The National tribune., 1909-08-12

mot propose to change the place ol
holding the Encampment. because the
42d National Encampment had voted to
hold it in Salt Lake City; that j dio
lnot propose TO postpone the Encamp-
lment, because that would only be pro.
longing my term of office; but that
had made up my mind absolutely tha'
unless reasonable rate could be OBJ
tanned / would call a delegate Encamp-
ment, and that / meant to do 1t ano
that right speedily. The result was
that one or two lines gave notice OF in
dependent action. This brought the
Western Association together, and they
tagreed upon a rate of one fare for the
round trip from Chicago and st. Louis
to Salt Lake City and return. / in
sisted upon a ticket good for 80 days
upon diverse lines, with reasonable
lstop-overs upon the return trip at diff
ferent points within the Western Pas
senger Association territory, and nc
charge for validation of tickets, which
was granted. i Immediately commune
Gated with the Eastern Passenger AS
Isociation. and was Informed by them
that the matter would be taken UP
Ispeedily, and we would receive a rate
that would be satisfactory. 1 then
called the Encampment for Salt Lake
City.
Second and Third Appeals.
Afterwards I received notice from
the Central Passenger Association thai
they had fixed rate of one and one
4 half fare thru their territory to Chi
cago for the round trip. and after
wards received notice from the Eastern
Passenger Association. the Trunk Lines
and others that they had fixed the
same rate I applied to them for a
better rate, but without avail.
Knowing that the Eastern Passenger
%l.a Tt,,x II inc h
ers passed thru the territory of the
lCentral Passenger Association, 1 ap-
| piled again to the Central Passenger
Association to have them reconsider. ]
made second and third appeal to have
| the case reconsidered. stating that
could not expect the Trunk Lines and
other associations passing thru their
territory to fix lower rate than the
central Passenger Association.
Under date of March 8, 1909, Mr.. F.
IC. Donald, the Commissioner of the
central Passenger Association, wrote
me as follows:
Acknowledging your further COM
munication of the 9Th instant, relative
to a renewal with the membership of
the Central Passenger Association of
| the question of rate concession for
Iyour- approaching Annual Encampment,
Iyour several letters on the subject Will
be presented unabridged to meeting
of the Association convening OH the
10th instant. following which VIC will
promptly advise you of the result
| The answer l received under date OF
March 16, Mr.. Donald says:
| Il am indeed sorry to diSappoint YOU
Altho the subject so earnestly 3nG ir-
lf1uentially set forth by your letters WIS
given exhaustive consideration by tie
recent meeting of the membership 80
the Central Passenger Association
| = 3I,aty fr1a1 Il oir,1p
sion that they might not consisten.-.
meet your expectations; hence the ten
der of fare and one-haif in the terri
| tory of the Central Passenger Associa-
ton to their Western gatewayss, plus
the reductions rendered by Western
connections, was reaffirmed. / earnestly
Iand ferv1ntly hope that your comrades
may be reconciled to the reduction as
a whole, and by their presence at Salt
Lake attest their appreciation Of your
conscientious and untiring efforts on
| their behalf"
| 1 again made another application to
the several Eastern Passenger Associa-
tions but without avail. / was led to
| believe, however. that they might give
us better rate if a better rate could be
had from the Central Passenger Asso-
citation.
/ indited another strong and urgent
/ letter to Mr.. Donald, of the Central
/ + HdSSenSoE aASSOCldliOn, uHueT uaIe
/ April 25, from Salt Lake City again
asking him to reconsider the matter
stating that the Trunk Lines and other
associations would undoubtedly give US
better rate if the Central Asso citation,
| thru whose territory they must pass,
and who seemed to hold the key to the
situation, would make a further reduc-
ton. This letter was accompanied by
several appeals to me from the Eastern
| Departments, stating that if rate of
one fare prevailed the Departments
would turn out strong, otherwise the
attendance would be small.
! To this letter, under date of April
29, I received the following answer:
| Your favor of the 25th instant, with
| Enclosures referred to, is received. While
/ apprehend that a renewal of your ap-
plication will not result in the further
concessions for which you so earnestly
plead, / will be pleased to submit your
letter, with accompanying papers. to
the next meeting of the Association,
promptly advising you, with return of
| your Enclosures"
Under date of May Is I received q
letter from Mr.. Donald declining to re-
open the matter.
The transcontinental lines, operating
between the Pacific Coast and Salt Lake
City, promptly granted me a rate of
one fare for the round trip. Thus you
| will observe that all roads west of
Chicago have given us a rate of one
fare for the round trip and all east of
Chicago have stubborniy resisted and
refused to do better than give us a rate
Of one and one-half fare to Chicago
and st. Louis. This is not as good
rate as these Associations are giving
10 Summer tourists for the Yukon
Seattle Exposition, but we cannot avail
ourselves OF the Summer tourist rate
unless We purchase tickets thru to
Seattle.
You will abserve, comrades, that I
/ have labored earnestly and Zeaiously
with the great railroad corporations In
the interests of the Grand Army of the
Republic for reasonable rate to and
from our Encampment, for the men
who from 81 to '65 bore the brunt Of
battle and saved the Union-one and in
divisibie-and that the great railroad
corporations which girdle it with their
tracks have no feeling of patriotism
and make no concessions to the COM
rades of the Grand Army of the Re
public.
| Salt Lake City.
| Before visiting Salt Lake City ] ap-
pointed a subcommittee of the Execu-
| tive Committee, of four comrades, re-
siding west of Chicago, in order to save
expense. but before starting received
an invitation from the Commercial
Club of Salt Lake City, inviting me,
with my staff. to visit them, accompa-
| MED with a check to nav the -taxneuSec