_Meeting of the Post Directors to elect a Successor to Colonel
Cowles; Charles Gardiner West's Sensible Remarks on Mr. Queed; Mr.
West's Resignation from Old Blaines College, and New Consecration
to the Uplift._
The _Post_ directors gathered in special meeting on Monday. Their first
act was to adopt some beautiful resolutions, prepared by Charles
Gardiner West, in memory of the editor who had served the paper so long
and so well. Next they changed the organization of the staff, splitting
the late Colonel's heavy duties in two, by creating the separate
position of managing editor; this official to have complete authority
over the news department of the paper, as the editor had over its
editorial page. The directors named Evan Montague, the able city editor
of the Post, to fill the new position, while promoting the strongest of
the reporters to fill the city desk.
The chairman, Stewart Byrd, then announced that he was ready to receive
nominations for, or hear discussion about, the editorship.
One of the directors, Mr. Hopkins, observed that, as he viewed it, the
directors should not feel restricted to local timber in the choice of a
successor to the Colonel. He said that the growing importance of the
_Post_ entitled it to an editor of the first ability, and that the
directors should find such a one, whether in New York, or Boston, or San
Francisco.
Another director, Mr. Boggs, remarked that it did not necessarily follow
that a thoroughly suitable man must be a New York, Boston, or San
Francisco man. Unless he was greatly deceived, there was an eminently
suitable man, not merely in the city, but in the office of the _Post_,
where, since Colonel Cowles's death, he was doing fourteen hours of
excellent work per day for the sum of fifteen hundred dollars per annum.
"Mr. Boggs's point," said Mr. Hickok, a third director, who looked
something like James E. Winter, "is exceedingly well taken. A United
States Senator from a Northern State is a guest in my house for Reunion
week. The Senator reads the editorials in the _Post_ with marked
attention, has asked me the name of the writer, and has commended some
of his utterances most highly. The Senator tells me that he never reads
the editorials in his own paper--a Boston paper, Mr. Hopkins, by the
bye--his reason being that they are never worth reading."
Mr. Shorter and Mr. Porter, fourth and fifth directors, were much struck
with Mr. Hickok's statement. They averred that they had made a point of
reading the _Post_ editorials during the Colonel's absence, with a view
to sizing up the assistant, and had been highly pleased with the
character of his work.
Mr. Wilmerding, a sixth director, declared that the Colonel had, in
recent months, more than once remarked to him that the young man was
entirely qualified to be his successor. In fact, the Colonel had once
said that he meant to retire before a great while, and, of course with
the directors' approval, turn over the editorial helm to the assistant.
Therefore, he, Mr. Wilmerding, had pleasure in nominating Mr. Queed for
the position of editor of the _Post_.
Mr. Shorter and Mr. Porter said that they had pleasure in seconding this
nomination.
Mr. Charles Gardiner West, a seventh director, was recognized for a few
remarks. Mr. West expressed his intense gratification over what had been
said in eulogy of Mr. Queed. This gratification, some might argue, was
not wholly disinterested, since it was Mr. West who had discovered Mr.
Queed and sent him to the _Post_. To praise the able editor was
therefore to praise the alert, watchful, and discriminating director.
(Smiles.) Seriously, Mr. Queed's work, especially during the last few
months, had been of the highest order, and Mr. West, having worked
beside him more than once, ventured to say that he appreciated his
valuable qualities better than any other director. If the Colonel had
but lived a year or two longer, there could not, in his opinion, be the
smallest question as to what step the honorable directors should now
take. But as it was, Mr. West, as Mr. Queed's original sponsor on the
_Post_, felt it his duty to call attention to two things. The first was
the young man's extreme youth. The second was the fact that he was a
stranger to the State, having lived there less than two years. At his
present rate of progress, it was of course patent to any observer that
he was a potential editor of the _Post_, and a great one. But might it
not be, on the whole, desirable--Mr. West merely suggested the idea in
the most tentative way, and wholly out of his sense of sponsorship for
Mr. Queed--to give him a little longer chance to grow and broaden and
learn, before throwing the highest responsibility and the final honors
upon him?
Mr. West's graceful and sensible remarks made a distinct impression upon
the directors, and Mr. Hopkins took occasion to say that it was
precisely such thoughts as these that had led him to suggest looking
abroad for a man. Mr. Shorter and Mr. Porter asserted that they would
deprecate doing anything that Mr. West, with his closer knowledge of
actual conditions, thought premature. Mr. Boggs admitted that the
ability to write editorials of the first order was not all that should
be required of the editor of the _Post_. It might be doubtful, thought
he, whether so young a man could represent the _Post_ properly on
occasions of a semi-public nature, or in emergency situations such as
occasionally arose in an editorial office.
Mr. Wilmerding inquired the young man's age, and upon being told that he
was under twenty-six, remarked that only very exceptional abilities
could counteract such youth as that.
"That," said Mr. Hickok, glancing cursorily at Charles Gardiner West,
"is exactly the sort of abilities Mr. Queed possesses."
Discussion flagged. The chairman asked if they were ready for a vote
upon Mr. Queed.
"No, no--let's take our time," said Mr. Wilmerding.
"Perhaps somebody has other nominations to offer."
No one seemed to have other nominations to offer. Some minutes were
consumed by random suggestions and unprogressive recommendations. Busy
directors began to look at their watches.
"Look here, Gard--I mean Mr. West," suddenly said young Theodore Fyne,
the baby of the board. "Why couldn't we persuade _you_ to take the
editorship?... Resign from the college, you know?"
"Now you _have_ said something!" cried Mr. Hopkins, enthusiastically.
Mr. West, by a word and a gesture, indicated that the suggestion was
preposterous and the conversation highly unwelcome.
But it was obvious that young Mr. Fyne's suggestion had caught the
directors at sight. Mr. Shorter and Mr. Porter affirmed that they had
not ventured to hope, etc., etc., but that if Mr. West could be induced
to consider the position, no choice would appear to them so
eminently--etc., etc. So said Mr. Boggs. So said Messrs. Hopkins, Fyne,
and Wilmerding.
Mr. Hickok, the director who resembled James E. Winter, looked out of
the window.
Mr. West, obviously restive under these tributes, was constrained to
state his position more fully. For more than one reason which should be
evident, he said, the mention of his name in this connection was most
embarrassing and distasteful to him. While thanking the directors
heartily for their evidences of good-will, he therefore begged them to
desist, and proceed with the discussion of other candidates.
"In that case," said Mr. Hickok, "it appears to be the reluctant duty of
the nominator to withdraw Mr. West's name."
But the brilliant young man's name, once thrown into the arena, could no
more be withdrawn than the fisherman of legend could restore the genie
to the bottle, or Pandora get her pretty gifts back into the box again.
There was the idea, fairly out and vastly alluring. The kindly directors
pressed it home. No doubt they, as well as Plonny Neal, appreciated that
Blaines College did not give the young man a fair field for his talents;
and certainly they knew with admiration the articles with which he
sometimes adorned the columns of their paper. Of all the directors, they
now pointed out, he had stood closest to Colonel Cowles, and was most
familiar with the traditions and policies of the _Post_. Their urgings
increased in force and persistence; perhaps they felt encouraged by a
certain want of finality in the young man's tone; and at length West was
compelled to make yet another statement.
He was, he explained, utterly disconcerted at the turn the discussion
had taken, and found the situation so embarrassing that he must ask his
friends, the directors, to extricate him from it at once. The editorship
of the _Post_ was an office which he, personally, had never aspired to,
but it would be presumption for him to deny that he regarded it as a
post which would reflect honor upon any one. He was willing to admit, in
this confidential circle, moreover, that he had taken up college work
chiefly with the ambition of assisting Blaines over a critical year or
two in its history, and that, to put it only generally, he was not
indefinitely bound to his present position. But under the present
circumstances, as he said, he could not consent to any discussion of his
name; and unless the directors would agree to drop him from further
consideration, which he earnestly preferred, he must reluctantly suggest
adjournment.
"An interregnum," said Mr. Hickok, looking out of the window, "is an
unsatisfactory, not to say a dangerous thing. Would it not be better,
since we are gathered for that purpose, to take decisive action to-day?"
"What is your pleasure, gentlemen?" inquired Chairman Byrd.
Mr. Hickok was easily overruled. The directors seized eagerly on Mr.
West's suggestion. On motion of Mr. Hopkins, seconded by Mr. Shorter and
Mr. Porter, the meeting stood adjourned to the third day following at
noon.
On the second day following the _Post_ carried the interesting
announcement that Mr. West had resigned from the presidency of Blaines
College, a bit of news which his friends read with sincere pleasure. The
account of the occurrence gave one to understand that all Mr. West's
well-known persuasiveness had been needed to force the trustees to
accept his resignation. And when James E. Winter read this part of it,
at his suburban breakfast, he first laughed, and then swore. The same
issue of the _Post_ carried an editorial, mentioning in rather a sketchy
way the benefits Mr. West had conferred upon Blaines College, and paying
a high and confident tribute to his qualities as a citizen. The young
acting-editor, who never wrote what he did not think, had taken much
pains with this editorial, especially the sketchy part. Of course the
pestiferous _Chronicle_ took an entirely different view of the
situation. "The _Chronicle_ has won its great fight," so it nervily
said, "against classism in Blaines College." And it had the vicious taste
to add: "Nothing in Mr. West's presidential life became him like the
leaving of it."
On the third day the directors met again. With characteristic delicacy
of feeling, West remained away from the meeting. However, Mr. Hopkins,
who seemed to know what he was talking about, at once expressed his
conviction that they might safely proceed to the business which had
brought them together.
"Perceiving clearly that I represent a minority view," said Mr. Hickok,
"I request the director who nominated Mr. Queed to withdraw his name. I
think it proper that our action should be unanimous. But I will say,
frankly, that if Mr. Queed's name remains before the board, I shall vote
for him, since I consider him from every point of view the man for the
position."
Mr. Queed's name having been duly withdrawn, the directors unanimously
elected Charles Gardiner West to the editorship of the _Post_. By a
special resolution introduced by Mr. Hopkins, they thanked Mr. Queed for
his able conduct of the editorial page in the absence of the editor, and
voted him an increased honorarium of eighteen hundred dollars a year.
The directors adjourned, and Mr. Hickok stalked out, looking more like
James E. Winter than ever. The other directors, however, looked highly
gratified at themselves. They went out heartily congratulating each
other. By clever work they had secured for their paper the services of
one of the ablest, most gifted, most polished and popular young men in
the State. Nevertheless, though they never knew it, their action was
decidedly displeasing to at least one faithful reader of the _Post_, to
wit, Miss Charlotte Lee Weyland, of the Department of Charities. Sharlee
felt strongly that Mr. Queed should have had the editorship, then and
there. It might be said that she had trained him up for exactly that
position. Of course, Mr. West, her very good friend, would make an
editor of the first order. But, with all the flocks that roamed upon his
horizon, ought he to have reached out and plucked the one ewe lamb of
the poor assistant? Besides, she thought that Mr. West ought to have
remained at Blaines College.
But how could she maintain this attitude of criticism when the new
editor himself, bursting in upon her little parlor in a golden nimbus of
optimism, radiant good humor and success, showed up the shallowness and
the injustice of it?
"To have that college off my neck--Whew! I'm as happy, my friend, as a
schoolboy on the first day of vacation. I haven't talked much about it
to you," continued Mr. West, "for it's a bore to listen to other
people's troubles--but that college had become a perfect old man of the
sea! The relief is glorious! I'm bursting with energy and enthusiasm and
big plans for the _Post_."
"And Mr. Queed?" said Sharlee. "Was he much disappointed?"
West was a little surprised at the question, but he gathered from her
tone that she thought Mr. Queed had some right to be.
"Why, I think not," he answered, decisively. "Why in the world should he
be? Of course it means only a delay of a year or two for him, at the
most. I betray no confidence when I tell you that I do not expect to
remain editor of the _Post_ forever."
Sharlee appeared struck by this summary of the situation, which, to tell
the truth, had never occurred to her. Therefore, West went on to sketch
it more in detail to her.
"The last thing in the world that I would do," said he, "is to stand in
that boy's light. My one wish is to push him to the front just as fast
as he can stride. Why, I discovered Queed--you and I did, that is--and I
think I may claim to have done something toward training him. To speak
quite frankly, the situation was this: In spite of his great abilities,
he is still very young and inexperienced. Give him a couple of years in
which to grow and broaden and get his bearings more fully, and he will
be the very best man in sight for the place. On the other hand, if he
were thrust prematurely into great responsibility, he would be almost
certain to make some serious error, some fatal break, which would impair
his usefulness, and perhaps ruin it forever. Do you see my point? As his
sponsor on the _Post_, it seemed to me unwise and unfair to expose him
to the risks of forcing his pace. That's the whole story. I'm not the
king at all. I'm only the regent during the king's minority."
Sharlee now saw how unjust she had been, to listen to the small whisper
of doubt of West's entire magnanimity.
"You are much wiser and farther-sighted than I."
"Perish the thought!"
"I'm glad my little Doctor--only he isn't either little or very much of
a doctor any more--has such a good friend at court."
"Nonsense. It was only what anybody who stopped to think a moment would
have done."
"Not everybody who stops to think is so generous...."
This thought, too, Mr. West abolished by a word.
"But you will like the work, won't you!" continued Sharlee, still
self-reproachful. "I do hope you will."
"I shall like it immensely," said West, above pretending, as some
regents would have done, that he was martyring himself for his friend,
the king. "Where can you find any bigger or nobler work? At Blames
College of blessed memory, the best I could hope for was to reach and
influence a handful of lumpish boys. How tremendously broader is the
opportunity on the _Post!_ Think of having a following of a hundred
thousand readers a day! (You allow three or four readers to a copy, you
know.) Think of talking every morning to such an audience as that,
preaching progress and high ideals, courage and honesty and kindness and
faith--moulding their opinions and beliefs, their ambitions, their very
habits of thought, as I think they ought to be moulded ..."
He talked in about this vein till eleven o'clock, and Sharlee listened
with sincere admiration. Nevertheless, he left her still troubled by a
faint doubt as to how Mr. Queed himself felt about what had been done
for his larger good. But when she next saw Queed, only a few days later,
this doubt instantly dissolved and vanished. She had never seen him less
inclined to indict the world and his fortune.