
and assured them that they main
tanned the morale of the country
quite as much by their efforts as the
speakers for war work did by theirs.
BY assuring communication with the
boys overseas, said Mr.. Stackpole,
the postal service kept up the
morale of the EXpeditionary Force
to a very considerable extent.
The former postmaster told sew
eral amusing stories in connection
with the introduction of the parcel
post system, which came just at the
time when he was leaving office af-
ter twelve-year occupancy.
Everything from brooms to babies
were coming through at that time
and the situation was rather hectic.
He severely scored the present
spirit of unrest in this country
which had insidiously crept in from
the unhealthy element of European
countries. The against" spirit was
entirely too prevalent, said Mr..
Stackpole, and the postmasters CT
this State can take a good part in
attempting to get rid of it. Opti-
mism for better things ahead was
the watchword and the criticism OF
persons, not officers, would assist in
producing better things. He appeal
ed to the postmasters to crush the
unrest which was everywhere mani
Testing itself. He also paid Mr..
Sites a high compliment on the
manner in which he has conduct
ed the affairs of the postal depart
menr in Harrisburg. Mr.. Stackpole
closed with warm we,come to the
visiting guests.
The Presidents Address
The closing address of the morn
ing session was made by Horace Lehr,
ex-mayor of Easton, and at present
postmaster there and president of the
4 association Mr.. Lehr expressed his
Il appreciation on behalf of the Asco-
citation for the welcome which had
been extended by the Mayor and nv.
Stackpole, and said that since they
were Republican representatives in
q Demo cratic convention, the welcome
must be sincere. Laughter and ap-
rlause greeted this statement.
He continued with an appreciation
of Harrisburg, and its new hotel,
which presented such increased ad-
vantages for a convention crowd. Mr..
Sites was commended for the able way
in which he had arranged the details
of the convention. Mr.. Lehr said he
thought that everyone appreciated
the difficulties of postal service dur
ing the war, and felt that the post
masters acquitted themselves most
creditably. Although the peril of war
is past the peril of radicalism is still
present and he agreed with Mr.. Stack
pole that the duty of postmasters
was to join in coping with this evil.
Mr.. Lehr closed the morning ses-
sion with the announcement of the
Resolutions Committee, which will be
composed of James Kingsbury, of
Pottsville chairman, Charles R. Smith,
Quakcrtown and Cornelius Allen, Du
Bois. Mr.. Lehr also announced that
the tour of the Capitol Building
which was to take place this morn
ing for the women of the party at IL
o'clock, had been postponed until 2
o'clock this afternoon.
Tour the City
Tho afternoon session which began
at 2 o'clock, included addresses by
William ID. McGinnis, of Connelsville,
past president of the Pennsylvania
Postmasters' Association; George a.
Leonard, inspector in charge. OF Thil-
adelphia, who spoke on Efficiency in
the City Delivery Service" and John
\. Thornton, of Philadelphia, whose
subject was "A Resume of the Con-
ference of Representatives of Busi-
ness Organizations and the Postal
Service held in Washington, April 1-3,
1919"
The discussion of the afternoon in
cluded the topics considered at the
Washington conference. Later in the
afternoon the visitors with their
wives were taken on an automobile
ride through the parkways of the city
as guests of the Chamber of Com
merce.
This evening the reception at the
Federal Building will take place at
o'clock. All visiting postmasters
and their wives have been invited to
attend.
The second and closing day of the
conference will be occupied with two
sessions in the morning at 10 o'clock
and in the afternoon at o'clock.
The following addresses will be de-
livered at the morning session:
THE Postmasters and the Press, E.
NJ. Hirsh, Z. NJ, Tamaqua; Meeting
Emergencies" +. w. McFadden, p. NJ.
McKeesport; Parcel Post, Distribut-
ton and Delivery Martin Klingler,
T.. NJ, Allentown; "Dcsirable Char gcs
in Postal Laws and Regulations" y.
j. Palm, p. NJ, Meadville; Handling
Complaints" w. NJ. Carter, z. NJ,
The Postmastcr's Sal
ary," NJ. j. Porter. Wayne.
2 p. NJ, address, Colin NJ. Selph, p.
NJ, st. Louis, Mo-, President National
Association of Postmasters; address,
ohm c. Koons, First Assistant Post
master General; presentation of por-
trait of Benjamin Franklin from
Pennsylvania Postmasters to the Post
Office Department, John A. Thornton,
NJ a nf