Commerce High School - Commerce Yearbook (Cleveland, OH)

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I have found him no better than when we first ran up against him. In fact he has become a great deal worse. He has entered “Society” as he calls it. That is he has fallen in with a bunch that play cards almost every night till 1:00 A. M., and when they get through, the street is most of the time, to them, like a small boat on a stormy sea. You get me? In other words he is speeding above the limit on the high road to perdition, and not a policeman on the beat to stop him. The other night I was at a “frat” entertainment, and he was there too— one of the few times that has found us on the same stamping ground. We got to talking about old times, for here friendliness is the fashion, and he asked me if I knew what you were doing. I told him you were working at the First National Bank of New York. “0, is that so?” said he. “My old man is president of that bank,” and at this his chest stuck out about five feet in the air, as if he had put his father there. I then broke the news to him that you had just been advanced, and maybe I was not some chesty too. He turned up his nose and said sneeringly, “I suppose he must have bribed the Cashier to get there.” Well, was I mad? You couldn’t express it. I couldn’t control myself. I made a swing at him, but the fellows just caught my arm and held it. I tell you if this had happened in any other place, he would have been sorry all his life for it. The boys saved him. I had to cool down as we weren’t in the ring. He was as pale as a ghost. I told him to take it back, or I’d make him swallow his words, and he apologized. He won't say anything like that again, to my face, no knowing what he will do, though, on the sly. If you ever meet him, be on your guard. Well, I suppose, I have bored you enough and will have to close. Congratulating you on your advancement and hoping it will become a frequent occurrence to you, I remain Your friend. Will Thompson “That cad doesn’t deserve to be hit,” was all that Frank exclaimed and, folding the letter, he quietly went back to his work. III. A glance at the First National Bank of New York, five years later, shows us Frank Webster occupying the position of First Assistant Cashier, to which he has just been advanced. But whom do we find in the position just below him. It is Robert Morganheimer occupying the position of Second Assistant Cashier. Frank deserved the position he had. The Cashier was an honest man and worked for efficiency in every way possible, ne knew that Frank was the best man for the position and he fought for that idea. When he tried to advance Frank to the position, however, Mr. Morganheimer intercepted and overruled him. A heated discussion followed. President and Cashier cooled down only after they agreed to take the question up at the next meeting of the Board of Directors. 120

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The above conversation took place between the two chums as they accidentally met in a downtown street in Yorkfield, New York, one Saturday morning. It was the day following a decisive debate between the High School of Commerce of that town and the Judson Academy of Judson, N. Y., deciding the championship of New York State, whereby the winner was to receive a silver cup, offered by a magazine to the championship team. The debate was a hot and strong one as championship contests of that kind are wont to be. Both teams were almost equal as regarded their speeches, but the rebuttal decided the winner. The Commerce team went at them with vigor closing in on their opponents slowly but firmly, until Frank who was leader came up, acquitting himself brilliantly, and utterly destroyed their arguments. However, the affirmative, that is the Judson team was to be reckoned with. They came back at them with equal vigor, but they were cornered. They soon became so desperate as to lose all their coolness, which is one of the most unfortunate things for a debating team to do. Their leader, instead of sticking to his arguments, began to slander the other side. The bell rang; the time was up. In a breathless moment the judges wrote their decisions, handed them to the chairman who slowly opened them. “The decision is two to one in favor of the negative,” he slowly pronounced. An uproar greeted the decision. The Commerce delegation cheered and cheered. Everybody shook hands with the winners. All the Commerce admirers were happy beyond expression for the High School of Commerce had won the championship of New York State. n. Three years later we find Frank holding a high position in the First National Bank of New York City. There we see the following scene enacted: “Frank Webster, here is a letter for you.” “Thank you, sir,” our friend from Commerce politely answered and added to himself, “Looks like an epistle fr 5m Will.” He opened the letter and read it. Looking over his shoulders we can see the following: Syracuse, N. Y., Feb. 5, 1915. Dear Frank: I received your letter, and you can be sure I was glad to hear that you were advanced to Second Assistant Paying Teller. I tell you Commerce is a fine school. It can well be proud of itself when it turns out fellows that succeed so admirably. You asked me concerning what I am doing at college. Well, outside of work, nothing much. However, I made the basketball team. I am getting along pretty well in my studies. T tell you. some of the things I learned at Commerce have made the work in college a great deal easier. But let’s get to the most important part of my letter. I’ll bet you’d never guess whom I met here at college; Robert Morganheimer, the fellow that was leader of the Judson Academy debating team, the one that made that remark about your being a “mercenary bookkeeper,” the night of our debate with them, for the championship cup. 119

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There, the same thing happened. The other directors wanted to let the Cashier have his way, but the power of Mr. Morganheimer was so great that they had to side with the president. The Cashier became angry at this and threatened to resign. The directors began to rebel also, at seeing this turn of affairs. The president then made a frantic attempt to get the place for his son. In this he failed, and now he saw his designs in danger of being utterly frustrated. He made a final effort to prevent Frank from being advanced to the position, but in vain, for the Cashier would not yield in the least, and Frank was advanecd. While Mr. Morganheimer was obliged to accept for his son the place vacated by Frank. However, that is another story. Let us return to Robert Morganheimer. He is sitting at his desk brooding and mumbling to himself. If we listen closely, we can make out what he is saying: “I'll get even with that fellow, Frank, for doing me out of that place. The nerve that the beggar has shown by playing on the sympathies of the Cashier and getting the place when my father is the president of this bank! I'll get even with him all right. The question of how I can do it alone remains to be solved. He sat there, his head in his hands, a frown on his face, brooding and thinking. He looked the part of a perfect conspirator. “I have it, he almost shouted as he sprang from his chair, shaking his fist, with a look of devilish glee on his face. “He signs all Cashier Checks. I’ll forge a check, payable to bearer, with his name and he’ll get caught, appropriating money after it is cashed. But, he hesitated, “I might get caught. He considered the full import of his last words. However, such a plan of getting even, appealed to him too much to be given up. “It’s a good idea though. I’ve got to get even with him. O. he suddenly cried, as a new thought struck him, “I can get the check cashed and pay my ‘private’ debts with the money. I am hard-up at present and the old man is getting tight-fisted, so I can kill two birds with one stone. I’ll make it safe enough so I can’t get caught. IV. “Frank, come here just for a second, the Cashier called. “Yes, sir, what is itf he asked as he came up. “I have here a Cashier’s Check, signed by you, for $2,000 that is recorded in payment of a draft, record of which I cannot find in the files. Have you any idea where it is or whether it was received at allf “Let me seek the check, Mr. Winthrop, and I may be able to tell you, Frank said as he took the paper from the Cashier’s hand and scrutinized it carefully. “I don’t remember ever giving out such a paper at all, but it looks like my signature though. he said after a while. “Is it recorded in all the books T 121