The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1901-01-24
THE NEXT ENCAMPMENT.

THE NEXT ESCAMPMENT.
The meeting of the G.. \. r. Nationa
Executive Committee at st. Louis, Jan
81, TO settle the place of the holding the
next National Encampment, was an ex
citing one. Denver, Cleveland and Pitts
burg were eager contestants for the honor
Cleveland and Pittsburg presented written
pledges of one-cent-a-mile on the railroads
reasonable hotel rates, and other require
mepts of the Encampment.
Denver produced letters from Chairman
Mcleod. of the Western Passenger Asso-
citation, promising the one-cent rate on SIX
railroads. In addition she made the neces-
sary promises as to accommodations and
entertainment. The written pledge of
Chairman Mcleod, she claimed, met all
the requirements of the resolutions regard
ing rates adopted in Chicago at the 34th
National Encampment.
The vote in the Committee resulted:
Cleveland ............--.-- ,
Denver -.....-....-.' .....'..-----, =
Cleveland was announced as the choice,
whereupon the Denver delegation, very
disappointed and angry, held injecting
and issued the following statement:
''The National Encampment of the G.
A r. at Chicago last year voted unani-
mously to hold the Encampment in Den
yer this year, provided the railroads lead
ing thereto granted a rate of one cent Il
mile. The Denver committee filed today
with the Commander-in-Chief and the Ex-
ecutive Committee official notice by Chair
man Mcleod, of the Western Passenger
Association, prOmulgating the one-cent
fare per mile rate for the shortest mileage
of all the principal railroads leading to
Denver from St. Louis, Chicago, st. Paul,
and all Missouri River points. This rate
has been promulgated for the Denver G..
A. X. Encampment by railroads and con-
meeting lines covering more than $4,000
miles of lines leading to Denver.
THE procuring Of the one-cent-a-mile
rate for Denver has been accomplished
much earlier than ever before, and in ter
ritOry where the rate has never before
been made. The Denver committee feel
they have fully complied with the regula-
hOns of the National Encampment at Chi
cago, and are entitled to the meeting this
year, and they are well advised the senti-
ment of the Grand Army throughout the
country is favorable to Denver. The diff
ferent State Departments will probably
take up this matter and decide whether
they will still adhere to their unanimous
action at Chicago in favor of Denver for
the Encampment."
Past Department Commander Geo. G..
Cook, OF Colorado and Wyoming, who was
most effective in securing the selection of
Denver, was particularly disappointed,
and said that Denver would hold a Ma
tional Encampment, anyway, and that a
canvass would be begun at once of the
Departments, urging them to come to Den
yer.
Commander-in-Chief Rassieur said. in
reference to this:
Il have Just read what you inform me
emanates from the comrades representing
Denver. 1t is hard 10 believe that such a
statement emanates from a good Grand
Army comrade. Assuming that it does,
desire simply to state that the Executive
Committee with the light befort it and
after having given Denver two hearings
and weighing everything presented by it,
decided that the next Encampment of the
G.. A. r. should be held at Cleveland. O..
Sept 8, 1901. At that Encampment this
committee will report the facts which led
them TO the action taken, and every
Grand Army cOmrade will doubtless heart
lily approve of that action. We have en-
ueahoIeu 10 90 what IS best Tor the Grand
Army, and in compliance with the action
Of the Bath National Encampment, not
withstanding the statement made which il
is said emanates from the Denver com
rades."
While we are very sorry for the Denver
comrades, and for the many thousands
who live in the Far West, this action will
be productive Of lasting good, be-
cause it win be sharp lesson
to the railroads, especially those west
of the Mississippi. 1t has become
the fashion Of late years to juggle with the
veterans. and il needs some such lesson
as this TO show that there are limits to
our forbearance. The Western railroads
have been chief offenders, and they have
every year tricked the veterans, dallying
and promising until it was too late TO
change the Encampment, and then ex-
tortIng the highest rates. This has led
to growing feeling of resentment. which
took form in the Chicago Encampment i'm
positive mandate TO the COmmander-in-
Chief and Committee.
Unfortunately. Denver and our Far
western comrades suffer, but they need
not be discouraged. The veterans want TO
90 out there TO see them and their won
derful work in making the desert blossom
rs the rose. After the railroads have Drof-
tied by this deseryediy sharp lesson. Dcr-
yer will have the first right to the Ma
tional Encampment, and will receive n
unanimous vote. The matter is only most
poned year or two.