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Dreiser, Theodore, 1871-1945

"The Financier, a novel"

He was not a man who inherently was troubled with conscientious
scruples. At the same time he still believed himself financially honest.
He was no sharper or shrewder than any other financier--certainly no
sharper than any other would be if he could.
It should be noted here that this proposition of Stener's in regard to
city money had no connection with the attitude of the principal leaders
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.


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