Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1879-11-14
THE HOYTCOMINS SUIT.

Hamilton on the lIth INST, does not promise
to be as interesting at first supposed sir.
Comins, member OF the last legislature, was
charged with having accepted brides for his
vote, Messrs. Eackay and Fair were sub
poeaaed as witnesses, and as several other
prominent people of the state were also sum-
moned, the matter excited considerable in
terest. Tae parties most interested in the
suit were the good people of Hamilton To a
town of that size the sojourning of several
hundred people, for few weeks, is equiva-
lent to giving it a years lease of life Aside
from those whom the law would compel to
dance attendance on the court, there w0ult
be many people present, from motives Of
curiosity: But the hopes of the tralesmen of
Hamilton who had marked up the figures on
their goods for big rush of custom, have
been somewhat dampened. M.ssrs. Mackay
and Fair, having sworn to an affidavit that
they knew nothing about the case, have been
excused The fact that they will not appear
reduces the interest of the trial considerably,
and will no doubt materially lovsr the price
Of board in Hamilton, during the rest of the
month Such trials as this generally end in
a most unsatisfactory manner. If Mr.. Com
ms il really innocent of the charges made
against him, he has the right of public vindi-
cation. Last winter the press of the state was
very bitter against certain members Of the
legislature and charged them openly with
selling their votes for coin. Such charges are
always hard to prove legally. If a bride is
given the bribsr does not walk up to Sena
tor or an Assemblyman during the session
of that body and remark, as he hands some
one a sack, " Here, Bill, are couple of thous
and dollars if yoa vote my way, yet as far as
the minds of the public are concerned, ths'act
of bribery might be jast as open. When
man sells himself for consideration, there
are never any witnesses in sight and a man
might sell himself over and over again and his
aecusors be unable to bring a particle Of di-
rect evidence against him. The APPEAL wishes
to zee no innocent man rest under cloud: but
even if Conins proves beyond doubt that he
received no money for his course last winter,
no will still carry the contempt OF his constit
uents whom he so shamefully betrayed. There
are men who were members Of the last legsla-
ture, the very mention of whose names will
always excite the disgust of honest men. A
man who secures his election by promises to
his constituents, which he openly violates af-
ter his election is held to be corrupt and cou-
temptibls Perhaps Comins never received
dollar for his services to corporations, and per
haps his course vas dictated by sense of
and wrong is so muddled that he is not fit
man to trust with the interests of his constit
aents. If each member of last winters leg
islaturs who voted in opposition to his pledges
in the campaign, were to prove in open court
that he never received dollar for falling |
down, his constituents would only be more |
astonished at the deprsvity of a man who
could do such dirty work for the mere love Of |
it. member Of the Legislature is creature
Of an election, and is supposed to represent
the wishes Of majority of voters of certain
section of country. He is generally elected
on clear and positive issue laid down in the
platforms Of the convention which dominates
him. In the state and county platforms Of
both the Republican and Democratic nomna-
ting conventions of last year, an anti-railroad
plank was the most conspicuous feature.
Every candidate put before the people gave
most solemn pledge of adherence to that plank
and many, without having given such apledge
would never have had any connection with the
legislature, except as janItors, door keepers
Or clerks. The open disregard of those pledges,
With the voice of an outraged constituency and
IN interrupted press ringing in their ears, can
never he explained to the satisfaction of the
itizen. Of Nevada. HOyt is either SANDER
n and liar, or Comins is corrupt politician
IN whom convicted thief might look with
'ity. The APPEAL only hopes that the case
If Comins va. Hoyt may be honestly and fairly
risd, and however mush it ha. opposed
he course of Mr.. Csmins in the Legislature,
s willing to concede to him the credit of hav-
ns been first and foremost in a fight, where
N the same side, there were any number of
towards skulking in the rear There
'ere noticeable all through the railroad fight |
asn who wanted to be considered on
he side Of the people, when, in reality,
hey were owned wholly by the corporations
hich they sneakinsy served The petitions
hich Comins constituents sent from White