The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-07-06
Letter Carriers to Join
 the Federation ofLabor
Welcomed to City By Dr. Barrett at the Chamber of
 Commerce = Preiimi-
 nary Matters Handled

America, sung from hundreds of throats, was the official opening of the eighteenth annual convention of the Alabama Rural Letter Carriers Asso- citation yesterday in the auditorium of the Chamber of Commerce.
 Nearly 2V0 delegates had registered last night. and more were arriving on almost every train. While this number is smaller than that of the last con vention when there was only one asso- ciation in the state. there was more enthusiasm and good feeling than in the entire history of the association, according to several. of the delegates who were charter members when the ! association was formed July 4, 1902, in Birmingham.
 Julius Merritt of Dothan president ! of the association called the conven- 1 ton to order. and in short talk laid | the happenings of the last year before 1 the delegates.
 pr. N. A Barrett. president of the | City Commission. welcomed the conven- tion to Birmingham He spoke of the l faithfulness of the men who day after 1 day, in all kinds of weather. bring the | messages from absent friends to coun- | try homes. T used to be a rural car rier myself" said Dr Barrett Daily I rode 25 miles over the roughest roads ! llildS5 anu sometimes mad to take to the woods to pass particularly bad | places"
 z N. M. Riley of Bessemer. president of l the carriers in the ninth district. added his welcome to the others.
 La The welcome addresses were re Expended to by A. c. Jones of Ramar. vice president of the association. "r came to Birmingham to have a good time. for I knew we would be welcome l Yaa ~a1a speeches. he said
 President Merritt made a short speech in regard to the proposed al liance with the American Federation 1 of Labor. He stated that while he was hearty friend of the laboring man. he deemed it best not to loose the identity l of the association in the larger or iganization. He asked. however. that when the question was put to a vote each man vote according to his | convictions.
 HELP BOYS STAY 1 F O. Davis. special editorial writer | of the Progressive Farmer" made T l talk on The Relation of the Rural Mail Carrier to the Farmer" 'One-half of 1 the people of the state live in the rural l districts" he said and last year alone produced crops to the total value of | $SS5.000.000. You are serving these people who are making such tremen- duos progress. One way the rural mail carriers can help is to carry the mes- sage to the boys on the farm that the farm is the best place in the world for
 them. and in some measure check the
 exodus of farm boys to the city" President Merritt appointed the fol- lowing committees: Credentials-J j.
 Hicks. Ashford chairman: J. S. Bris- COG, Double Springs. and J. C. Cain Caright. Resolutions-N. M Riley Bes. semer, chairman R. B.. Woodham Hartford. and W. B. Parsons, Adgee Bylaws and constitution - Onon Sut.
 ton, Cullman. chairman B. H. Slough
 Midland City. and II. A. Reddock. Troy Following these appointments the
 convention adjourned for lunch and fo.
 the committees to meet to prepare
 their reports.
 Leander Poole. chief clerk of the T railway mail service for this district
 opened the afternoon session with ar address. He told the delegates how
 they could aid the service by accepting
 only packages that were properly
 wrapped and addressed.
 l Speaking merely as an individual
 and not as connected with the service MT. Poole strongly advised the dele, gates against becoming affiliated witt
 the American Federation of Labor.
 Short reports by the president vice
 president. secretary and members ot
 the credential committee followed. The lconvention adjourned until this morn
 ing.
 ! GET ROADS WORKED
 w. S. Keller. state highway engineer will address the convention today or Il the subject of how to get roads worke ed
 under the present system. B. B. Pad.
 gett of Andalusia will speak on Horse
 Versus Motor Mail Carrying.' An aa-
 dress will also be delivered by Con gressman Huddl eston
 Discussion of the question. Shall We
 Affiliate With the American Fedora,
 ton of Labor?" will be discussed from lall angles. and will be submitted to vote of the delegates. Election of dele. gates to the national convention al Dallas. Texas election of officers an, the election of the next convention
 city will proceed final adjournment.
 Delegates to the conventio who reg istered yesterday were: R. C. Beaver l Boaz: Julius Merritt Dothan; Prof. 5
 J. Chandler. Boaz: N. NJ. Riley, Besse
 mer w. B. Parsons. Adgee: C. l.. Boyd Shorter J. II. Holt. Livingston; J. F
 Dismuke, Birmingham: J. L. Mise, Au
 burn; J. T. Bush. Sylacauga. w. NJ. Xii
 tough. J. J. Hicks. Ashford: Onon Sut
 ton. Cullman; M R. Dickerson, Gull
 man; B. H. Stough Midland City: J. s bIistOt. i'ouple sopi4HSS. J. M. f1llIOn
 Double Springs: L r. Stanley, Apdalu
 sia: E. B. Mevin. Moundville; A. II Tidmore. Moundvilie: R. B. Woodham
 Hartford w. H, Sims. Renfroe; L.. c Waldrop. Bessemer; ]. M. Rutledge Oakman; E. T. Brights. Sylacauga: I. D. Bryant. Wellington. H. A. Taylor
 Pinson; J. E. Harrison. Anniston, New ton Pol Corona; R. c. Honeycutt Co roma: H. A. Reddock. Troy; J. c. Cain Searight.
 I1A DEXIIEI CEDXIIEI1