# The Power of the Press explained — The Titan

> Chapter companion for The Titan by Theodore Dreiser.

## What happens

Cowperwood's secret takeover of the North Chicago Street Railway becomes public through newspaper rumors. He plans to win over publishers by promising civic improvements, including cable tracks and tunnel proposals, while navigating political opposition from rivals like Schryhart and Merrill. The chapter explores the influence of the press and public opinion, set against the backdrop of the Haymarket bombing and rising labor tensions.

## Themes in this chapter

### Ambition and Power

Cowperwood's relentless pursuit of control over Chicago's street-railways and his vision of becoming a national financial magnate.

### Politics and Public Opinion

The chapter examines how Cowperwood must navigate newspaper influence and political alliances to achieve his goals, set against the backdrop of the Haymarket affair.

### Wealth and Its Illusions

Cowperwood's belief that wealth and power can be attained through strategic manipulation of public perception and civic improvements.

## Character check-ins

### Frank A. Cowperwood

Cowperwood strategizes to gain newspaper support for his street-railway plans, reflecting on his ambitions for wealth and power.

### Aileen Cowperwood

Cowperwood sits in Aileen's room while examining the morning papers, indicating their ongoing relationship.

### Addison Cowperwood

Addison advises Frank on the political leanings of various newspaper publishers, expressing skepticism about their reliability.

### Haguenin

Haguenin, publisher of the Press, is favorably disposed toward Cowperwood and meets with him to discuss the street-railway situation.

### Norman Schryhart

Schryhart, through the Chronicle, is portrayed as an unfriendly rival who criticizes Cowperwood's methods.

### Anson Merrill

Merrill, owner of the Globe, is described as semi-neutral but potentially swayed by business interests.

## Key lines

> The morning papers, in spite of the efforts of Cowperwood and his friends to keep this transfer secret, shortly thereafter were full of rumors of a change in 'North Chicago.'

Despite attempts at secrecy, the newspapers quickly published rumors about the change in control of the North Chicago Street Railway.

_Highlights the press's role in revealing Cowperwood's plans._

> It is one of the splendid yet sinister fascinations of life that there is no tracing to their ultimate sources all the winds of influence that play upon a given barque—all the breaths of chance that fill or desert our bellied or our sagging sails.

Life's influences are mysterious and unpredictable, shaping our fortunes in ways we cannot fully understand.

_Reflects the novel's deterministic theme and Cowperwood's reliance on chance._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_titan_se/chapters/xxiii-the-power-of-the-press
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_titan_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_titan_se/chapters