Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1904-01-09
THE SON OF HIS T q
in Charge of Financial
Affairs.

The manufacturer of a widely adver-
tised table sauce, which has made him
several times a millionaire, has a son
who is now the active manager Of the
business, and the way he won his spurs
is a story worth telling, says the New
York Times.
Going direct from college TO the fac
tory. the son dutifully began the pro-
gramme outlined by his father of learn
ing the business from the bottom and
working his way up" He got as far as
a clerkship in the office, and then
thought il time for a chance to show
what he could do. But the round of
drudgery was unbroken for another
year, and meantime the youth was
learning more about the business than
he was given credit for.
AT length the manufacturer decided to
take a needed rest in a trip to Califor-
mia. and made secure the period Of his
absence by clearing out of the way all
important business, so that the big
plant was in shape to run itself"
Calling his son into the presidents Of
flee, he said:
Il shall leave you in charge Of af-
fairs. There won't be anything but de-
tail to look after, and don't believe you
a tangle it up. However, | will give
you a power of attorney to sign checks
on my own bank account, and you can
also run the payrolls with the firms
account"
The manufacturer departed in his
private car, and the son took over his
new responsibilities seriously and inn
mediately. The private car was no
further toward California than Denver
when a telegram vas delivered on board,
and its effect was like the explosion OF a
shell:
Have drawn on your account for
s100, 900"
The signature was that of the "act-
ing president" three days in office. The
manufacturer kept on his way, much
perturbed. At Los Angeles he was met
by a second telegram:
Have drawn on your own and COM
pany's account for another hundred
thousand. Don't worry. Enjoy your
self"
The private car left for the east the
AIN afternoon. All vacation plans
were cancelled, and the millionaire
fumed over 5000 miles of post-haste re-
turn to the rescue. When he rushed
into his office, the son sat in the presi-
dents chair and said, cheerfully:
"Why, good morning, father; last
man | expected to see. Nothing wrong,
| hope?"
The reply was an angry sputter. The
young man waived explanations, and
when his father attempted to argue at
close quarters, he protested with great
firmness, as he dictated kilograms, tore
open messages and flew to the long-dis-
lance telephone:
"See here, father, | am in charge Of
this office as acting president of the
company for the next 30 days. I can't
talk to you for 20 minutes. Then you
will have an interview. No, not a min
ute sooner. There's lots of urgent bust
ness before your turn comes"
The manufacturer raved over the in
science of the usurper, hesitated wheth-
err to call the police and insanity ex-
peits, and finally Gained sufficiently to
wait his 20 minutes. Then the young
invited him inside the railing,
with an ELUSIVE welcome and said, with
the air of a conQueror:
Sorry to have kept you waiting, ia
Their, but | couldn't let go the wires. I
have just cornered the market in pep
per, and we can't make less than a
quarter of a million on the deal, and
there is no way we can lose. I'm awful
ly sorry you didn't have 5000, 900 worth
of confidence in my Judgment"