, 1891-12-20

TIE SHOTGUN POLICY.

~ a. a. iNA
have been at least two instances in which
prominent stockmen, if they have been
correctly reported, have approved of
those murders and boldly stated that
stock would not be safe in Wyoming un-
til the wholesale reprisals made in Mon
taua we're repeated here. These men in
either commencing or advising such des-
perate remedies cannot represent the SEN
timent of the leading stockmen OF the
state. If they do then it Is high time for
all decent people to wash their hands out
of the business and withdraw their
countenance from such revolutionary
methods.
1t will not be denied that the stock
association, as 1t was in late years, is
directly responsible for many of the evils
under which the state now suffers. 1t was
arbitrary, unreasonable and unreasoning
in many of its actions and although a
private organization it assumed ~tyrannical
powers and Its dicta were sometimes
carried out with no regard for Justice or
equity. But the stock association is now
a thing OF the past, it is but a name which
is a mockery of its past power and great
ness. In its place we rave a stock COM
mission, organized under the laws of the
state and forming n part of the executive
machinery. Through this agency order is
being brought out of chaos. There are
no ~favorite big stockmen and no little
stockmen to be crushed aud silenced.
The law, as far as we can judge. is being
applied with equal and exact justice and
through its application we rave had
hopes that the large unguarded herds of
cattle on the open ranges might receive
adequate protection until such time as the
cattle business, through the Influx of
population, was placed upon a radically
different basis.
The LEADER does not approve stealing
but it abhors assassination. 1t will give
no more consideration to a mao who
steals a calf han to a man who steals a
pocket-book. Other things being equal
the crime in the oEe case is as reprehensi-
Dlt as III Nv VlhtI II bhabEh a
been long satisfied that r%ustling to a ruin
GUS degree was prevalent in Wyoming.
Against such proceedings it has thrown
the weight OF its influence and has pointed
a loss of 25 per cent OF our assess
able values but that the ~rustlers at length
finding no more biz herds to prey upon
will eventually prey upon each other, the
strong will override the weak, this ulti-
mately bringing about a condition of
anarchy in various sections of the state.
Believing that the stock laws are now
being impartially administered and that
they we're Systematically tending toward a
peaceful settlement OF this burning ques-
ton We have upheld the course of the
stock commission.
While we have nothing but contempt
for the subservient press which upholds
r~ustling and r~ustlers -iustifyiDg a small
stockman for stealing from a big one,
simply because the latter is rich-we have
on the other hand nothing but unmeas-
ured condemnation for any man or class
oil men who directly or indirectly uphold
or advise assassinstions as a speedy and
ef1ectual remedy for the evils now exist
ing in this state.
If the laws are lnpotent to protect
human life and property; if public opin-
ion has fallen to such a depth OF debase-
ment that it will Knowingly uphold the
wrong. then Wyoming is not a fit abiding
place for an honorable, self respecting
man and it is no place to whlch settlers OF
that class should come. But while JUS
tice has failed here as it has oitentimes
done elsewhere and while public senti-
ment on the r~ustling question in some
quarters of the state has been apparently
with rather than against the ~rustlers, we
believe a new day is dawning on this
question and its peaceful settlement will
be secured through the operations of the
stock laws, i~ntellIgently, firmly and fairly
administered.
A few days ago THE LEADER rebuked
the incendiary utterances of a foolish
sheriff Of johnson county who isa staunch
upholder of the r~ustling element; today
it no less %strenuously voices its opposition
10 the shot gun policy as promulgated
by one prominent stockman in an inter
view in the Omaha Bee and another in
an interview published 10 the Cheyenne
Sun.
WE learn by grapevine telegraph that
Santn Clnns L. nathan nnnn.hinn .naAn