The Tupelo journal., 1905-04-21
The Pontotoc Derot Matter
Just a short while ago that

appeal for unfolding the law.
Recently, the paper has changed
its curse and is now actively
advocating the violation of law,
and the tame submission to this
violation by the officers charged
with enforcing the law.
The case in point is the Pom
totoc depot matter. 1t must be
remembered that the Attorney
General is the legal advisor of
the r. R. commission. His OPP
pinion as far as the commission
is conserved, is the law, until the
courts reverse him. The Senti-
mel contends that the commission
should run rough shod over the
opinion of the Attorney General
and permit the M. J. and K. c..
R. R. Co. to operate trains beyond
Pontotoc, in violation of law and
the constitution. When this R.
R. Co. secured an injunction in
the Federal Court, f%orbidding
the commission from enforcing
an order to rebuild the depot
burned at Pontotoc and then de-
liberately went to work con-
structing a line west of the
county site, while the case was
still pending and before any
hearing could be had, the COM
mission notified the Attorney
General to take proper steps to
uphold the law. The temporary
restraining order was the result.
This case could have been heard
and settled months ago if the
railroad would have permitted
but instead of showing a DISPOSE
ton to have the courts pass on
this matter they have resorted
to all sorts of schemes to. avoid
a trial of the case on it's merits.
Through various dilatory tacti cs
they have succeeded in delaying
this suit until they are almost
ready to handle through business
to Houston. 1t must be remem-
bered that they were ordered
by supreme Judge Calhoun to
discontinue construction until this
dispute was settled. This in
junction, we understand, was
modified by Judge Niles of the
Federal Court to the extent of
permitting them to build a tenn
porary track over which permits
sion was given them to operate
their work trains. If they have
built a permanent line through
Pontotoc over which they are
ready to. handle passenger and
freight traffic, it is another evil
dence of their absolute contempt
for the laws and even the courts
of our state.
The Sentinel believes that Or
binary folks should be made to
respect the courts and obey the
law but evidently thinks this
defiant corporation should be left
alone to.be law unto themselves.
AS to only a few people in
Pontotoc being interested, we
do not see it that way, but if
that is true why should Pontotoc
not be allowed to appeal to the
proper authorities for protection?
Why should Pontotoc be out
lawed?
But no such narrow view can be
taken of this case, for every citi-
zen of the state is interested in it.
Every one is interested in having
the laws and the constitution up
held, and besides this same con-
dition may arise at any time at
any other place in Mississippi.
What if it should come up at
Ripley? Say this same railroad
should deliberately move their
line a mile west of Ripley, what
would the Sentinnl say to that?
They have the same right to do
this at Ripley as at Pontotoc and
Pontotoc is not the only place
they are trying to destroy. And
then suppose Pontotoc came in
and patted the railroad on the
back, and told 'em to "go it"
just so long as you don't hurt us?
Put yourself in the place of
Pontotoc and ask yourself the
question, ''how would | wish to
be done by.