Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 February 1896 — BLOW TO THE G. A. R. [ARTICLE]

BLOW TO THE G. A. R.

Western, Railroad* Refuse to Grant Trefle Concessions. -' The next national encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic may go to Buffalo. St. Paul was the prize winner at last year's national encampment, lnit the Western Passenger Association will not make a rate satisfactory the Grand Army of the Republic, which fact may change the place of meeting. ‘A delegation from St. Paul was in Chicago to try to “argue it out,” and they brought the Commander-in-chief' of the’Grand Army of the Republic with them, but the Western Passenger Association was obdurate and held out -for a high rate of fare. So Commander-in-chief Walker will call a council - ;of war to determine whore the next encampment shall be held. At last encampment, which was held in Louisville, It«was voted that the next encampment Should be held in St. Paul. A stipulation, however. Was made that it should go there only in case a satisfactory,! rate could be obtained from the railroads. The Western roads bid for the patronage of the O. ;A.*R. encampment at St. Paul by authorizing a rate of E-cent. per mile for the round trip, with a seven-day limit. At the same time a rate of one fare for the ronnd trip to the Knights of Pythiaa conclave, to be held in the same city in August, was granted nud a thirty day limit authorized. Commander-in-chief Walker and prominent citizens of St. Taul immediately took issue over the seven-day limit placed on the G. A. R, excursion tickets, and every effort has been made to get the Western Association to reconsider its action and deal as fairly with the G. A. R. as with the Knights of Pythias. With one exception the tickets to ail ths Grand Army of the Republic reunions based on a thirty-day limit. The exception was the reunion held in Milwaukee. A similar dispute took place at that time, the Western roads refusing to deal liberally with the veterans. Only one excuse is put forward by the railroads for the decided stand taken on the question. This is that the thirty-day limit,-: If granted, means a complete demoralization of rates in Western territory and a rich harvest for the scalpers.