Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1918-05-10


manity was urged by Pope Benedict in
a special message issued today and ad-
dressed to the whole world the pray
er to go up on st. Peters Day, during
mass.
man, then went TO McNear, the head
OF the food department in the west at
San Francisco, who, upon hearing the
story, ordered the immediate arrest
Of Wood. He was taken before Com
missioner Hayden at San Francisco
and his bail placed at $1,000. Wood
claimed at the time OF his arrest that
he had planned TO take the department
OF justice into his confidence on an
elleged scheme to prosecute the mill
men for an alleged attempt TO bribe a
government official. Further than
that he said only ''All can say is that
am not guilty of wrong doing"
The specific charge placed against
Wood is first that he negotiated with
the mill men TO obtain a reduction of
the $1,000 fine levied against them up
on the payment to him of a bonus for
doing so, and that he agreed to give
them trade protection upon the pay
ment to him of $500 per month.
Food Administrator Lennon is now
in Kansas City attending a national
conference of foodmen. In his alb
sence food matters generally have
been left almost exclusively in Woods
hands. Woods real duties under the
food administration were to send out
publicity matter and other informa.
ton concerning food activities. Moth
ing has yet been heard from Mr. Lem
mon.
Wood was formerly a music teach
er and was employed as u musician
about Reno for six or seven years.
Upon the arrest of Wood it was re.
called that his actions with respect
to the opening of the Hunt Candy
Shop here were not exactly above re.
proaCh. lie had advised Mr.. Hunt up
on opening his shop that his was a
new business for which a license
could not be granted and that the
new shop could not open. County
Food Administrator Middleton held
this view of the matter but during the
conversation which followed between
Wood. Middleton and Hunt, Wood re-
marked, We'll, was going to take up
the matter of Mr.. Hunts license per
sonally for him and get him Ii
cense." a remark which when weigh
cd in view OF present happenings is
at least suspicious.
When asked If he had anything to
say concerning the arrest OF Wood,
under whose direction he necessarily
acted in food matters to a certain eX
tent, County Food Administrator Mid
the actions of Wood If the chargesi
against him were true. but that he
sincerely hoped that they were not.
However, he said, If they were true
Wood deserved to get the limit OF the
law. Mr.. Middleton also said that
while he knew nothing of the inner
workings of the matters which were
handled at Woods direction, so far as
he was concerned he could not say
that Wood had ever acted suspicious.
ly or had made any suggestions to
him that were at all out of the way.
II is derlorablc that this condition
has arisen at time when the pco-
pie of the state look TO every public
official to act absolutely and entirely
to the advantage not only Of Neyeda,
but of the whole United States. If
Wood is guilty, he is little better than
a German spy, and infinitely worse
than sprcader of German propo.
ganda, and he should suffer according
ly. II he is innocent the facts will
prove him so. Mr.. Percival, manager
of the local Roller Mills, is deserving
OF great commendation in the affair
for his active investigation OF mat.
tcrs which did not appear to him to
be ethical Guilty or innocent so far
as the accused is concerned Mr.. Per
cival will be generally held to have
acted and performed the duty OF a
truc DntrlOt