Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1913-08-29
THE Development LEAGUE

Brother Steninger having seen
the error of his ways and having
declined to continue the personal
controversy, The Independent
meets him more than half way and
apologies for any personalities in
jected into the argument. The
Free Press man is under an haluci-
nation when he accuses us of
threatening the county officers The
officers of this county have been
uniformly courteous and friendly
to the Editor Of the Independent
and it's reporters and no criticisms
were made or intended. The most
biased construction of our article
could not be construed to be an at
( tack on the county officers and the
Free Press knows it.
Our "attack" as he calls it on the
Development League wss made at
the request of a number of Elko
County's most progressive citizens.
They we're members of the League
and were contributors to its funds
They wanted to know just how
much money was paid in, who paid
it and how it was expended. The
Independent did not accuse Mr. Fee
or any one else of squandering the
money. All it asked was q state
ment as to when and how the money
was expended We still insist on
that information being given to the
public. The treasury was empty
when Mr. Fee took over the office.
He is a capable young man and no
charge was made rejecting on his
honesty or integrity. We still think
he isEthe very soul of honor and
that at the earliest moment he will
give the public the benefit of all
information available in his
Office. His predecessors were paid
to keep the accounts and transact
the business of the League and it
is only fair to assume that they did
so. Let everybody suspend judg-
ment until they have had full oppor-
tunity to render an account of
} their stewardship. 1t is no idle
matter to loose confidence in a
/ public enterprise and if it is found
, that there are no grounds for criti-
cism of the League and its business
methods, The Independent will
leave no stone unturned TO set the
matter right before the people Of
Elko County. Its editor will make
q public apology and will do all in
his power to redress the wrong he
t has dune, if it tu1ns out that there
t has been no squandering Of funds
contributed by the general public.
Rumor says two hundred and fifty
two citizens of the county sub.
scribed $40 each that 160 of them
paid in the cash. Assuming that it
= is true the league had $1,000 to as
sist in development. 1t will be in
: order to show how much real de-
velopment work has been done and
how this monev was expended. Is
the Independent "Knocker" be,
cause il calls for facts and figures?
Is the government knocker be,
cause it calls on it's officials for 8
statement at stated periods? Ia the
hank Inspector who calls for q
J. statement knocker?
Z The Independent believes it is
4 about time to quit feeling sore
and get busy In an honest earnest
effort to give such a statement
to the public as banker or county
official would render according t.
I law. The law compells them to dC
= that. There is higher law gov
O erninR every man who handle.
g public funds. Funds contributed b!
O the general public are publ,
: funds and common honor demands
@ that an accounting he had aid {
s full report be made. Making face
@ and calling names will not deter u
n from doing our duty to the pr blic
a We can neither be bribed or coer