REFLECTIONS OF A LIFE DIRECTOR 451 



determining whether or not matters of vital importance to the Associa- 

 tion shall be considered before being passed. 



I am not an obstructionist. I have permitted the bond issue to go 

 through and did not oppose the new contract and have in every way 

 endeavored to hold up the hands of the financial committee and the 

 secretary. In fact, I believe that the contest wnth Dr. Drinker to 

 establish firmly the policy of the Association was more important in 

 securing and retaining membership than all the financial measures 

 taken so far. I am doubtful, however, whether I can take the brunt 

 of forcing a thorough and proper consideration, or rather re-consider- 

 ation, of the vital question of the bond issue and the contract without 

 creating in Mr. Quincy's mind the impression that I am deliberately 

 hostile to him because I am opposing his pet policies. 



I should prefer that there be some initiative in the board of directors 

 who handle these vital questions other than that which I have been 

 forced to give to it. After calling the attention of the board to the 

 present condition I am strongly inclined to let it go at that. 



This letter is to urge upon you that, if possible, you secure a meet- 

 ing of the board in place of the executive committee. 



If the executive committee is permitted to dispose of the financial 

 policy for the year, this will mean that ]Mr. Quincy, Dr. Drinker and 

 Mr. Lyman will have a preponderating voice in the matter and that the 

 opinions of the board as a whole will not receive proportional con- 

 sideration. 



Sincerely yours, 



H. H. CiTAPMAX. 



On February 10 the following letter was written: 



February i6. igi6. . 

 Mr. Charles Lathrop Pack, 



Lakczvood, N. J. 

 Dear Mr. Pack: 



The specific criticisms which I have to make regarding the present 

 financial situation is that matters of the utmost importance are per- 

 mitted to be adopted without a full understanding on the board, and 

 therefore are acted upon in a perfunctory way. I am positive, for 

 instance, that the present contract with Mr. Ridsdale was not under- 

 stood by the majority of the board members, and I am equally sure 

 that the effect of transferring the commissions from a net to a gross 

 basis and increasing the cost of the magazine was not grasped at all, 

 possibly even by Mr. Quincy and those responsible for securing this 

 action. I think that the terms of Mr. Ridsdale's contract were a 

 mistake. The thing I regret the most is that I have been waiting 

 patiently for the production of a net operating surplus which could 

 be used for necessary and vital work and propaganda. The present 



