The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-10-14
BOTHMAN ON TOP.
Bops Up Serenely After the Agents
Tempest.


This Is the season Of the year when the
east bound steamship business begins
from the Northwest. Thousands of Scam
dinavians return to the old country to
spend the winter, at least the holidays.
Consequently this is the season of the
year when the hustling steamship agent is
the most active. The situation among the
local steamship agents is decidedly interest
ing just now. There has been a change
in the relations between them that has
landed c. II. Bothman on the top Of the
heap, in spite of the determined and COM
bined efforts of his competitors to down
him.
A short time ago rival agents were COM
bined in what promised 10 be successful
attempt to down their formidable rival, c.
ii. Bothman opposite the postof1ice. They
We're successful in exposing in recent
newspaper article some unpleasant rela-
lions BOthman had with the steamship
conference, and also with ticket pur-
chaser, Peter Larson. of this city In
otner words. they had combined, and sat
upon Bothman hard.
But the situation is now reversed Both
man has now been formally recognized by
the conference as a representative entitled
to dial through sub-agents, a power that
is held by only one other agency in the
city. He has also been made the general
Western representative of the Allan Line
west Of Chicago. On the other hand, GER
tain leaders In the combine against him
now on needles and pins regarding
certain charges which they have good rca-
son to believe have been presented against
them to the conference, and which might
seriously thin ShOnI1 thcV IA
proven true.
Mr. Bothman feels that the Larson case
was fixed" all the way through by the
competitors directly or Indirectly. as a trap
for him. Certain 1t is that they handled
the case for Mr.. Larson, secured it's pub.
lication kept possession OF the ticket for
several days. and advised him not to see
Bothman personally. Mr.. Bothman set
tied the Larson case at the first opportuni-
ty, pending an explanation by the Anchor
Line. and. has stood ready to do SO all
along, but could not secure an Interview
with Larson for the reason stated. The
settlement finally had to be made through
middle men.
The fattering reception of Bothman by
the conference. and the promotion by the
Allan Line. will tend decidedly to put a
check on any further persecution by ri
walls for the present at least. 1t also
shows that his standing in the East is of
tue very best. The larger volume of bust
ness done by him made him able to shave
the rates closer than the less active agen-
ces and to pay larger commissions to his
sub-agents. This was what caused the
bitterness against him. In summing up
the situation Mr.. Bothman says:
Il suppose 1t was only natural for rival
agencies to try to down me- 1 will frankly
admit now that in the past, until very
recently, l paid my sub-agents a higher
commission than was considered prOfita-
BILE OF course that sort Of a thing cannot
be done now under the new conference
rules, but that why L was getting all
the business, and why the other agents
soured on me. But, at any rate, ] am on
again now and better than ever equipped
to handle the East bound business now be-
ginning I have always made it point
to stand by my sub-agents, and feel that
they will stand by me- for they know that
1 will pay them the highest commissions
allowed by the conference and the rail-
roads,