Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-07-24
OFFICIAL NOTICE
That the Reunion Of the Army Of
West Va. is OF,
Sent Out by the Executive Com
mittee, Through Chairman @. j.
Rawhngs-TheT Text of the Elk
planatory Circular-The Respon-
sibility on the Railroads.

Chairman J. c. Rawlings, of the Ex-
exutive Committee having charge OF
the local arrangements for the pro-
posed reunion of the Society of the
Army of West Virginia, has sent the
annexed circular letter to all con-
cerned, declaring the Reunion off, and
placing the responsibility where it ap-
pears to belong-upon the railroad
companies. This is the official and
final notice, and the reunion for this
year is dead and buried. The circular
letter is as follows
WHEELING, July Is, 1898
ITO the officers and Members of the Soci-
ETY. of the Army of West Virginia.
Friend and Comrade:-
"At our Reunion in Columbus last Sep
TENDER, an invitation was extended by
the people of this city, through the
Chamber of Commerce, to be under its
auspices, to the Society, TO meet in this
city in September of this year, our people
guaranteeing a the same time treatment
to all our visitors and facilities for get
ting here equal to those afforded at Col
umbus, &c.
The invitation was accepted by the
society. In the spring important COM
mites were selected, and the preliminary
arrangements looking to large attend
ance entered into by these committees.
The Transportation Committee, securing
the endorsement of the local railroad
agents, applied for a rate of one cent a
mile, being the rate granted to many
associations of the same character. In
died. this rate and much lower, has be-
here In the
course of a few weeks information was
received, unofficially, that the rate APP
piled for had been granted by the Rail-
road Joint Passenger Committee. Upon
this understanding the Finance Com
mittee went to work and very soon
secured ample funds to carry out all our
proposed arrangements to give our Wis
itors a pleasant and enjoyable time by
completing a programme that would, we
think, establish record for the meeting
After this, and while the circular letter
of invitation was being prepared we were
Officially informed that the Railroad Com
mittee, composed of representatives. of
eastern and western lines, to whom was
referred the matter of fixing the rate,
for our Reunion, had refused TO allow the
ra e asked for, but had fixed it at one fare
for the round trip, and would make no
lower rate. The Local Committee made
an urgent appeal to the Railroad Com
mittee for reconsideration, and it APP
pears this was done, as that Committee
reported, that after consideration, it
affirmed its former decision. Thereupon,
the Local Committee held a joint meet
ing and in a series of resolutions, asking
further consideration of our application,
and stating that if it was not acceded to
by the 18th inst it would become our duty
to call the Reunion off. The reply was a
refusal to grant our terms, and reaffirm-
ing former decision. 1t now only re-
mains to notify the members, reluctantly
as we may be to do so, that in consider
alton of the standing of this society, the
territory embraced, the number and
character of its members, the influence,
if accepted by us, on future meetings,
affecting this entire community, and
more particularly the unjust discrimina-
ton against the old soldiers, as what we
ask for in their behalf has been granted
to other MISUNDERSTANDING the
promoters of the meeting to adopt the
alternative presented by declaring tho
Reunion off for 1898. This notice is sent
to you that you may be enabled to place
the responsibility for the failure where
it belongs.
"Regretting this lame and impotent
conclusion,
I'VE remain,
"Respectfully yours,
"EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
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