They
were employees. When their usefulness was over they were
discharged. Although Gilmore, Randolph and
Devonald wielded considerable power within the organization,
they were not given the same broad responsibilities the old
"boys" and they were constantly harried the founder.VII-34
problem and stamped his forceful manner the management of
the Edison Manufacturing Company. Tate's place Edison's
secretary was taken Johnny Randolph, who had started an
office boy the 1880s.