a number
of public matters, but not a word about the Premiership, till as the
visitor was rising to go and said, "Oh, by the way--permit me to
congratulate you," Meighen broke into his bewildered smile and said
bluntly, "Thanks!" He was not outwardly impressed by the least
impressive Premiership that ever happened. The nation had nothing to
do with it. Meighen had not been elected. He had drafted no platform
before he became Premier. He did it afterwards. All that happened was
a change of captains on a ship.

Meighen had been spiritual adviser to Borden in other remakings of his
Cabinet. This time he was not consulted. Sir Robert never had such a
predicament. In the words of the old song, "There were three crows sat
on a tree." The names of the crows were--White, Meighen, Rowell.
Their common name was Barkis. Which should it be? White
echoed--Which? So did they all. Great affairs are sometimes so
childlike. Meighen was willing to accept White as Premier. White had
been for years in the spotlight. Did he hope, or expect, that Sir
Thomas would refuse? We are not told. But he must have surmised. In
any case White was off the ship.

The choice came down to two. Here again it was a spotlight man--or
Meighen. Rowell had become famous when Meighen had not; but he was a
converted Liberal, and of only three years' experience. The necessity
was obvious. Sir Thomas, declining the leadership, must have
recommended Meighen, much to the Premier's joy.

Yes, it was time for a leader. Mr. Rowell was out--and off the ship.
Happily there were no more crows on the tree, or Meighen would have
been forced to hold an election in order to get a Cabinet.

However, the three of them consented to remain in the crew, until
further notice. Thus much was settled. Meighen should lead,--but
what? As yet little more than a hyphenated and quite stupid name,
which had never yet resolved itself into a platform. But the name and
the platform were both as clear as the constitution of the party, in
which, under the political microscope, there was clearly discernible a
Unionist Centre, a Tory Right and a Liberal left.

"Lacks solidarity," mutters Meighen. "Looks like tick-tack-toe. But
wait."

The third disturbing feature was the condition of the country. From
his wheel-house Meighen could see many clouds. The Reds, whom he had
ruthlessly handled in the Winnipeg Strike; the rather pink-looking
Agrarians; the Drury Lan