The National tribune., 1889-07-11
PROPER STEP.


July 2 the Commanders of the Depart
ments of the GAR in the interior of the
country met at Chicago to consider the
course Of the railroads with regard to the
rate to Milwaukee. After thorough dis
cussion of the situation, they signed the
following formal manifesto:
We. the undersigned representing the following
Departments of the Grand Army of the Republic,
to wit; Department of Michigan, Indiana, Iowa,
Wisconsin, Illinois. Kentucky, Nebraska, Mime
sofa and Missouri representing $4,000 comrades,
having met in Chicago this ID day Of July. 1882 for
The purpose Of further representing 10 the General
Passenger Agents OF the Central TrahSR Associa-
ton, now in session here, the claims of the Grand
Army of the Republic for the same rates TO our
National Encampment as heretofore made to US,
aud as only recently made other associations and
societies, and having received the same evasive
answer which has been made 10 the repeated re-
quests OF the COMMANDMENT. Chief and the local
committee mt Milwaukee, for n one-cent rate per
mile travelled, and feeling that the Grand Army Of
the Republic Is entitled 10 at least as much con-
sideratiou the part OF the railroad companies
such other societies and organizations. and that
we should resent this unjust discrimination against
the veterans who saved the life of this Nation,
hereby insist that the proper railroad officials
throughout the United States q K and establish. on
or before the 10Th inst, of one cent per mile
10 and from the National Encampment, TO be held
at milwaukee, beginning Aug. a, aud in case OF
failure so 10 do within the time specified hereby
declare our determination to carry out by General
Orders in our respective Departments the spirit of
the resolution adopted Mt the odd National Enoamp-
ment page 220 Of the Journal, which reads as fol-
lows:
Resolved further, That unless the railroad COM
panies now Furnish the required relief comrades,
then the various Departments will discourage the
attendance Of ali except members of The National
Encampment
And further, that we shall call upon the Com
mander-in- Chief TO issue a General Order request
ing only the duly authorized representatives of
the GAR. TO attend said Encampment
Respectfully,
MICHAEL. BRowN.
Commander Department Of Michigan.
CHARLES NJ. TRAVIS,
Commander Department OF IndaBR.
CHARLES II. SMITH.
Commander Department OF Iowa.
JAMEs s. MARTIN,
Commander Department of Illinois.
NJ. MISToN.
}. V. Commander Department of Kentucky.
J. b. DAVIS,
Commander Department Of Nebraska.
A. BARTON,
Commander Department OF Minnesota.
EUGENE ?. wEIGEL,
For Department OF Missouri.
Chicago, Ill. july 2, 1882
This was eminently the proper thing TO
do, and it ought TO bring the roads TO their
senses.
There is really no occasion for any attend
ance at Milwaukee outside of the National
Encampment proper, which consists of the
past and present National officers, the past
and present Department Commanders, and
one Delegate for every 1000 comrades This
makes somewhere between 500 and 500 The
highest number Of votes cast in the Column
bus Encampment was about 500. If the
comrades decide TO follow the course ad-
vised, and boycott the railroads by staying
at home, the attendance need not exceed
1000, which would relieve the roads of all
necessity Of making extraordinary prepa-
rations-" They need not put in q single
extra side track" or borrow an engine or n
ezlf' AhsI present facilities VIII be ample,
and they will also not be annoyed by hav-
ing any inconvenient surplus in their
earnings.
We strongly commend the course sug-
gested by the Department Commanders, if
the roads remain obdurate. Let the meet
ing Of the National Encampment be con-
fined strictly TO the members thereof. and
let the comrades stay at home and save
their money for next year, or else give the
time and money intended for Milwaukee TO
some local Reunion with their comrades.
The city that gets the National Encamp-
ment next year viii have TO make cast
iron agreement in advance in regard TO hotel
and railroad rates