The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-06-13
PURELY A BUSINESS MATTER.

Gen. Travis, Commander of the Depart
ment of Indiana, has made strong appeal
to the railway managers, in which he says:
have tried to secure promises from some Off
cials that the rate should not exceed cent per
mile, but, so far, have only received assurances
that one road will not charge more than the other
road. That is not business. 1t may be railroad
business, but it will not prove profitable bust
ness if persisted in by the railroad companies For
several years past the rate has been fixed at one
cent per mile. Why should there be any hesita-
ton about fixing rate in advance this year, upon
the alleged ground that they cannot afford to carry
the great crowds and run the risks of accidents at
the rate of one cent per mile? Let me warn such
companies, and serve notice upon them now,
that if The rate is fixed at even q small fraction
above one cent per mile, the attendance at the En-
campment will be reduced at least one-haf The
soldiers have right to expect at least fair treat
ment from the railroad companies l have posi-
tive knowledge that q prominent railroad line has
given a rate for an excursion next month. from
Chicago to Cincinnati at little less than one cent
per mile. A fraternity or association of Turner'S
have been given rate of S. round trip, Chicago to
Cincinnati 1t is not reasonable to expect that the
veterans who saved the life of the Nation, and to
whom this country, railroad companies and all, is
more indebted than any other class, organization
society will tolerate any discrimination against
them in railroad rates, or anything else To the
Grand Army of the Republic every other society
and association in America should respectfully lift
its hat.
The debt of gratitude, which fis country, the
whole country, owes to the veteran soldiers who
fought for the Union, has never been and can
never be paid The railroad interests OF the land,
as well as all other branches of industry, are IN
debted to them for the prosperity they enjoy IN a
united and powerful Nation. Gentlemen OF the
railroad fraternity, when you are dealing with
these veterans of the Grand Army fthe Republic
you are dealing with men to whom you are under
obligations to show the greatest courtesy and
preference. l am not begging or asking any I'M
reasonable thing when 1 ask you to put down your
rates for these to the very lowest figure ever
given to any excursios, or society or association.
You owe it them they expect, and they will &C
cept, nothing less am, gentlemen, your obedient
servant
This is excellent, except the appeal to the
railroads sense of gratitude to the veterans
We do not care to have the matter put on
q sentimental basis. It is question Of
justice, not gratitude. The veterans as an
organization are entitled to the same treat
ment given other organizations. The rail
roads can afford to carry the attendants to
other great meetings at one cent a mile
and make money at it, and they car
make money by carrying the veterans and
their families to Milwaukee at the same
rate. We do not want favors Or donations
merely fair treatment precisely what we
would receive as Masons, Odd Fellows
Knights of Pythias, Methodists, Presby'
terians, Catholics or Baptists attending some
great occasion of those Orders or Churches.