The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-08-02
ANOTHER APPEAL To COMRADES.
Commander Travis Issues Circular Rehears-
ing Facts as to Railroad Rates.

Department. Commander. Travisyesterday
issued another circular relative to the Mil
yankee encampment. 1t shows the earn
estness with which he and other depart
ment commanders are insisting upon what
they deem is due the old soldiers on the
strength of promises made. The circular is
as follows:
Comrades-The persistent efforts being made
10 induce you to compromise your soldieriy char
acters and TO iInperil the honor OF the Grand
Army or the Republic by attending the National
Encampinent at Milwaukee, Notwithstanding
s tue WISHES OF yonr department commando: as
TO address You again upon this subject. 1t IL not
altogether matter of dollars and cents, but one
OF lar treatment OF honor and principle, involv-
Ing the good name OF the Grand Army OF the
Republic, that call upon you TO stand by your
colors. From the beginning of this controversy
mands. We have not even asked the railroad
companies TO treat the Grand Army of the Re-
Puonc with the decency and respect to which it
is entitled; we have simply asked TO be treated
as well as any other society, or class, or organ
natlon, and this very reasonable demand-the
least that honorable men could make-has been
rejected.
The origin Of the controversy is found In tue
wiilful violation of the promises which
were made to the twenty-second National En-
OF Milwaukee to secure the location Of
the national Encampment in that city this year.
announcement by the Chicago. Milwaukee d st.
faui, and the Chicago d Northwestern railroads.
mat the rate to the National EDcampment would
I'VE ire yae fare for the round trip, or sent ane a
nan per mile for the number of miles Travelled.
10 enectualy carry out their scheme, these Two
Callroad companies secured control Of the Good
ricn Transportation Company thus virtually
controlling the transportation Oh the lakes, and
preventing other roads which terminate on the
oe aid 01 With S fs, fMo
railroad companies cut oil the lake transporta-
ton from other railroads, except on terms which
they should dictate, but they sent messengers TO
other railroad companies, and said to them, elf
you offer less rate than that which we nave
dictated, TO the Milwaukee encampment. or to
chicago, or to any port on the lake, We Will stop
our traffic with you; we will boycott you" And
this. comrades, was done by these two railroads
after they had made a positive promise that II
milwaukee, was given the encampm6nt IN 1883,
the railroad rates should be as low If not lower
than ever before.
1t may be pertinently asked, why did not our
comrades of the council of administration, or
the executive committee at Milwaukee, for the
honor of the Grand Army of the Republic, and
beautiful city. arise in unison against this ina-
nous monopoly and thwart it by offering to
change the .encampment to some other city
where the veterans would receive fair and hon
est treatment in the matter of transportation
IL Is unnecessary for me to present to you the
figures to show that Masons, Odd-fellows,
kind Of society or sssembiage that has asked it,
has been given . rate OF cent per mile. and
even as low as q cent per mile, at the very time,
too that the railroads refused to allow your COM
mander to announce to you that you would be
permitted to ride upon their roads to your an
nnal encampment at as low rate Of fare - was
given 10 others.
Comrades. what do you think Of the situationf
Doyou think we are being treated justly orfairyl
What do you say, comrades. you who served
with Grant, Sherman, Sheridan, Thomas and
Logan, and carried your 'ten-dayS rRtions and
forty rounds" until the last enemy of our country
and the flag was Overthrown: you who served in
the cavalry and artillery "anid shot, and shell,
filth, vermin and starvation of Andersonyille and
Libby, that this government might not perish
from the earthi Whatever your rank or station
In the service. comrade. what do you think of
such treatmentf From all quarters the word is
passed that the comrades are standing firm. The
National Tribune says truly of us: Nothing
adds so much to the public estimation OF the G..
A. X. as to see II acting In perfect unanimify on
any matter which assumes the aspect of a prin-
cipe, this question of railroad rates does.
Respect for the q. A. X. has been enormously in
creased by the solidarity 1t has repeatedly dis
played at trying times in the last few years II
now the order. in a body, remains away from the
national encampment. il win ncr ease public est
nation Of il immensely"
tee at milwaukee, canceifng the engagement for
camp grounds and Withdrawing the Department
of Indiana from the parade, which was to take
place Aug. 81 prox. Similar action VIII be taken
by nine or ten other departments. / feel conf
dent that you will sustain me in this action, as
You Gid the action of the eight department
commanders of July 2, and as you sustained
the sentiments expressed In circular No. 3 OF
July IL. earnestly request each of You to re-
main at home, unless your duty calls you to Mil
waukee during the National Encampmont
take this opportunity to thank yOu for your
hearty and candid Endorsement, az expressed in
resolutions and unanimous votes OF the posts
notices OF which are reaching me daily in large
numbers. In f., C.. and i,
CHAs. NJ TRAVIS, Department Commander,
j. n. WALKER, Assistant Adjt-Gen.