Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1880-02-07
"INTELLIGENT" LAW MAKERS.

The Reno Gazette, in replying to an article
in the APPEAL on the GGzettcs advocacy of the
Central Pacific Railroad Company, accuses
this journal Of uwng nothing but inslnuatlons
and resOrting to abuse instead OF argument.
We have carefully looked over the article re-
ferrsd to. and find that the statements are too
plainly put to be ranked under the head of
insinuations and if there was any abuse of the
men who betrayed the people of Nevada, 1t
was we'll deserved. The Go4ette says: "Whole
sale charges of sack and bribery are not
sufficient to explain the failure of our last leg
islature to pass intelligent laws upon the aues-
ton. The difficulty lies more in the ability
than in the lack of desire to handle the sub
ject" The "sack is the only explanation
which an intelligent man can accept, and which
a swindled constituency riH accept. Let us
put the proposition more plainly and IN de-
tail The men who were nominated on the
legislative ticket last Fall all made solemn
pledges to labor and vote against the railroad
monopolies of Nevada They claimed to know
all about the impositons practiced upon the
people, because they had suffered themselves.
c. c. Powning of the Reno Journal, held up
his right baud to heaven, pledged his support
30 the people, and said that if he did not vote
first, last and every time against the road,
they could welcome him with the tar bucket
on his return. And on his return they came
within an ace of doing 1T Pete Smith was
also one of the loudest in his desire to " cinch
the road, and made such disgraceful record
that he did not dare to return to his constt-
uents for a moath after the legislature ad-
journed. When he finally appeared on the
Comstock and preferred his hand to old friends
upon the street, they refused to grasp it. Pow
ell of Storey, also elected on snti-rairoad
ticket by anti-railroad votes did not keep
single pledge and was obliged on his return to
his betrayed constituents, to sell cut a -four
ishing business at ruinsus loss. Fannery
of Gold Hill was hung in efigy in the main
street of the city. Many others of equally
rotten records whose names the writer cannot
recall, have left the country rather than live
in communities where they were Stunned by
decent men, This brief review of political
history is made to show the temper Of the
people upon the subject. Now let US produce
. little evidence to show that the "sack" Is tbs
principle explanation of the failure of the
Legislature to pass certain bills, The first
anti railroad bill introduced, met with gen
sral favor. and was making good Roadway until
the famous committee of Fourteen was selected
to investigate it. In day or so after this,
railroad influences we're az work and the Com
mittee wanted more light. The agents Of
ths road then came before the eomWittee and
instead of shedding light upon the subject did |
all that was possible to befog and perplex. 1t |
was then sht for time and the railroad won |
it, Then some of the members claimed that
the bill was not constitutional (although this
leading lawyers of the State said it was), and |
they feared to do anything mot strictly con
Next, when pressed to the wall,
they explained their stand by saying tina: the
bill " had Objectionable features" and when
they had committed themselves upon the sub
ieet, bill was framed, from which all OF these
Objectionable features had been carefully elm
mated. This was simply framed aud intro
duced to drive these men into their last corner,
and it did it ef4ctusly when they voted
sgaiast it. Nov, with these ANTS before H.
can the Gasstte or any fair minded nsaspa-
per argue for a moIReut tuat these men were
not unduiy influenced. sither by direct pay
ment OF coin, promise of discrl animation in
'reight, hope of the friendship All influence
IF tho road, OF feeling Of obligation for past
'ayors. Now, admitting for the sake Of ar
yurnent that not single man was undalY IN
luenced, did not every mau who violated his
olsmu anti railroad pledge 10 the people,
olacs himself in position which no honest
nan would care to assume undeT any clrcnn-
tancesl And would not a man who would S
i've false pledge to secure his election, take
,ribes if they were offered him?. The APPEAL
rould like to hear from the Gazette or any I
ther railroad paper on this last proposition.
TEA SIERRA E#vADA-Ths Gold Hi Etoc~
las the following regarding the reported y
trike in Sisrra Nevada \
The strike in the Sierra Nevada VINE below S
he 2400 level and running down from point L