The Titan · Chapter
LIX: Capital and Public Rights explained
The chapter details the political and public battle over the Mears bill and Cowperwood's street-railway franchise in Chicago.
What happens
The chapter details the political and public battle over the Mears bill and Cowperwood's street-railway franchise in Chicago. It describes the diverse public reactions—from materialists who see justification in Cowperwood's defiance to preachers, anarchists, socialists, and the poor who view him as a heartless exploiter. The narrative follows the shifting alliances among major capitalists like Haeckelheimer, Fishel, and Gotloeb, who eventually consolidate control of the street-railway lines and bring them to Cowperwood, despite the opposition of Hand and Schryhart. The chapter also touches on the political calculations of Governor Swanson and his wife, reflecting the tension between public opinion and capital interests.
Themes in this chapter
Wealth and Its Illusions
The chapter contrasts the fabulous wealth of Cowperwood with the humble lives of workingmen, highlighting the perceived exploitation and the illusion of prosperity for the masses.
Politics and Public Opinion
The battle over the franchise is fought in newspapers, cartoons, and public sentiment, with politicians like Governor Swanson weighing the power of the people against capital.
Corruption and Morality
The Mears bill is widely believed to have been passed through bribery, and Cowperwood is depicted as a briber and pirate, raising questions of moral degradation in business and politics.
Characters to notice
- Frank A. Cowperwood
Central figure in the franchise battle; portrayed as a national and international figure, the target of public outrage and newspaper cartoons.
- Haeckelheimer
Eastern capitalist who sees Cowperwood as sound and able; works to consolidate street-railway lines under Cowperwood's control.
- Fishel
Eastern capitalist and partner of Haeckelheimer; supports Cowperwood and works to allay socialistic excitement.
- Gotloeb
Confidant of Cowperwood; informs him that the rival lines have been brought to him on a 'golden platter'.
- Hosmer Hand
Staunch opponent of Cowperwood; initially refuses to sell his holdings but eventually yields under pressure from Frankhauser.
- Norman Schryhart
Enraged opponent of Cowperwood; refuses to cooperate and threatens to resign from the board.
- Timothy Arneel
Deceased; his holdings pass to his son Edward Arneel, who becomes more amenable to Cowperwood.
- Governor Swanson
Political figure torn between public opinion and capital interests; discusses his dilemma with his wife Bessie.
Key passages
“It was all a question of compelling Frank A. Cowperwood to do his duty by Chicago. He must not again be allowed to bribe the aldermen; he must not be allowed to have a fifty-year franchise, the privilege of granting which he had already bought from the state legislature by the degradation of honest men.”
The public demanded that Cowperwood be forced to act responsibly toward Chicago, preventing him from bribing officials or securing a fifty-year franchise that he had already obtained through corrupting the legislature.
Summarizes the public's moral outrage and the central conflict of the chapter.
“By the newspaper cartoons he was represented as a pirate commander ordering his men to scuttle another vessel—the ship of Public Rights. He was pictured as a thief, a black mask over his eyes, and as a seducer, throttling Chicago, the fair maiden, while he stole her purse.”
Newspaper cartoons depicted Cowperwood as a pirate, thief, and seducer, symbolizing the theft of public rights and the exploitation of Chicago.
Illustrates the vilification of Cowperwood in the media.
““Those men out there are very foolish,” observed Mr. Haeckelheimer at one time to Mr. Fishel, of Fishel, Stone & Symons. “I can’t see that Mr. Cowperwood is different from any other organizer of his day. He seems to me perfectly sound and able.””
Haeckelheimer told Fishel that the anti-Cowperwood faction in Chicago was foolish, as he viewed Cowperwood as a competent and typical businessman.
Shows the perspective of Eastern capitalists who support Cowperwood.
““Well, Bessie,” he inquired of his handsome, healthy, semi-blonde wife, one evening, “what would you do if you were I?” ... “Well, I’ll tell you, Wally,” she replied. “You’ve got to stick to something. It looks to me as though the winning side was with the people this time.””
Governor Swanson asked his wife Bessie for advice; she counseled him to side with the people, as public opinion seemed to be the winning force.
Highlights the political dilemma and the influence of personal relationships on political decisions.
