the titan-第106节
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o the state or the city； and the rates of fare。 They can regulate transfers； stock issues； and all that sort of thing。 I was thinking if at any time we find this business of renewing the franchises too uncertain here we might go into the state legislature and see what can be done about introducing a public…service commission of that kind into this state。 We are not the only corporation that would welcome it。 Of course； it would be better if there were a general or special demand for it outside of ourselves。 It ought not to originate with us。〃
He stared at Cowperwood heavily； the latter returning a reflective gaze。
〃I'll think it over；〃 he said。 〃There may be something in that。〃
Henceforth the thought of instituting such a commission never left Cowperwood's mind。 It contained the germ of a solutionthe possibility of extending his franchises for fifty or even a hundred years。
This plan； as Cowperwood was subsequently to discover； was a thing more or less expressly forbidden by the state constitution of Illinois。 The latter provided that no special or exclusive privilege； immunity； or franchise whatsoever should be granted to any corporation； association； or individual。 Yet； 〃What is a little matter like the constitution between friends； anyhow？〃 some one had already asked。 There are fads in legislation as well as dusty pigeonholes in which phases of older law are tucked away and forgotten。 Many earlier ideals of the constitution…makers had long since been conveniently obscured or nullified by decisions； appeals to the federal government； appeals to the state government； communal contracts； and the likefine cobwebby figments； all； but sufficient； just the same； to render inoperative the original intention。 Besides； Cowperwood had but small respect for either the intelligence or the self…protective capacity of such men as constituted the rural voting element of the state。 From his lawyers and from others he had heard innumerable droll stories of life in the state legislature； and the state counties and townson the bench； at the rural huskings where the state elections were won； in country hotels； on country roads and farms。 〃One day as I was getting on the train at Petunkey；〃 old General Van Sickle； or Judge Dickensheets； or ex…Judge Avery would beginand then would follow some amazing narration of rural immorality or dullness； or political or social misconception。 Of the total population of the state at this time over half were in the city itself； and these he had managed to keep in control。 For the remaining million； divided between twelve small cities and an agricultural population； he had small respect。 What did this handful of yokels amount to； anyhow？ dull； frivoling； barn…dancing boors。
The great state of Illinoisa territory as large as England proper and as fertile as Egypt； bordered by a great lake and a vast river； and with a population of over two million free…born Americans would scarcely seem a fit subject for corporate manipulation and control。 Yet a more trade…ridden commonwealth might not have been found anywhere at this time within the entire length and breadth of the universe。 Cowperwood personally； though contemptuous of the bucolic mass when regarded as individuals； had always been impressed by this great community of his election。 Here had come Marquette and Joliet； La Salle and Hennepin； dreaming a way to the Pacific。 Here Lincoln and Douglas； antagonist and protagonist of slavery argument； had contested； here had arisen 〃Joe〃 Smith； propagator of that strange American dogma of the Latter…Day Saints。 What a state； Cowperwood sometimes thought； what a figment of the brain； and yet how wonderful！ He had crossed it often on his way to St。 Louis； to Memphis； to Denver； and had been touched by its very simplicitythe small； new wooden towns； so redolent of American tradition； prejudice； force； and illusion。 The white…steepled church； the lawn…faced； tree…shaded village streets； the long stretches of flat； open country where corn grew in serried rows or where in winter the snow bedded lightlyit all reminded him a little of his own father and mother； who had been in many respects suited to such a world as this。 Yet none the less did he hesitate to press on the measure which was to adjust his own future； to make profitable his issue of two hundred million dollars' worth of Union Traction； to secure him a fixed place in the financial oligarchy of America and of the world。
The state legislature at this time was ruled over by a small group of wire…pulling； pettifogging； corporation…controlled individuals who came up from the respective towns； counties； and cities of the state； but who bore the same relation to the communities which they represented and to their superiors and equals in and out of the legislative halls at Springfield that men do to such allies anywhere in any given field。 Why do we call them pettifogging and dismiss them？ Perhaps they were pettifogging； but certainly no more so than any other shrewd rat or animal that burrows its way onwardand shall we say upward？ The deepest controlling principle which animated these individuals was the oldest and first； that of self…preservation。 Picture； for example； a common occurrence that of Senator John H。 Southack； conversing with； perhaps； Senator George Mason Wade； of Gallatin County； behind a legislative door in one of the senate conference chambers toward the close of a sessionSenator Southack； blinking； buttonholing his well…dressed colleague and drawing very near； Senator Wade； curious； confidential； expectant （a genial； solid； experienced； slightly paunchy but well…built Senator Wadeand handsome； too）。
〃You know； George； I told you there would be something eventually in the Quincy water…front improvement if it ever worked out。 Well； here it is。 Ed Truesdale was in town yesterday。〃 （This with a knowing eye； as much as to say； 〃Mum's the word。〃） 〃Here's five hundred； count it。〃
A quick flashing out of some green and yellow bills from a vest pocket； a light thumbing and counting on the part of Senator Wade。 A flare of comprehension； approval；gratitude； admiration； as though to signify； 〃This is something like。〃 〃Thanks； John。 I had pretty near forgot all about it。 Nice people； eh？ If you see Ed again give him my regards。 When that Bellville contest comes up let me know。〃
Mr。 Wade； being a good speaker； was frequently in request to stir up the populace to a sense of pro or con in connection with some legislative crisis impending； and it was to some such future opportunity that he now pleasantly referred。 O life； O politics； O necessity； O hunger； O burning human appetite and desire on every hand！
Mr。 Southack was an unobtrusive； pleasant； quiet man of the type that would usually be patronized as rural and pettifogging by men high in commercial affairs。 He was none the less well fitted to his task； a capable and diligent beneficiary and agent。 He was well dressed； middle…aged；only forty…fivecool； courageous； genial； with eyes that were material； but not cold or hard； and a light； springy； energetic step and manner。 A holder of some C。 W。 & I。 R。R。 shares； a director of one of his local county banks； a silent partner in the Effingham Herald； he was a personage in his district； one much revered by local swains。 Yet a more game and rascally type was not to be found in all rural legislation。
It was old General Van Sickle who sought out Southack； having remembered him from his earlier legislative days。 It was Avery who conducted the negotiations。 Primarily； in all state scheming at Springfield； Senator Southack was supposed to represent the C。 W。 I。； one of the great trunk…lines traversing the state； and incidentally connecting Chicago with the South； West； and East。 This road； having a large local mileage and being anxious to extend its franchises in Chicago and elsewhere； was deep in state politics。 By a curious coincidence it was mainly financed by Haeckelheimer； Gotloeb & Co。； of New York； though Cowperwood's connection with that concern was not as yet known。 Going to Southack； who was the Republican whip in the senate； Avery proposed that he； in conjunction with Judge Dickensheets and one Gilson Bickel； counsel for the C。 W。 I。； should now undertake to secure sufficient support in the state senate and house for a scheme introducing the New York idea of a public…service commission into the governing machinery of the state of Illinois。 This measure； be it noted； was to be supplemented by one very interesting and important little proviso to the effect that all franchise…holding corporations should hereby； for a period of fifty years from the date of the enactment of the bill into law； be assured of all their rights； privileges； and immunitiesincluding franchises； of course。 This was justified on the ground that any such radical change as that involved in the introduction of a public…service commission might disturb the peace and well…being of corporations with franchises which still had years to run。
Senator Southack saw nothing very wrong with this idea； though he naturally perceived what it was all about and whom it was truly designed to protect。
〃Yes；〃 he said； succinctly； 〃I see the lay of that
