aders
in local politics in regard to street-railway control, which was a new
and intriguing phase of the city's financial life. Many of the leading
financiers and financier-politicians were interested in that. For
instance, Messrs. Mollenhauer, Butler, and Simpson were interested
in street-railways separately on their own account. There was no
understanding between them on this score. If they had thought at all on
the matter they would have decided that they did not want any outsider
to interfere. As a matter of fact the street-railway business in
Philadelphia was not sufficiently developed at this time to suggest to
any one the grand scheme of union which came later. Yet in connection
with this new arrangement between Stener and Cowperwood, it was Strobik
who now came forward to Stener with an idea of his own. All were certain
to make money through Cowperwood--he and Stener, especially. What
was amiss, therefore, with himself and Stener and with Cowperwood as
their--or rather Stener's secret representative, since Strobik did
not dare to appear in the matter--buying now sufficient street-railway
shares in some one line to control it, and then, if he, Strobik, could,
by efforts of his own, get the city council to set aside certain streets
for its extension, why, there you were--they would own it. Only, later,
he proposed to shake Stener out if he could. But this preliminary work
had to be done by some one, and it might as well be Stener. At the
same time, as he saw, this work had to be done very carefully, because
naturally his superiors were watchful, and if they found him dabbling in
affairs of this kind to his own advantage, they might make it impossible
for him to continue politically in a position where he could help
himself just the same. Any outside organization such as a street-railway
company already in existence had a right to appeal to the city council
for privileges which would naturally further its and the city's growth,
and, other things being equal, these could not be refused. It would not
do for him to appear, however, both as a shareholder and president of
the council. But with Cowperwood acting privately for Stener it would be
another thing.

The interesting thing about this proposition as finally presented by
Stener for Strobik to Cowperwood, was that it raised, without appearing
to do so, the whole question of Cowperwood's attitude toward the city
administration. Although he was dealing privately for