The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1882-02-09


Notes on the Railroad Bill.
Mr.. Corlett has served his railroad
employers. but betrayed the people.
Perhaps Mr.. Corlett will realize this
morning that the Cheyenne press can
express opinions freely and not be
wrong, either.
Can it be true, as Mr.. Sturgis init
m lies, that a man can claim to repie-
8 mt the people who elected him and q
railroad company who salary himr
The people Of Laramie county are
unanimous on the railroad bill. And
yet it Is charged that they are madden+d
By the influence of the mob" on the
street orners
There was n general expression Of
sympathy for Mr.. Corlett yesterday,
because he had so vindictively antogo-
nized the interests Of our people, and
unnecessarily insulted all OF our citi-
zens who believe that railroad compan-
les should be- kept to their promises.
When the. attorney for a railroad
company, who has been elected to the
legislature by the people, terms his
constituency a bowling mob, 1t it is
time for that ''mob'' to consider
whether they have any rights which the
railroad company is bound to respect
A very prominent citizen and heavy
t taxpayer, Il gentleman who Is a leading
merchant, a heavy stockgrower and
deeply interested in banking, heard the
railroad attorneys speech yesterday
morning. He said afterwards: "When
I heard that talk of the mob,' 1
confess hal I felt a little like a riot for
the time"
The FIRST draft OF the celebrated rail-
road bill WAS made by Mayor Carey.
The second draft 1as made by M Cor
lett himself. And he did not make the
draft as an attorney for anybody, but
as a legislator elect, who desired to
subserve the interests of his constitu-
ents. A change has since come DER
the spirit of his dreams.
The attorney for the railroad COM
pany could have made his argument
more effective and saved his good
name by refraining from the insults to
our whole people, and to the press.
However. the press can stand it; we
can kick back vigorously and talk to a
larger number of people than can be
gotten together in the council chamber.
We have it IN the authority Of u
member of the house that when a
caucus of all the legislators of Laramie
county vas held just before the conven-
ing legislature, Mr.. Corlett was present,
aud stated that he would again to sup
p,rt the bill limiting the time Of the
r Iilroad company to build the northern
rIad. His action of yesterday certainly
shows a decided change of mind.
The question arises, can railroad men
be depended upon to represent the
people. Echo answers, no. The
railroad tax paying interest is very
small In comparison with other interests.
Mr.. Sturgls pointed out the names Of
four men on the petition Of 1.-THE mob,"
who pay more taxes than the railroad
company. According to recent logic
thes. four men should have u big repre-
sentation tile legislature.
NJ. Corlett figured up the cost of
the projected railroad northward
in speaking of assessment Of railroad
property. Perhaps Mr.. q. will recall
the fact that the Northern railroad is
not yet built. But Mr.. Corlett's
figures remind us of the boy who WAS
out hunting rabbits. A ~neighboring
chum asked him how many rabbits lie
had gotten, "Well," said he, ''when l
get this one I'm after aud two more, III
have three"
Mr.. Corlett says that the Cheyenne
press expressed an opinion for once
on the IA lroad question and then
they were wrong. Please permit a
correction. They said when MI.
Corlett was elected to the legislature
that lie would De an able, fearless and
conscientious representative of the
people of Laramie county, or words to
that effect. That was clearly an
o Union; and it Is now very clear that
they were wrong.
The LEADER has the highest respect
for Mr.. Corlett, personally, aud even
admires his talents. But Mr.. Corlett,
the legislator, has seen ct to call public
opinion the f~rothings OF a mob, and to
denouuce the press-and all this was
entirely unnecessary. Self respect
re luires the people to resent the impu-
tatlon Of being "a mob" aud demands
OF the press outspoken opinions Of Mr..
Corlett, the legislator; Mr.. Corlett was
boil in his denunciation; the people
and press are equally so.