Thousands of the readers of Pastor Russell's writings believe that he filled the office of 'that faithful and wise servant,' and that his great work was giving to the household of faith meat in due season. His modesty and humility precluded him from openly claiming this title, but he admitted as much in private conversation - w12/1/1919 p357
Russell died in 1916 and taught that Jesus' parousia had started in 1874. This would allow him to believe Jesus had already identified his "faithful and discreet slave" and appointed "him over all his belongings." So, fast forward to today, and JWs teach that Jesus didn't come until 1914 and appoint a "faithful and discreet slave" until 1919. This would mean that by its own admission (at least on that occasion), the Society (which was pretty much just Russell, back then) presumptuously claimed to be this "faithful and discreet slave" way back at the very beginning.
I understand why the Society now deny Russell identified himself as the FDS. It would raise a red flag that this title was usurped by the founder of the JWs, so why should anyone believe the present WTS GB are identified by Jesus to be the FDS? It's been presented time and time again that the only reason the current GB cling to the 1914 date is to assure their own position as the FDS. If they can make people believe Jesus picked the guys in 1918 as his "faithful and discreet slave", they can ride their coattails. I'm not really sure what these current guys have to do with those guys, but it's all they have, so they bluff that hand for all it's worth.