"Gentlemen," announced Chairman Hopper, as one of the tellers handed him a slip, "Mr. Dodge has fifty votes and Mr. Prescott has seventy-two. Mr. Prescott is, therefore, elected president of this class."
"Mr. Chairman," cried Greg, leaping to his feet, "I move to make the election unanimous."
"Second the motion!" called half a dozen at once.
It was put to an aye-and-no vote and carried rousingly.
"The chair gladly relinquishes its temporary post to the one elected to fill it," announced Mr. Hopper.
Anstey, Greg and a dozen others gleefully escorted the class president to the platform.
Dick addressed the meeting in a quiet, low voice, but he heartily thanked the class for the honor it had accorded him.
"I'm not going to make a speech, gentlemen," he continued. "Perhaps a speech from me will be worth more when I am through with the office. But I have listened attentively to what has been outlined to-night by other speakers as constituting a worthy president, and I can only add that I shall do all that may possibly be in my power to live up to such ideals. The chair now stands ready to be advised of any further business that may properly come before the meeting."
There being no "business," the time was taken up with speeches from several plebes who wanted to be heard. The subject of their treatment by the yearlings came in for much attention. Many of the speakers expressed burning indignation at the "small show" accorded to the plebe class.
"Hasn't our president something to say on this subject?" called some one.