The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-02-18
POSTh[EN START CAMPAIGN FOR ADEQUATE WAGE Men From Many Parts Of Alabama Gather In
 Birmingham ASK GOVERNMENT TO PAY ENOUGH TO HAVE HOME Statement Made That Salaries Have Not Been Raised In
 Past Ten Years

Mail carriers and postal clerks from over all Alabama-several hundred of them, representing 5000 employees of the postal service-took Sunday afternoon off and crowded into the auditorium of the Birmingham Chamber of Con- merce to tell the world why the mail man needs more money.
 After several dozen rural carriers and other workers had told w. 0. Vickery, chairman of the mass meeting, how they were forced to eke out an existence by selling hosiery, insurance and anything salable during their few spare moments after carrying. mail all day, the con vention passed resolutions urging Con- gress to pass salary legislation now about to be submitted it.
 Pay For Uniforms
 We want Congress to let us pay for our uniforms we would like to ask the legislators to give us some thing besides our uniform to go to church in, and we would like Congress to let us support our families" several delegates declared.
 The convention adopted resolutions urging the passage of the Kelly salaries adjustment bill, the Lehlback retire ment bill and other legislation. Copies of the resolutions will be sent Alabama representatives and senators and the various postal committees in the state.
 "It doesn't rain on the government" declared negro carrier, but it sure do on the mailman"
 Same Ten Years
  was the first speaker. He recited how within the last ten years the salaries of the postal employees had not been raised with the higher costs of living, but had actually been decreased. Rail way mail clerks have lost $75,O0O since 1913, by decrease in salaries; it might compare with the Teapot Dome figures" he asserted.
 l.. R. Sewell of Birmingham said the postal department was giving the same efficient, faithful and valuable service as it did ten years ago, but that it was being paid less. .-, ..5
 Urge Kelly Bill +.-
 F. l.. Moss, Birmingham postal cashier, spoke in the interests of the supervisors, urging passage of the Kelly bill. Congress now has a sur vey of the postal department; it knows what pays and what doesn't. Now is the time to adjust salaries
 Tt looks like the only people who make less than. us are, cut of work,'' said !, s. Mclaughlin. Birmingham city letter carrier. He was rolndly appfahded. -. < sS.s52ss9
 $, A. Reynolds of SIintsr, Ala, chairman of the legislative committee of the National Federation of Rural Letters Carriers, recently returned from Washington, told the convention the status of the postal legislation and gave hints as to how they might help its passage. He promised to go back and work with increased effort for the legislation and urged meetings all over the state.
 Out Of business ...
 Leander Poole of Birmingham told the employees in concise outline how to go about passing the Kelly bill through arousing the state to its just ness. You want to know just why you should get an increase; what the costs of living are; what other salaries are, and what yours is and tell your folks to get after your congressman" |" he urged. Most congressman are wearing silk shirts now, but they were brought up on. corn bread and turnip greens; they know you," he declared.
 Mir. Poole urged the mail carriers to keep out of politics. 'The people, sup port you; let them raise your salaries, !" he asserted.
 
 The Speakers Other speakers included T. H. Bow rum, Bessemer postmaster; John A. Green, of Florence; J. w. Simmons, of .Anniston; 0. J. Comedy, of Selma i; Tom Cargill, of Montgomery: J. A. Barks, of Anniston; B. B. Shaw, of Gadsden :. M. R. Dickerman, of Gads- den; J. R. Stuckey, of Tuscaloosa; T. c. Rush, of Columbiana; W. E. Hous- ton. of Bessemer W. J. Hicks, of Camp Hill; L. K. Nicholson, of Huntsville, and w. w. Perry, of West Blocton. A resolution was passed thanking the Chamber of Commerce for the use of its auditorium and the newspapers for their cooperation.