The company was so successful that its president began to intrigue for its control. The president was an Englishman, the treasurer a Dane, the secretary an American, and most of the rest Germans. Themselves densely ignorant of the manipulations of corporations, they finally feared that the president was in a fair way to get the company away from them, whereupon those representing over 70 per cent. of the stock held a hurried meeting, but they could not agree on a common policy because each mistrusted the others. I proposed that they all give their proxies to one man who should obligate himself faithfully to represent the interests of all against the president; they replied that this was excellent, but they could not agree on the one man.
“What’s the use of fencing any longer? The only one we all trust is Henry. Let’s give him all our proxies.”
They did so, slated me for secretary, and as I wanted to prevent any mischief until the next annual meeting, I called on the president, told him I had the proxies of 70 per cent. and, with the audacity of my years, warned him that, if he did anything improper for the remainder of his term, I would bring him into court.
He asked me:
“Are you going to be an officer?”
“I am to be secretary,” I said.
“Will you protect my interest, and see that I get my proportionate share of the profits?”
I went back to the others and obtained the authority to give him this assurance, which I did.
“All right,” he declared, “make out my proxy to you and I’ll sign it.”