Wood's Name Is Down.

New York, 1895

NO LONGER PROMINENT ON THE STANDARD'S FIRST PAGE.

The Newspaper Is Still Alive, but the Public Do Not Know Who is Responsible for It — Some Things That Seem Very Queer.

The following used to be displayed conspicuously on the first page of the Jamaica Standard:

THE JAMAICA STANDARD.
JAMAICA, QUEENS CO., N. Y
PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY
—BY—
B. FRANK WOOD, PROPRIETOR.

B. Frank Wood's name no longer appears anywhere in the Standard. This is very queer. Taking down his name would not save him from prosecution for having tried to get $275 from the county, through an audit by the board of Supervisors, when entitled to but $20, which wrong was prevented by Counselor Van Vechten, who saw that it was a steal.

A fortnight ago THE FARMER announced that a New York paper manufacturing company had instructed their counsel to bring an action against the Standard to recover pay for goods delivered to Mr. Wood. The Standard was not responsible for the debt, the property being owned by a corporation, who leased the plant to Mr. Wood. He was personally responsible for the debt. The bill was finally paid. Taking his name out of the paper would not help him against his creditors.

The Standard has received from the town of Jamaica money to which it was not entitled. Perhaps the Town Board will demand the return of the money by Mr. Wood. Removing his name from the paper would make no difference as to his liability to the town. The corporation owning the Standard would not be responsible.

The Standard at present stands in an uncertain relation to the business world. It Mr. Wood is no longer responsible for utterances of the paper, or the conduct of the office, who is? There is not a line in the paper to indicate that the company of owners have resumed possession, control and responsibility. This is all wrong in a business sense. Business men, when they are asked to sell goods on time, are entitled to know whether Mr. Wood or the corporation is the responsible party. One might shift responsibility to the other.

When Mr. Wood, as lessee, put his name up as proprietor, he did an act that was very misleading. Proprietorship means ownership. He took the corporation name down then. But now, when he has taken his name down, he has not put the corporation name up. So the concern is afloat without captain or compass. Mr. Wood says he has lost $3,500 keeping the paper alive. If it is true, he cannot be blamed for wanting to remove his name as the responsible party. If the corporation has taken charge again, a statement to that effect should be made.

—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, NY, March 22, 1895, p. 1.