The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-12-24
PRIZES HAVE
NOT Been PAID
Good Deal of Noise Has Been
Made About 1t.
THEY WILL BE AWARDED
General Burlingame's Original
Letter Is Republished.
THEY WILL BE AWARDED

in different parts of the territory about
the awarding of the last eneampment OF
the National Guard of Guthrie. brought
out on account OF the fact that the vari-
GUS prizes supposed TO have been award
ed to the companies have not yet been
paid. General Burlinsame says that the
new commercial club will assume the in
debtedness of the old in this matter and
that the money due the companies will
soon be paid. In explanation OF the
awarding Of the encampment to Guthrie
the following letter has been made public:
Guthrie, o. T, Aug. 15, 1903.
Governor T. B. Ferguson, Commander-in-
chief:
Dear Sir:-Your communication of the
18th inst, inclosing letter from j. f. Col
lar of Chandler is at hand, and L also
have before me the communication or
j. F. Collar president Commercial club,
dated August Sd.
beg to say that l know of no reason
why the tone of these letters should be
so largely tempered with complaint.
There has not been any auctioneering OF
encampment privileges under your ad-
r1inistration, nor under that of your pred
ecessor Two years ago the citizens
of Perry sent a committee to request
that the encampmcnt be held there, ana
as an inducement made written PROPOSE
ton through the Commercial club agree
ing to furnish the camp ground. lights,
fuel water, straw, etc, and three hundred
dollars in cash prizes. This action was
voluntary with them and other towns
might have made offers if they chose to
do so. The governor was under no obli-
cations TO accept any offer. but when
the courtesy could be extended without
detriment to the public interest there
seemed to be no reason for Withholding
it. and as the offer of Perry appeared to
confer some advantages in the interests
of economy, it was deemed advisable 10
accept the donation for the public use
and assemble the guard at that point.
Last year the Commercial club of King
fisher presented a proposition under date
of May Cd, offering to provide fine camp
ground, a rifle range, three hundred dol
lars in prizes. ample water piped TO the
grounds, telephone connection, electric
lights. two hundred dollars worth of
supplies, including horses and feed, straw
for bedding. use of lumber for flooring
tents. and fuel.
This depa rtment had made no call for
bids, the people of the territory know that
the militia holds annual encampments,
but the people of Kinghsher, acting as
guardians of their own business inter-
ests. took the matter up and submit
ted their statement of what they would
do IL the town should be chosen. On
May 9Th a large committee, headed by Col.
f. L. Boynton, chairman, called at the
executive Office and urged acceptance OF
the offer Photographs of the grounds
were exhibited and the case presented for
your consideration.
Guthrie had repeated her offer Of the
year before. 1t was finally decided that.
everything considered, the encampment
had better go to Kingfisher, and the or
der was issued on June I'd.
On the 2ist of last April the Guthrie
club again renewed its proposition, and
some time in June it was laid before you,
but as it was the only one received you
postponed action upon it, suggesting that
if a little more time were given other
proposals might come in. With your per
mission / then intimated 10 members of
the press that If any town desired to Sc
cure the encampment it would better act
promptly. and an item to that effect was
published See Daily Leader. June 10Th.
The only proposition in relation to the
fx- al l,z-r M
came from Col Boynton. who wrote on
June 10th that Kingfisher might be consid-
cred as candidate for the privilege of
entertaining the encampnent again this
year Apart from Perry and Kingfsher.
Guthrie was the only place which had
submitted any definite proposition within
three years. and her offer was made
for three years consecutively.
The question OF rate for transpoTta-
tion came up. and il was intimated that
the Santa Fe would exact regular tariff
claiming that its charter. obtained by
act of congress. gave exemption from leg
islstive control in the matter of rates.
Our appropriation is too small TO meet
the cost OF regular tariff, and Il was de-
sired to obtain a one-csnt rate. In our
conferences in regard TO this I under
stood that the encsmpment would be held
at Guthrie Il the one-cent per mile was
conceded. and my correspondence with
Mr.. Black embodied that idea as an in
ducement, and ! had your permission t.
prepare the order In case the rate was
secured. l received q letter from M
Black on July 9Th announcing that the
rate would be given. and stated TO Mr
ASP that Guthrie would have the en-
campment The next day formally ac-
cepted the offer made by Guthrie. These
facts having been communicated to you
wss authorized 70 prepare the order for
the encsmpnent and it received your
signature on the lst o. August. when COP
les were sent AZ once 70 officers az TIE
guard At that date there were TO ether
offers or propositions n MY hands
Referring 10 the communication OF Nr.
Collar. 7 wish 70 state THAI no PROPOSE
ton from him or from any ono speaking
for Chandler. in relation TO the encamp.
uent for this year has been received bv
me-. ard I decline 70 have hin hold ne
responsible for what somebody has
given out 10 the papers I saw In one pa
per that had announced thst the nllIisz
would attend ths naneuveTs but the
statement was untrue. and when f-ter-
rogased the reporter concerning h.s All
thcrity for making II he said he got II
from a Kansas City paper 7 have fire.
QSently seen statements n the paac-x in
relation 70 The military affairs which were
not true. and some az them have caused
me &c wonder what yos would rhiak q
them Ths cliFr.ng from the Ponca CITY
Courier nisstatss Ire csse entirely We
have never made conditions for FIVE hu--
dred dollars. or fer any other SUM s=d