Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1914-01-23
CHAPTER Xvii.
An Informal Meeting.

An Informal Meeting.
It must surprise those simple folk
Messieurs Washington, Jefferson, and
their like. were they to return to life
at this advanced day and gaze upon
the admirable republic which they fan
cied to be founded on immutable prin-
ciples. AS in politics to-day those
principles would seem proved to have
been not quite immutable, so. in com
merce, men and methods would APP
pear wholly different from those
known in that earlier day. For in
men of that day would now find in
daily application fourth dimension
of affairs once wholly unknown; the
sixth sense of the modern business
man, a delicately differentiated faculty
evolved in the holy of holes where
events cast their financial shadows far
in advance of themselves. John Jay,
or any financier of Revolutionary time,
very likely lacked in that regard and
had but five senses.
This keen sense of prophecy. prop
erty of modern leaders in finance, was
not lacking in the case of the directors
of the International Power Company,
all and several; and more especially
several. Capitalists hunt in packs
but only up to certain point. The
sauve qui peut has small chivalry
about it even in the holy of holes.
Within few days after the turbu-
lent scenes which took place in the
quiet surroundings of Graystone Hail.
there was held, quite Informally, in
deed on wholly impromptu basis, a
meeting of the greater portion of the
directors of the international Power
Company. 1t was a meeting not called
by the president, and the president
knew nothing of it. It was not set
for the usual headquarters in the
East; on the contrary, by merest
chance, these keen-witted men met
by accident in the western city where
were located the works and central
operating Offices Of the International
Power Company. They made their stop
ping place, as usual, at the National
Union Club, where they were less GER
tain to become the prey of prying re-
porters-a breed detested above all
things by these and their like.
There was, this afternoon, casually
present, a certain gray-haired, full
bodied man, of full beard and rather
portly body. He was speaking with
President Standley, of st. Louis, who
also by merest chance happened to be
in town. To them presently came the
former general traffic manager Of Mr..
Standley's own road, Alderman, also
present by merest accident Two or
three others, moreover, by mere acct
dent, joined them, figures which were
familiar at the long table in the New
York headquarters. They looked at
one another frankly, and laughed with
out much reservation.
WELL" said Alderman, after time.
Tets sit down and have little pow
wow-informally, you know"
The gray-haired man grinned pleas.
antly again and said nothing, but drew
up chair.
"Of course, you know said Stand
ley, as he seated himself, that our
dissatisfied friend, Van. is here in
town today"
The full-bearded man nodded. and
an instant later jerked his head
toward the door He's here in the
club, too said he, and smiled Just
happened in, / suppose" Indeed, as
they turned to look they saw adyanc.
ing, talking animatedly, rather slen-
der, youngish man of brown eyes and
pointed beard; none less than the dis
gruntled director who had long ago
been so summarily handled by John
Rawn, president of the International
Power Company.
Hasn't he got the nose for news,
thought" commented Standley admir-
ingly. Nov, who told him there was
anything dojng?"
"He didn't need to have anybody