登陆注册
5250800000207

第207章 Chapter LVIII A Marauder Upon the Commonwealth(2)

"They can all go to the devil," he said to Addison, one day at lunch. "I have a right to an extension of my franchises for fifty years, and I am going to get it. Look at New York and Philadelphia.

Why, the Eastern houses laugh. They don't understand such a situation. It's all the inside work of this Hand-Schryhart crowd.

I know what they're doing and who's pulling the strings. The newspapers yap-yap every time they give an order. Hyssop waltzes every time Arneel moves. Little MacDonald is a stool-pigeon for Hand. It's got down so low now that it's anything to beat Cowperwood.

Well, they won't beat me. I'll find a way out. The legislature will pass a bill allowing for a fifty-year franchise, and the governor will sign it. I'll see to that personally. I have at least eighteen thousand stockholders who want a decent run for their money, and I propose to give it to them. Aren't other men getting rich? Aren't other corporations earning ten and twelve per cent? Why shouldn't I? Is Chicago any the worse? Don't I employ twenty thousand men and pay them well? All this palaver about the rights of the people and the duty to the public--rats! Does Mr.

Hand acknowledge any duty to the public where his special interests are concerned? Or Mr. Schryhart? Or Mr. Arneel? The newspapers be damned! I know my rights. An honest legislature will give me a decent franchise to save me from the local political sharks."

By this time, however, the newspapers had become as subtle and powerful as the politicians themselves. Under the great dome of the capitol at Springfield, in the halls and conference chambers of the senate and house, in the hotels, and in the rural districts wherever any least information was to be gathered, were their representatives--to see, to listen, to pry. Out of this contest they were gaining prestige and cash. By them were the reform aldermen persuaded to call mass-meetings in their respective districts. Property-owners were urged to organize; a committee of one hundred prominent citizens led by Hand and Schryhart was formed. It was not long before the halls, chambers, and committee-rooms of the capitol at Springfield and the corridors of the one principal hotel were being tramped over almost daily by rampant delegations of ministers, reform aldermen, and civil committeemen, who arrived speechifying, threatening, and haranguing, and departed, only to make room for another relay.

"Say, what do you think of these delegations, Senator?" inquired a certain Representative Greenough of Senator George Christian, of Grundy, one morning, the while a group of Chicago clergymen accompanied by the mayor and several distinguished private citizens passed through the rotunda on their way to the committee on railroads, where the house bill was privily being discussed.

"Don't you think they speak well for our civic pride and moral upbringing?" He raised his eyes and crossed his fingers over his waistcoat in the most sanctimonious and reverential attitude.

"Yes, dear Pastor," replied the irreverent Christian, without the shadow of a smile. He was a little sallow, wiry man with eyes like a ferret, a small mustache and goatee ornamenting his face.

"But do not forget that the Lord has called us also to this work."

"Even so," acquiesced Greenough. "We must not weary in well doing.

The harvest is truly plenteous and the laborers are few."

"Tut, tut, Pastor. Don't overdo it. You might make me larf," replied Christian; and the twain parted with knowing and yet weary smiles.

同类推荐
  • 央掘魔罗经

    央掘魔罗经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 自然集

    自然集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 隋唐英雄传

    隋唐英雄传

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛阿毗昙经

    佛阿毗昙经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • American Hand Book of the Daguerreotype

    American Hand Book of the Daguerreotype

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 我不是超级警察

    我不是超级警察

    【新书已发】:《开局就成了嫌疑人》!————“我不是超级警察,我只是警界传说!”警校毕业生肖然有个小目标,成为世界上最好的警察,于是就这样实现了……PS:群号【949636533】,欢迎入群讨论~
  • 三言二拍精编(第四册)

    三言二拍精编(第四册)

    《三言二拍精编》是中国文学史上最负盛名的话本、拟话本小说集,在中国文学史上占有重要地位。这些作品,题材广泛,内容复杂,有对封建官僚丑恶的谴责和对正直官吏德行的赞扬,有对友谊、爱情的歌颂和对背信弃义、负心行为的斥责。更值得注意的,有不少作品描写了市井百姓的生活,所宣扬的道德标准、婚姻原则,与封建礼教、传统观念是相违背的,而且其中的许多故事,至今仍为人们津津乐道。
  • 笃定

    笃定

    新一代青春文学领军人物、8090最热少女作家。夏茗悠青春成长小说文集,《笃定》为你讲述学生时代的日常、初涉社会的困惑迷茫,以及青春的情感与梦想。这本文集,起名《笃定》是因为,其中的每个短篇都在讨论人物内心世界与外部世界产生冲突后的出路,这个集子中所展示的正确的选择多为一种对自我的可贵坚持。我们每个人都渴望成为睿智有担当的成人,但在社会上找到自己的合适位置却又往往困难。在写作中,我在努力尝试着寻求社会与个人、理性与感性、主观与客观之间的平衡,如果大家也能从主人公们身上找到自己,从他们的生活经历中悟出对自己实现社会认知与自我认知、建立个人身份与人生价值有所帮助的一点东西,对写作者而言,这便是最幸福的事。
  • 绝嫁之纨绔相公

    绝嫁之纨绔相公

    再次醒来,入目的是一片通红,以及那一声让人莫名哄堂大笑的‘送入洞房’。#青城有二最:一为最受男子厌弃的云家嫡女云连,二为最受女子嫌恶的将军府庶子商拾。云连,痴迷当朝四皇子,试图下药,反被自己喝下,四皇子令人将其仍于苍荣大街,受千人围观。商拾,母不详,爹嫌弃,纨绔风流,嚣张跋扈,因扬言要采下青城第一美女这株花而被亲爹打断了腿。这二人一时间成为百姓茶余饭后的笑谈,且飙升榜首,久居不下。不久,皇帝一纸令下,这二害从此成一家!#她,云连,古武世家次女,天赋异禀,能力卓绝,被视为家族第一把剑,遭长姐嫉恨,一杯毒酒饮下,从此烟消云散。一朝魂穿,没了可笑的亲情羁绊,没了光宗耀祖的使命,她誓要活的无牵无挂,肆意潇洒。然,理想很丰满,现实很骨感。而将那丰满剔成骨感的锉子就是她那笑的一脸张狂的纨绔夫君。据说以下是例证:【新婚当晚】红烛盏盏,罗帐轻盈。云连扯下头上薄纱,望着笑的一脸邪肆的瘸腿新郎。“你我皆是被迫,本不该绑死在一起。”云连冷着脸。“娘子说的对。”瘸腿新郎笑着点头。“所以,七日之内,不是你死,就是我亡。”云连蹙眉。“娘子主意好。”瘸腿新郎面上笑意更深。“不要叫我娘子!”云连终于发怒。“好的,娘子。”原来纨绔却是固执。【所谓后宫】人人都言商家庶子有一‘后宫’,里面皆是被其强行关押的女子,好方便行那龌龊之事。这一日,风和日丽,阳光正好。云连懒懒斜躺于软榻上。一女执扇:“主母,风可是大了些?”“正好。”一女捶腿:“主母,力道可还轻了些?”“尚可。”一女喂点心:“主母,味道可还甜腻了些?”“爽口。”外面匆匆而来的商拾,一掌挥开眼前碍事的众女子,满面谄媚地靠过来:“娘子,为夫替你扇扇子,为夫给你捏腿,为夫还给你做点心。”“所以呢?”云连斜睨了来人一眼。“娘子,还是遣了她们吧。”原来风流却是只对一人。【这才是事实】这是一个身世凄迷,披着渣滓外衣的苦逼男青年追求一个没心没肺,没肝没脾的无情女青年的故事。【咳咳,下面是妞们想知道的】本文男女主身心干净,一对一,延续摇上一本的宠溺无边。不一样的故事,一样的纯洁深情,美妞们,星星眼,喜欢的记得收藏哦,么么哒!
  • 傲娇相公快走开

    傲娇相公快走开

    一朝穿越,她被某人宠溺的要甜掉牙,她也不知道为什么某人要叫称她为夫人,只知道眼前这个绝色美男要钱有钱、要势力有势力,关键是还十分专一。真的是可遇不可求啊。“我想和孔潇一块玩儿”某男吃醋道:“不行”“孔萧可是...”她急得刚想反驳,就被打断了。“那也不行!”无奈她只好双手张开。某男问她,“做什么。”她慢吞吞道:“我想要抱抱。”某男嘴角终于上扬起来了。
  • 浪迹续谈

    浪迹续谈

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 大艺术家的审美故事

    大艺术家的审美故事

    艺术可以再现历史,概括生活,表现人类的内心世界。艺术是人类精神的集中、高度的反映。大利文艺复兴时期,出现了许多伟大的文学家、艺术家,达·芬奇便是这一时期伟大的艺术家和哲学家。达·芬奇的艺术之手,着重描绘人类的精神领域,著名的壁画《最后的晚餐》和肖像《蒙娜丽莎》是世界绘画史上的传世之作。
  • 时光暮歌

    时光暮歌

    “心安,你尽管往前走,我会一直站在原地看着你。不要你投入我怀抱,只要你悄悄回头望一眼我就很满足,但你一定不要忘记我还在原地等着你。”“顾安,我独自走过许多年,太累,不想再往回走,但我每走一个新的地方,总会念你一遍,你是信仰,是希望。”“顾安,我有好多话想对你说。”“那好,故事太长,我们长话短说,我想听你埋藏于心的那一句。”……
  • 杨氏女

    杨氏女

    继《刘氏女》之后,这是章诒和第二部正式出版的“情罪小说”系列作品。许地山说:“爱,就是惩罚。”这几个字,基本上就是《杨氏女》故事的主题。杨芬芳一边与邻家青年何无极热恋,身许;一边“嫁”给了陌生强势军人刘庆生。故事就在苦恋和军婚之间,在性爱与强暴、炽热与冷涩之间的激烈冲突中滚动、展开,终于,酿成一场通奸情杀之生死血案……最可悲可怜的,杨芬芳每次的选择,几乎都是错的,包括甘冒风险接受指导员孙志新野合,包括最后拒绝赵勇海。无奈啊!《杨氏女》以真实情节作基础,表现出世俗的天性。
  • 最后一个盗墓人

    最后一个盗墓人

    尸骨堆积的山洞叫食人洞,我和一群大学生无意中跌入一神秘甬道内,周围的人一个接着一个离奇失踪,我陷入巨大危机中,经过生死考验终于解开当年的秘密——甬道下竟是巴蛇族的祭坛……神秘少女、通天铜柱、奇异文字……