The Press., 1919-02-20
Discharging The Editor
 o"
 By UNA BARLOWE
VIZ, Uy MCCIUFS Nc'
 Syndicate.)
By UNA BARLoWE


 Bennett Stokes.
 The something yuore' Olive had felt always when In Rennett's presence from the first day she met him. It was this that made her on all occasions go out of her way to avoid him. For Olive Ciaggett convinced herself that she had not the slightest desire to fall un- der the sway of such fascination as Bennett might exert over her.
 Her newly acquired job as business i manager of the Morning Banner was far too important to he tmperiled by any such. distractions. But now she had come entirely in the interests of the Banner-she had been delegated to go by those who she felt hnd the inter- l, estS of the Banner most at heart. She had asked for an interview with Mir. Fordyce. the owner of the Banner. But he was away.
 You tO!I me. you know. that you would he able TO tell me something definite by this time" Olive said with di-tinctnes~. trying to avoid the smile thai crepl Into Bennett's gray eyes. 'If he is nor in town and won't be. I will lind il worth while to go to him. You ought at least to tell me where he is to he found"
 "Ie@, quite so," unused Bennett, turn ing over with tinge of embarrassment some manuscript that lay half read OD lis editorial desk. ''That would at least seem fair--but the fact Is that Fordyce is an odd sort of fellow. Hasn't per- sonasly visited the office for I'm sure don't know how long. Suppose you write letter to him and I'll see that it gets to him."
 Stokes had already made this sug. @e~Ti"n. which had met with Olives diSarrroval, but the matter was impor- rant The entire success of the Banner der nded on laying her proposition be- fore Mir. Fordyce without delay, so with an expression that made It quite ap- parent to Bennett that she held him personally responsible for the inacces- sihiiity of their chief she withdrew, promising to have the letter ready be- fore rhe evening was over.
 It was a harder letter to write than
 
 ness manager of morning paper she had no pressing duties at that time. and while the editorial force and com l"sitnr> and presSmen were Workin" under the grim concentration necessary 10 get even so unpretentiOus a paper out as the Morning Banner, she was rather. deliberately composing the im- pOrtant letter.
 She waited until the paper was well in the hands Of the composing room before she again sought MT. Stokes in his office. She had thought twice be. fore she had sealed the envelope---and thep she had sealed it.
 After all. there was no reason why she should leave 1t open, she was ask ing Stokes no personal favor in seeing that il was addressed and if he did read it-hut something assured her rhat Mr. Stokes was too honorable for that.
 '.Won't you wait just two or three minu1es-till l get my desk cleared?' he said as she turned to leave the room, Il wish might walk home with you. It is rather late''
 'Thank you. mo-" Olive said in spite "1 am going with one of the gIrls--we are quite nsed to it. you know" Bennett waited only till Olive had go' halfway down the corridor: then he arose quietly, pushed the door shut, returned to his desk and deliberate Iy broke open the sealed flap of the letter to Mir. Fordyce
 Tha proposition was clearly put. It was nos Olives proposition, but one that h,Id been formulated by the entire staff of the Banner, save, of course. Mr. Stokes, who had always failed to attend the weekly meetings of the per sonneI of the paper. Now. as every one knew. the Morning Banner had been especially hard hit by the draft
 Composed as 1t was almost entirely of young college graduates. who sought this way 10 receive their newspaper ap- premiership, dozen or so of the most active men in editorial and business departments had gone off with the first call. Results would have been dire in. deed had it not been for the women Wh" plucki!y filled in the places higher up. calling other women to take their recently abandoned subordinate places,
 Olive herself had been right~hand man: sa the business manager. bur when he enlisted she shifted into his swivel chair and had worked with cage; DeSs aud complete devotion for rho Banner. The editorial srafr had been so hard hit That no one remained bur Mr. stokes: all his reporters and assistants were women.
 The constant going off of men in The composing room and prcssrrotn Suggested getting women in to do !!lt, work. IL had been tried successfully by another paper. Tn fac1 Olive told Mir. Fordyce in rhe ictrer that she h;,'l invesligar'7 ThiS and would -llHr:,n,". the "nIirc ::riSf,rrion If Il fvmin:.. compnsin. nd pressroonl
 ';"" :. matters st.">| r.. ". ','.. Ao:.> "f h. BanH",
 diSfcyfr t',,.
 mined fhal if the paper could he made entirely wOman-run. the achievement wOni'l he so novel that The Banner Wnuit immediately hecOme a paper Of nationwide distinction. Feminists would be eager for it. it would be watched and quoted. and even joI.ed ahont, hut all that would help the cir "nIation and the advertising. If MT. F"idyce looked favorably on the prop. "Si'ion. would he please discharge the mnIa@ing editor?
 The yonng woman who was now the city editor was really qualified for the j"h. The feW remaining males who now worked as office boys and ship ping clerks nonid be easily replaced by women and q new era would open for the Ranner-the Banner would hecome famous the world over as paper run by women.
 Bennett Stokes read the letter twice f fk,ov, h1t tnoI s,,k H. L,