The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-11-30
TOM SC0TT'S MAMMOTH JOB.
JEFFERSON DiTIs hTI fTLROID
CONTENTION At ST LOUIS.
A shrewd Attempt to Coin Centennial senii-
ment into Dollars-Ths south Not In Favor
sf the Trnns PsciDc Subsidy Scheme.

ment into DolIars-Ths south Not In Favor
81 the Texas Pacific subsidy scheme.
Sr. LOUIS, Nov. 2G.-Tom Scott Nation
al Railroad Convention has adjourned, after
contributing It's mite toward public sentiment
10 favor Of tho scheme TO subsidizc the Texas
7, cinc Railroad to the extent Of $TO,00o00C. The
eight hundred or one thousand gentlemen who
met In Convention are nearly all either directly
or Indirectly interested In the success Of the en-
terptlse.
The history OF the Convention Ia as follows:
Scott, who is one OF tho shrewdest men that
evor put Job through a state Legislature or
manipulated Congress, observed with deep in
terest the effect produced on the public mind
by the presence OF certain distinguished South
orn Generals at the New England centennl us
last spring. II occurred to him that II would he
n monster stroke 20 get up National Railroad
Convention and have reunion Of tho people
North and South. and a little piece OF dramatic
band-shakine in the interests OF his big Job.
The work OF carrying out this plan was in
trusted to !. w Sturgeon, the Collector Of Inter-
II Revenue for the First District OF Missouri.
Sturgeon labored zealously for weeks and
months aud after great expenditure OF time aud
not littl, veKltiOn OF spirit he succeeded In
enlistin0 the enthusiastic support Of the people
OF vt. Louis, who were led to believe that their
city would ho made, through the union Of the
Texas Pacific and the Atlantic and Pacific Rail-
fOhus al Fort W Orth. the real western terminus
OF the uans.continental railway Invitations
were sent to the Governors Of ali the States, rt-
quesiine then To apr. int delegates to the great
National Railroad Convention. Sturgeon.
Chairman Of the Committee of Arrangements,
was not satisfied with tnis, but wrote person
ally to many distinguished Southern Generals
pressing them TO put IN an appearance, and by
their presence contribute to the great work OF
restoring fratcrnal relations between the North
and the South, and insure true national pach-
cation by completing that great undertakings
Southern railway to the Pacific"
The appointment of delegates to tho CuUyen.
agents, thirteen Of whom he IL said to have des-
patched to different parts OF the country. ny
Of the delegates were men who attach them
selves To whatever Joos seem to I've sailing with
full sails many we're contractors or stockhold-
ers In the proposed road. Texas was represent
ed by employees OF the Texas Pacific.
Notwithstanding these precautions the Con-
yention was anything but harmonious affair.
The managers went so far In the " y ational paci
IL was not expected that MIR. Davis would be
present, but Scott and his Committee OF Ar
rangemcnts thought that the invitation would
have good effect on the southern people. How
ever, the e1-Prestdent of the Confederscy took
the committee at their word and came as the
Chairman OF the Mississippi delegation.
When the Convention assembled In the Kaii-
road Temple and the preliminary business Of
organization was under way, II was determined
to get up little tauleau TO typlfy the " era OF
good feeling" So Gen. ". 4. sherman was quietly
introduced through back door and kept In
waiting at one OF the side entrances to the
stage. Then II was moved aud seconded TIA I
stage. without any knowledge whatever of the
Geu. Joe Johnston I've Invited to scat on the
part he WAS TO Dlay the modest Snutherner LETT
his seat on the floor and went toward the stage.
As :he ascended the steps on one side Gen.
Sherman advanced from the other WITH out-
stretched hand They met In the centre OF the
stage and clasred hands amid the deafening
plaudts uf the multitude.
This was undoubtedly big hit for Tom Scott,
but unfortunately there were present certain
enthusiasts 9Outhern delegates who. thinking
this was real EZRA OF GOOD will proposed to
ingy Gen. Trmble OF Kentucky. in an eloquent
speech moved that the Hon. Jefferson u vs Of
Mississippi be invited to a seat cn the stage.
This was just what Scott and nls man ayers did
not want. They had been consderSn, acitated
the evening before, lest something Of this kind
might happen and they had been sending their
emssaries aDnut among the southern delegates
TO deprecate II. and II mad been finally arranged
at II any such props'ition was made mr. Davis
should decline the nonor IN graceful speech.
cline nSt Ihere Scre In,,d 10 ctes ~ ,o
he could be heard. The temporary Pre-ldent
did not understand his business aud put the
vote. hote was much cohtlsl N Tor moment
and although the ayes were the louder, the noes
were not far behind in volume. Davis stood
| erect, cool aud impeTturbaue, md when quiet
| had been rect red he made a polio hut cutting
| reply 70 the effect that he was the Chairman OF
the Mississippi deleration and was here not for
a show, but TO work for the Interests OF his
State. for the benefit OF those WHO had voted
"No'-and whose malice he ptiod from the
bottom Of his heart, he would saY that mad the
Invitation teen freely tendered he would not
have accepted II.
met Gen Joe Johnston n, the Ilndou Hotel
on Mondai evening. lie dd not hesitate to eX-
press his disADprObation Of the scheme TO suD-
Of course he was in favor OF southern route to
the Pacific. but that he did not believe Ia either
| the eXpediency or the prOpriety OF extending
| Government aiu to the enterprise He thought
that the Southern people should stand by their
ancient landmarks, and follow the teachings OF
elr illustrous statesmen OF the past. The
Democratic party was on record over and over
again as against all subsidies, and il could not
afford to stultifv Itself. Tho South might be
benefited bv the construction Of genuine
Southern Pacific road, but her people should
not insist ON legislation which In principle they
believed to be wrong and conducive u mon
strous steals like the Credit Mobilier. lie did
not believe that the Texas Pacific under its
present auspices was resl, and truly Southern
road. lie had observed a map Of the proposed
route In the rear Of the stage, and that plainly
said to the Convention that st. Louis and not
the South was the eastern terminus Of Tom
Scott's TranscOntinental line.
have heard similar views expressed by other
distinguished Southerners. They are beginning
to see that a road frcm st. Louis to San Diego
leaving Memphis. Nicksburg, and New Orleans
in the cold, may not be Of SO much benefit 20
the South MS to st. Louis and Tom SCOTS rail
road combination.