Laughing agreement arose about him.
“That team hasn’t won anything worth winning for so long that no one remembers what it was they won. They talk about wanting three hundred dollars. Well, maybe they do. But I say let them show something first. This school is just as loyal to its teams as any school, but it wants something for its money. I say let’s give the team a hundred dollars now and tell them to earn the rest!”
“That’s right!” someone called. “We’re from Missouri!”
A young, second class fellow jumped up and declared in a thin, high voice that he “seconded the motion.” Hodges rapped for silence.
“No motion has been put. If you want to put a motion we will vote on it. But I must say that many of you are wrong when you think this is a vaudeville show. Please try to talk sense. Are there any more remarks?”
There were several, but they weren’t serious and the speakers didn’t stand up. Hodges looked slowly around the hall and then turned toward the table beside him.
“If there aren’t,” he announced, “we will proceed with the purpose of the meeting.”
“Mr. Chairman!”
“Mister—” The chairman paused, at a loss, and Fred Lyons whispered across to him—“Mr. Rowland?”