The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1905-04-13
CHAPTER NXII,

plete surprise, but Its meaning wa
perfectly clear to Kennard. He had
lost control of the board of directors.
In the face of that fact It mattered but
little what particular lure had secured
Harkness' vote. The purpose OF the
bargain was of more Importance than
It's price. 1t was not, however, until
he saw his power threatened that Ken
nard realized how vitally interested he
was in retaining it. Six months be-
fore he would have retired without a
regret. But those six months had ut
terly changed his attitude. With the
work OF organization something OF his
old enthusiasm had returned, and with
broader, far more reaching purpose
than he had ever known before. The
disgust and irritation which had made
him turn to the syndicate as a refuge,
disappeared with the assumption of
wider responsibilities, and his indif-
ference gave place to a calm study Of
existing conditions.
1t did not require much shrewdness
to predict that Mr.. Trundell would be
the moving spirit in whatever changes
the new majority in the board con-
templated. Kennard had watched him
with some anxiety from the very first,
for the man Immediately impressed
him as one Of those who write success
with big s, impaled on two parallel
lines. Undoubtedly he had engineered
the move which wrested the control
from the manufacturers. The question
was, why had he done this? II the
management had not been successful.
the purpose would have been evident.
But the company had made money
more than It was expected to make
when completely organized, much more
than the estimates had indicated for
the first six months. That was what
puzzled Kennard Mr.. Trundell was
not a man to desire power simply for
its own sake. especially as that power
could last only until the next election,
when new directors might be chosen.
The meetings of the board which fol-
lowed Croyden's election did not sup
ply any answer to these questions. No
important changes were inaugurated
by the newly constituted majority.
At the second meeting, It is true, Mr.
Trundell proposed that all cases Of in
Juries to employees should be turned
over to an accident insurance COM
pany to be settled or defended as the
insurers chose, but this proposal was
more or less in line with Kennard's
inclination to free himself from per
sonal contact as much as possible. 1t
was a good business move, and one
almost necessary with the army OF
workers in the companies employ.
But though he appreciated its prac-
tical aspect, the old feeling of parental
responsibility would not permit Ken
nard to view the innovation without
some misgiving. This delegation Of
authority had something cold-blooded
about 1t which he instinctively dis
trusted. To have some one injured in
your service, and then coolly refer him
or his family to an insurance company,
seemed heartlcss and inhuman. But
difficult as 1t was to adjust himself to
all the new conditions, Kennard recog.
nized the impracticability OF his old
fashioned methods, and the vote on
Mr.. Trundells proposition was unani-
nous.
1t was destined to be the last EVIL
dence of harmony in that board.
For some time prior to his election
as director, Mr.. Cornelius Croydon had
been talking Confederated Machine
shares to his customers with his usual
| l,,ht oh Lot hot hn 10
any very positive statements, or en-
tered upon any very definite details.
Indeed Mr.. Croydon seldom said any
thing that he did not adroitly unsay
in half an hours talk. With the rapid
movements of lightning calculator
he chalked up his amazing arithmetic,
and passed sponge over his half
made figures with a breathless Babel
of talk. But there was flattery in the
junior partners confidential tone and
fascination about his glib rattle of
figures which sold many q share Of
the Confederated Companies at hand.
some premium. Kennard, passing
through the customers room one day,
overheard part OF a prophecy as to the
company's future which amazed him,
and he took occasion later to ask the
optimist upon what he based his cal
culations. The inquiry was put good
naturedly, but Croydon turned on his
questioner like fash.
"Aren't you satisfied with running
the company, Kennard," he snapped
"or do you want to control my opin-
ions t0O?"
Kennard turned away with laugh
Everybody has touchy moments. and
presumably he had happened on one
Of Croyden's. That was all he thought
of the matter. A few days later tho
incident acquired more meaning.
At the very next meeting of the d.
rectofs Mr.. Croydon disclosed to his
new associates the result of some pri.
vate investigations he had undertaken
on behalf Of the corporation. The
books showed, he reported. that there
were on the pension list Of the Asso'
ciated companies some 90 persons T.
whom there was annually paid In thu
aggregate nearly $4,000. None o.