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So； after Heaven knows what desperate whisperings； conferences； arguments； and heartening of members； there was originated a second measure whichafter the defeat of the first bill； 104 to 49was introduced； by way of a very complicated path； through the judiciary committee。 It was passed； and Governor Archer； after heavy hours of contemplation and self…examination； signed it。 A little man mentally； he failed to estimate an aroused popular fury at its true import to him。 At his elbow was Cowperwood in the clear light of day； snapping his fingers in the face of his enemies； showing by the hard； cheerful glint in his eye that he was still master of the situation； giving all assurance that he would yet live to whip the Chicago papers into submission。 Besides； in the event of the passage of the bill； Cowperwood had promised to make Archer independently richa cash reward of five hundred thousand dollars。
Chapter LIX
Capital and Public Rights
Between the passage on June 5； 1897； of the Mears billso christened after the doughty representative who had received a small fortune for introducing itand its presentation to the Chicago City Council in December of the same year； what broodings； plottings； politickings； and editorializings on the part of all and sundry！ In spite of the intense feeling of opposition to Cowperwood there was at the same time in local public life one stratum of commercial and phlegmatic substance that could not view him in an altogether unfavorable light。 They were in business themselves。 His lines passed their doors and served them。 They could not see wherein his street…railway service differed so much from that which others might give。 Here was the type of materialist who in Cowperwood's defiance saw a justification of his own material point of view and was not afraid to say so。 But as against these there were the preacherspoor wind…blown sticks of unreason who saw only what the current palaver seemed to indicate。 Again there were the anarchists； socialists； single…taxers； and public…ownership advocates。 There were the very poor who saw in Cowperwood's wealth and in the fabulous stories of his New York home and of his art…collection a heartless exploitation of their needs。 At this time the feeling was spreading broadcast in America that great political and economic changes were at handthat the tyranny of iron masters at the top was to give way to a richer； freer； happier life for the rank and file。 A national eight…hour…day law was being advocated； and the public ownership of public franchises。 And here now was a great street…railway corporation； serving a population of a million and a half； occupying streets which the people themselves created by their presence； taking toll from all these humble citizens to the amount of sixteen or eighteen millions of dollars in the year and giving in return； so the papers said； poor service； shabby cars； no seats at rush…hours； no universal transfers （as a matter of fact； there were in operation three hundred and sixty…two separate transfer points） and no adequate tax on the immense sums earned。 The workingman who read this by gas or lamp light in the kitchen or parlor of his shabby flat or cottage； and who read also in other sections of his paper of the free； reckless； glorious lives of the rich； felt himself to be defrauded of a portion of his rightful inheritance。 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。 He must be made to succumb； to yield to the forces of law and order。 It was claimedand with a justice of which those who made the charge were by no means fully awarethat the Mears bill had been put through the house and senate by the use of cold cash； proffered even to the governor himself。 No legal proof of this was obtainable； but Cowperwood was assumed to be a briber on a giant scale。 By the newspaper cartoons he was represented as a pirate commander ordering his men to scuttle another vesselthe 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。 The fame of this battle was by now becoming world…wide。 In Montreal； in Cape Town； in Buenos Ayres and Melbourne； in London and Paris； men were reading of this singular struggle。 At last； and truly； he was a national and international figure。 His original dream； however； modified by circumstances； had literally been fulfilled。
Meanwhile be it admitted that the local elements in finance which had brought about this terrific onslaught on Cowperwood were not a little disturbed as to the eventual character of the child of their own creation。 Here at last was a public opinion definitely inimical to Cowperwood； but here also were they themselves； tremendous profit…holders； with a desire for just such favors as Cowperwood himself had exacted； deliberately setting out to kill the goose that could lay the golden egg。 Men such as Haeckelheimer； Gotloeb； Fishel； tremendous capitalists in the East and foremost in the directorates of huge transcontinental lines； international banking…houses； and the like； were amazed that the newspapers and the anti…Cowperwood element should have gone so far in Chicago。 Had they no respect for capital？ Did they not know that long…time franchises were practically the basis of all modern capitalistic prosperity？ Such theories as were now being advocated here would spread to other cities unless checked。 America might readily become anti…capitalisticsocialistic。 Public ownership might appear as a workable theoryand then what？
〃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。 All his companies pay。 There are no better investments than the North and West Chicago railways。 It would be advisable； in my judgment； that all the lines out there should be consolidated and be put in his charge。 He would make money for the stockholders。 He seems to know how to run street…railways。〃
〃You know；〃 replied Mr。 Fishel； as smug and white as Mr。 Haeckelheimer； and in thorough sympathy with his point of view； 〃I have been thinking of something like that myself。 All this quarreling should be hushed up。 It's very bad for businessvery。 Once they get that public…ownership nonsense started； it will be hard to stop。 There has been too much of it already。〃
Mr。 Fishel was stout and round like Mr。 Haeckelheimer； but much smaller。 He was little more than a walking mathematical formula。 In his cranium were financial theorems and syllogisms of the second； third； and fourth power only。
And now behold a new trend of affairs。 Mr。 Timothy Arneel； attacked by pneumonia； dies and leaves his holdings in Chicago City to his eldest son； Edward Arneel。 Mr。 Fishel and Mr。 Haeckelheimer； through agents and then direct； approach