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<p>[QUOTE="leeg, post: 3560925, member: 17073"]From: <i>The Edmund Seymour Papers</i>, 1896-1948, University of Wyoming American Heritage Center, Laramie, WY.</p><p><br /></p><p>Biography: Edmund Seymour (1858-1949) was president of the New York banking firm of Edmund Seymour and Company, a rancher, and a member of the Oregon Trail Memorial Association.</p><p><br /></p><p>Scope and Content: Collection contains materials relating to the Oregon Trail Memorial Association and Seymour’s banking firm, including correspondence (1896-1948); newspaper clippings (1905-1937); miscellaneous maps of the western United States; correspondence (1926-1941) and financial reports (1926-1927) of the Oregon Trail Memorial Association; glass-plate negatives of Wyoming (1924); and color prints of western scenes.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>“4000 Harrison St.</p><p><br /></p><p>Washington D. C.</p><p><br /></p><p> <u>CONFIDENTIAL</u></p><p><br /></p><p>Jan 5, 1927</p><p><br /></p><p>My Dear Mr. Seymour,</p><p><br /></p><p> Frankly, your last note concerning the attitude of Mr. Meeker is very disconcerting. I am not thinking in personal terms at all. I am thinking of you and the lack of appreciation that is being shown by the gentleman in question.</p><p><br /></p><p> The attitude that is being shown by Meeker merely indicates to me that our judgment in opposing his trip to the West was founded on good cause. What, in my opinion has happened is simply this. The element out there have whispered foolish thoughts in to that venerable, but none to solid head of his that the wolves of Wall Street were after him. How foolish! He can <u>not</u> handle the funds, and deep down, I do not believe that he ever will. Some one is prompting his move to get you off the Board for the very simple reason that you ARE an honest man and can not be manipulated as it will be necessary for those to hand Ezra the milk as they take the cream. The sentiment in the West is for the Oregon Trail, but handled in a way they will be a credit to all concerned. His idea of committing the Association to a big moving picture at this time is not only ridiculous it is but little short of criminal. It merely shows the craftsmanship of those who are pandering to the vanity of the old fellow.</p><p><br /></p><p> There isn’t a $400,000 story left of the West. And you can’t make a four hundred thousand dollar hero of Meeker try as you might. The picture that could and might be taken on this subject should cost <u>very</u> little. Film in the raw and the services of a camera man can be secure [<i>sic</i>] for one hundred and twenty five dollars per thousand feet. This would include the negative and one print. A thousand feet to the reel and six reels would be all that any audience would stand on this subject. There are concerns who have negative of western pictures that have never been used, this could be picked up at a song and as for camera men, the woods are filled with the unemployed.</p><p><br /></p><p> My familiarity with the film and <u>FLIM</u> [<i>sic</i>] game comes from the incident that I am one time prompted and publicized the two greatest pictures of their day - - Homers Odyssey and Dantes Inferno. Among my PERSONAL friends in the FILM world are D.W. Griffiths, P.A. Powers Frank Tichenor and the Kessels. I have been out of touch with them for years but they still stand at attention to render me a service. I will undertake to come to New York, sit with a stenographer for a half a day and turn out a scenario with ANY of the writers that may be even in competition. For my services in this phase there would be NO CHARGE. Further, I would undertake the securing of the people, the directors and the camera men and put over a film that would mean something for the cause. This would be but merely a part of the days routine in the promotion of the sale of coins. So much for the $400,000 tidbit.</p><p><br /></p><p> The financial plan that you have fethered [<i>sic</i>] is the plan that will mean success to the venture. There is NO other way of handling this matter. That is there is no other way if they want it to be handled on the <u>square</u>. I may be speaking out of turn but I do seem to be impressed with the fact that some one is not advising Mr. Meeker along the right lines. You are a fighter and I know that you are not going to give up without a real fight as a matter of fact, I can not reconcile myself to the thought that there is anything in- the make up of Edmund Seymour that looks like a give up quality. You will battle this out to the end and in the end you will win and by winning earn the gratitude of a nation.</p><p><br /></p><p> <u>I am with you to the finish!</u> Nothing worth while comes easy and this is a worthwhile achievement to have helped make history. I do not understand the situation as concerns Mr. Elkin. All that I have said and written about him has been done so in good faith. The best of faith. I have told you all I know. I went to Mr. Elkin with the proposition because I thought that he could help and would be persona grata to all concerned. The plans that I laid out, as you know were all mine and in this connection I expected no help from Mr. Elkin. I figured on using some of his connections, that is all and doing the major portion of the work myself. I <u>can</u> put this thing over, and stand ready to do it alone if it is so desired, and along the lines indicated.</p><p><br /></p><p> Those that are prompting these ungracious thoughts in the mind of Mr. Meeker should realize several things, among which is the fact that had it NOT BEEN FOR YOU, there would have been no sanction by Congress of the Oregon Trail Coin. I can tell you in plain language the reaction on the Hill to the Old gentleman, they merely think that he was a damn pest. The merits, the real guts of the plea for the coin was advanced by you and I have it in plain language to this effect. When I commenced to do a little skirmishing along the line on the Hill top to secure the admission into the Record of certain anticipatory speeches boosting the Trail coin sale, I was at first met with the thought that it could be done for the GENERAL CAUSE BUT <u>NOT</u> as a memorial to any ONE individual. The inference here is plain. Then too, your committee must bear in mind that the halo that they are attaching is being placed on a brow ninety six years old. <u>Try, if you please to get a hundred or so thousand dollars insurance on the man who would prmept [<i>sic</i>] this thing.</u> My heart is warm for the memory of the pioeneers [<i>sic</i>], Meeker or any of the others, <u>but</u> here you are facing a cold blooded business proposition. You are asking the public to buy a coin and INVEST its face value in sentiment for the purpose of using this money in expressing that sentiment in certain immobile motifs. This money has to be accounted for and there is no one that will call for a stricter stewardship than the contributing public itself. So <u>if</u> Meeker is to handle this affair from stem to sturgeon, the public must be protected in the common way of doing this is to take out insurance on his life for an equable amount so that <u>his</u> work may be carried on. Meeker is no better risk, physically than he is mentally and it would be a hazardrous [<i>sic</i>] undertaking for ANY body of men to follow his sole guidance on a matter of this kind. Again I tell you, that IF it is the aim to sell MEEKER, this thing will be a fizzle. The SENTIMENT can be sold and in that sentiment, Mr. Meeker has a certain value or at least a certain value can be created and that’s all.</p><p><br /></p><p> The self glorification of Mr. Meeker, will only serve the purpose of those who have no other purpose then a selfish one. In the days of Cody, we built the TRADITION and the atmosphere around him. I was in sole charge of the promotion and publicity of his farewell tours. It was, as a matter of fact, my own inspiration that these tours should be organized and give the old man a competence that he could retire on. NEVER did I encounter such a problem. I went to the editors of the papers all over the country and requested editorials on the Farewell. I got them. The New York Times and World started it off for me after long argument and pleading and reasoning, BUT THE EDITORIALS ALL BENT IN THE DIRECTION THAT WE WERE SAYING GOODBYE TO THE WEST, THE FRONTIER AND TO THE DAYS OF THE INDIANS. Cody was merely an incident around which we built the glamour. The remarkable fact about this is that for THIRTY years Cody had been before the public and was the BEST advertised man of his day, BUT WHEN WE CAME TO PUT OVER THE BIG PUSH, It was NOT CODY but the <u>sentiment</u> that he represented that got for me the editorials that I wanted and incidentally the biggest two finnancial [sic] successes over the two years of farewll [<i>sic</i>] tour that ever took place in the big top business. Meeker can not nor never could be classed in the publicity ranks of Cody and to attempt to feature him in a four hundred thousand film or in any other way except as an incident would be to say the least calamitous. A little incident here recalls itself to my mind. When we reached Denver that year of the farewell, the Colonel was taken slightly ill. In some way the news got out. That morning as I was leaving the office of Harry Tammen, who owned the Denver Post, I saw a crowd collecting along the side walk. I paused and saw in the distance that the Colonel was driving down street in his Broughma [<i>sic</i>] and four white Arabian horses. A little stunt that we used in place of a street parade. Just then I heard the following conversation between two newsboys.</p><p><br /></p><p> ‘Hey, Jimmie, come take a look,’ one kid cried to another ‘Look, here comes Buffalo Bill.’</p><p><br /></p><p> ‘Hell, that ain’t Buffalo Bill. Buffalo Bill died this morning. That’s some guy named Cody; they got to play his part.’</p><p><br /></p><p> Later in the day, I related the incident to the Colonel. I thought it a bully good joke. The old genteleman [<i>sic</i>], smiled at first then slowly rose from his chair, walked to the front of his dressing room tent, stood there looking out for a few minutes, came back and put his arm around my shoulder. There were tears in his eyes.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> ‘Frank” and with a slight clearing of the throat, ‘that youngster was right. After all I am only Cody, and playing a part. The <u>real</u> thing is the West, and its traditions. I am an actor actors die, but the sentiment of the thing will live forever. I thank God for the part He allows me to play.’</p><p><br /></p><p> If you wish, and think that I could do any good, I will gladly come on to New York for the meeting. By all have Mr. Rowley there, he is very strong for you. The others are or SHOULD be.</p><p><br /></p><p> The thing can be put over and it should be put over but it can only be put over in the manner that has been outlined and with you at the head. That is as it should be and no one would want to play with it in any other way.</p><p><br /></p><p> I stand at attention!</p><p><br /></p><p> Just to say, that this is the first day in five that I have been out of bed. Old man Flu hit me a swat on the nose but am feeling very much like my old self again and later in the day I will write to the doctor and you on the problem that we face in Congress at the present time. Doctor, I hope will patiently review the thoughts I have in mind and then when you call a meeting, the committee will take some concrete action for my guidance.</p><p><br /></p><p> Ever sincerely,</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="https://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a195/leeg1957/Book%20Project%20Images/Oregon%20Trail%20Memorial%20Association/Frank%20Winch%20Signature.png" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><b>Frank Winch</b></p><p><br /></p><p> Back again to the Oregon Trail matter. Don’t think me persisting but I must advance this thought again. IT WAS NOT THROUGH MEEKER THAT CONGRESS GRANTED THE COINING OF THE COINS. If he wants tangible evidence of this fact it can be supplied. I know that Congress was NOT in favor of this movement and I know further that Congress would NEVER have passed the Bill if it thought for a minute that Uncle Ezra as estimable as he is was to be put in charge of a six million dollar venture.</p><p><br /></p><p> I know your modesty and hesitancy in coming to the front when the bandmaster asks for your solo but you have <u>much</u> at stake in this matter, and your friends, financial and others are looking to you to handle this affair as it should be handled. IF, I have advanced any worthwhile thoughts please at MY REQUEST pass them along to at least Mr. Barber and Mr. Rowley. They will see the kernel of the thing and very likely [<i>sic</i>] assume a supporting attitude on the 10th that will be as well worth while as it is necessary.</p><p><br /></p><p>My heart and hand to you, Noble warrior.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>F.W.”<b>1</b></p><p><br /></p><p><b>1. <i>To: My Dear Mr. Seymour. From: Frank Winch January 5, 1927</i>, Box Number 4, Edmund Seymour Papers, Collection Number 6138, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.</b>[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="leeg, post: 3560925, member: 17073"]From: [I]The Edmund Seymour Papers[/I], 1896-1948, University of Wyoming American Heritage Center, Laramie, WY. Biography: Edmund Seymour (1858-1949) was president of the New York banking firm of Edmund Seymour and Company, a rancher, and a member of the Oregon Trail Memorial Association. Scope and Content: Collection contains materials relating to the Oregon Trail Memorial Association and Seymour’s banking firm, including correspondence (1896-1948); newspaper clippings (1905-1937); miscellaneous maps of the western United States; correspondence (1926-1941) and financial reports (1926-1927) of the Oregon Trail Memorial Association; glass-plate negatives of Wyoming (1924); and color prints of western scenes. “4000 Harrison St. Washington D. C. [U]CONFIDENTIAL[/U] Jan 5, 1927 My Dear Mr. Seymour, Frankly, your last note concerning the attitude of Mr. Meeker is very disconcerting. I am not thinking in personal terms at all. I am thinking of you and the lack of appreciation that is being shown by the gentleman in question. The attitude that is being shown by Meeker merely indicates to me that our judgment in opposing his trip to the West was founded on good cause. What, in my opinion has happened is simply this. The element out there have whispered foolish thoughts in to that venerable, but none to solid head of his that the wolves of Wall Street were after him. How foolish! He can [U]not[/U] handle the funds, and deep down, I do not believe that he ever will. Some one is prompting his move to get you off the Board for the very simple reason that you ARE an honest man and can not be manipulated as it will be necessary for those to hand Ezra the milk as they take the cream. The sentiment in the West is for the Oregon Trail, but handled in a way they will be a credit to all concerned. His idea of committing the Association to a big moving picture at this time is not only ridiculous it is but little short of criminal. It merely shows the craftsmanship of those who are pandering to the vanity of the old fellow. There isn’t a $400,000 story left of the West. And you can’t make a four hundred thousand dollar hero of Meeker try as you might. The picture that could and might be taken on this subject should cost [U]very[/U] little. Film in the raw and the services of a camera man can be secure [[I]sic[/I]] for one hundred and twenty five dollars per thousand feet. This would include the negative and one print. A thousand feet to the reel and six reels would be all that any audience would stand on this subject. There are concerns who have negative of western pictures that have never been used, this could be picked up at a song and as for camera men, the woods are filled with the unemployed. My familiarity with the film and [U]FLIM[/U] [[I]sic[/I]] game comes from the incident that I am one time prompted and publicized the two greatest pictures of their day - - Homers Odyssey and Dantes Inferno. Among my PERSONAL friends in the FILM world are D.W. Griffiths, P.A. Powers Frank Tichenor and the Kessels. I have been out of touch with them for years but they still stand at attention to render me a service. I will undertake to come to New York, sit with a stenographer for a half a day and turn out a scenario with ANY of the writers that may be even in competition. For my services in this phase there would be NO CHARGE. Further, I would undertake the securing of the people, the directors and the camera men and put over a film that would mean something for the cause. This would be but merely a part of the days routine in the promotion of the sale of coins. So much for the $400,000 tidbit. The financial plan that you have fethered [[I]sic[/I]] is the plan that will mean success to the venture. There is NO other way of handling this matter. That is there is no other way if they want it to be handled on the [U]square[/U]. I may be speaking out of turn but I do seem to be impressed with the fact that some one is not advising Mr. Meeker along the right lines. You are a fighter and I know that you are not going to give up without a real fight as a matter of fact, I can not reconcile myself to the thought that there is anything in- the make up of Edmund Seymour that looks like a give up quality. You will battle this out to the end and in the end you will win and by winning earn the gratitude of a nation. [U]I am with you to the finish![/U] Nothing worth while comes easy and this is a worthwhile achievement to have helped make history. I do not understand the situation as concerns Mr. Elkin. All that I have said and written about him has been done so in good faith. The best of faith. I have told you all I know. I went to Mr. Elkin with the proposition because I thought that he could help and would be persona grata to all concerned. The plans that I laid out, as you know were all mine and in this connection I expected no help from Mr. Elkin. I figured on using some of his connections, that is all and doing the major portion of the work myself. I [U]can[/U] put this thing over, and stand ready to do it alone if it is so desired, and along the lines indicated. Those that are prompting these ungracious thoughts in the mind of Mr. Meeker should realize several things, among which is the fact that had it NOT BEEN FOR YOU, there would have been no sanction by Congress of the Oregon Trail Coin. I can tell you in plain language the reaction on the Hill to the Old gentleman, they merely think that he was a damn pest. The merits, the real guts of the plea for the coin was advanced by you and I have it in plain language to this effect. When I commenced to do a little skirmishing along the line on the Hill top to secure the admission into the Record of certain anticipatory speeches boosting the Trail coin sale, I was at first met with the thought that it could be done for the GENERAL CAUSE BUT [U]NOT[/U] as a memorial to any ONE individual. The inference here is plain. Then too, your committee must bear in mind that the halo that they are attaching is being placed on a brow ninety six years old. [U]Try, if you please to get a hundred or so thousand dollars insurance on the man who would prmept [[I]sic[/I]] this thing.[/U] My heart is warm for the memory of the pioeneers [[I]sic[/I]], Meeker or any of the others, [U]but[/U] here you are facing a cold blooded business proposition. You are asking the public to buy a coin and INVEST its face value in sentiment for the purpose of using this money in expressing that sentiment in certain immobile motifs. This money has to be accounted for and there is no one that will call for a stricter stewardship than the contributing public itself. So [U]if[/U] Meeker is to handle this affair from stem to sturgeon, the public must be protected in the common way of doing this is to take out insurance on his life for an equable amount so that [U]his[/U] work may be carried on. Meeker is no better risk, physically than he is mentally and it would be a hazardrous [[I]sic[/I]] undertaking for ANY body of men to follow his sole guidance on a matter of this kind. Again I tell you, that IF it is the aim to sell MEEKER, this thing will be a fizzle. The SENTIMENT can be sold and in that sentiment, Mr. Meeker has a certain value or at least a certain value can be created and that’s all. The self glorification of Mr. Meeker, will only serve the purpose of those who have no other purpose then a selfish one. In the days of Cody, we built the TRADITION and the atmosphere around him. I was in sole charge of the promotion and publicity of his farewell tours. It was, as a matter of fact, my own inspiration that these tours should be organized and give the old man a competence that he could retire on. NEVER did I encounter such a problem. I went to the editors of the papers all over the country and requested editorials on the Farewell. I got them. The New York Times and World started it off for me after long argument and pleading and reasoning, BUT THE EDITORIALS ALL BENT IN THE DIRECTION THAT WE WERE SAYING GOODBYE TO THE WEST, THE FRONTIER AND TO THE DAYS OF THE INDIANS. Cody was merely an incident around which we built the glamour. The remarkable fact about this is that for THIRTY years Cody had been before the public and was the BEST advertised man of his day, BUT WHEN WE CAME TO PUT OVER THE BIG PUSH, It was NOT CODY but the [U]sentiment[/U] that he represented that got for me the editorials that I wanted and incidentally the biggest two finnancial [sic] successes over the two years of farewll [[I]sic[/I]] tour that ever took place in the big top business. Meeker can not nor never could be classed in the publicity ranks of Cody and to attempt to feature him in a four hundred thousand film or in any other way except as an incident would be to say the least calamitous. A little incident here recalls itself to my mind. When we reached Denver that year of the farewell, the Colonel was taken slightly ill. In some way the news got out. That morning as I was leaving the office of Harry Tammen, who owned the Denver Post, I saw a crowd collecting along the side walk. I paused and saw in the distance that the Colonel was driving down street in his Broughma [[I]sic[/I]] and four white Arabian horses. A little stunt that we used in place of a street parade. Just then I heard the following conversation between two newsboys. ‘Hey, Jimmie, come take a look,’ one kid cried to another ‘Look, here comes Buffalo Bill.’ ‘Hell, that ain’t Buffalo Bill. Buffalo Bill died this morning. That’s some guy named Cody; they got to play his part.’ Later in the day, I related the incident to the Colonel. I thought it a bully good joke. The old genteleman [[I]sic[/I]], smiled at first then slowly rose from his chair, walked to the front of his dressing room tent, stood there looking out for a few minutes, came back and put his arm around my shoulder. There were tears in his eyes. ‘Frank” and with a slight clearing of the throat, ‘that youngster was right. After all I am only Cody, and playing a part. The [U]real[/U] thing is the West, and its traditions. I am an actor actors die, but the sentiment of the thing will live forever. I thank God for the part He allows me to play.’ If you wish, and think that I could do any good, I will gladly come on to New York for the meeting. By all have Mr. Rowley there, he is very strong for you. The others are or SHOULD be. The thing can be put over and it should be put over but it can only be put over in the manner that has been outlined and with you at the head. That is as it should be and no one would want to play with it in any other way. I stand at attention! Just to say, that this is the first day in five that I have been out of bed. Old man Flu hit me a swat on the nose but am feeling very much like my old self again and later in the day I will write to the doctor and you on the problem that we face in Congress at the present time. Doctor, I hope will patiently review the thoughts I have in mind and then when you call a meeting, the committee will take some concrete action for my guidance. Ever sincerely, [IMG]https://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a195/leeg1957/Book%20Project%20Images/Oregon%20Trail%20Memorial%20Association/Frank%20Winch%20Signature.png[/IMG] [B]Frank Winch[/B] Back again to the Oregon Trail matter. Don’t think me persisting but I must advance this thought again. IT WAS NOT THROUGH MEEKER THAT CONGRESS GRANTED THE COINING OF THE COINS. If he wants tangible evidence of this fact it can be supplied. I know that Congress was NOT in favor of this movement and I know further that Congress would NEVER have passed the Bill if it thought for a minute that Uncle Ezra as estimable as he is was to be put in charge of a six million dollar venture. I know your modesty and hesitancy in coming to the front when the bandmaster asks for your solo but you have [U]much[/U] at stake in this matter, and your friends, financial and others are looking to you to handle this affair as it should be handled. IF, I have advanced any worthwhile thoughts please at MY REQUEST pass them along to at least Mr. Barber and Mr. Rowley. They will see the kernel of the thing and very likely [[I]sic[/I]] assume a supporting attitude on the 10th that will be as well worth while as it is necessary. My heart and hand to you, Noble warrior. F.W.”[B]1[/B] [B]1. [I]To: My Dear Mr. Seymour. From: Frank Winch January 5, 1927[/I], Box Number 4, Edmund Seymour Papers, Collection Number 6138, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.[/B][/QUOTE]
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