The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-02-06
THE REAL RasIS.

ing the action of the railroads in the St
Paul matter do so on the ground that
the services of the excursions to the
country demand that railroads shall
treat them with greater consideration
than is accorded other veterans. We
think it mistake to make the plea on
this ground. Railroads are like other
corporations, with "no souls to save.
They are business institutions, entirely
devoid of sentiment, and must be ap.
preached on business grounds solely
Business considerations are more than
sufficient in this matter.
There is no disputing the fact that
there is more money spent every year by
those in attendance upon National En-
campments than at any other gather
lngs in the country. This fact has never
received proper attention. The great
mass Of the veterans are well-to-do. The
visit to the National Encampment is
the great event of the year to them.
They have such good time at each En-
campment with their old comrades and
friends that they at once begin looking
forward and making arrangements for
the next one. They lay up money and
prepare to take their wives and families
to share their good time. With hun
dreds of thousands doing this the aggre-
gate of money spent is tremendous. The
merchants of Detroit estimated that the
National Encampment brought into
that city 50, 100000. The business men
of Washington put the figures still
higher for the Encampment of 1892.
Nor does this money go, as is customary
with most great gatherings, nearly
wholly to the hotels, clearinghouse,
restaurants and saloons. The comrades
take their families with them, and these
employ the opportunity to buy many
things not obtainable in the smaller
towns. The evidence of the merchants
in every city in which the National En-
campment has been held is that they
found abundant sale for high priced
goods of real merit, butlnone for cheap,
inferior wares. Standard stores always
make much money Of an Encampment,
while fakirs and saloon-keepers are in
disappointed.
Therefore, the supreme point is that
the National Encampment brings in
calculably more money to the city
where it is held, and 20 the railroads
leading to it, than any other gathering
held anywhere, and is in consequence
entitled to the best and most favorable
rates that can be made. 1t is ridiculous
to place the National Encampment on
the same plane with the meeting of the
Knights of Pythias, as is now being
done, or with Masonic, religious or other
gatherings, for the reason that while the
upon the latter may be
by thousands or tens of thous-
ands, the attendance upon National
Encampment must be measured by the
hundred thousand.
The ordinary commercial rule of Civ
ng exceptionally low rates to exception
ally large purchasers must obtain in this
case. That is all we ask. There will
be 10 times as many tickets purchased
10 the National Encampment as to any
,ther event of this year-not excepting
he National Conventions there
will be 10 times as much money spent |
Nv the comrades in St. Paul as the
Delegates to Chicago and st. Louis will |
pend in those cities. Therefore, we |
ire naturally entitled to much better
than are given anybody |
Use.
This is SO plain that everybody ought
o see it.
THE Supreme Court of Indiana has
,iven the gentle art of gerrymander-
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