Atlas Shrugged – Day 005 – pp. 44-53
Quite a cast we’ve assembled so far. Two sets of balls in the bunch and one of them belongs to a woman.
Chapter III – The Top and the Bottom … (interesting title)
So we’re at an apparently secret-ish meeting at an exclusive bar on top of a skyscraper in NY. Four men sit at a table.
Meet Orren Boyle. The guy from Associated Steel who can’t seem to make steel. He’s again pleading his case re. losing his steel order by Dagny (balls) to Jim Taggart (no balls) who is a sympathetic ear.
“Conditions and circumstances, Jim … Conditions and circumstances absolutely beyond human control … nobody could have prevented [it]… If only you’d have given us a chance Jim.”
I think that pretty much says enough. But Madame Rand has seen fit to add a few more paaaaaages of Orren’s blathering drivel to deepen and reinforce the picture…
“It’s my absolute opinion that in our complex industrial society, no business enterprise can succeed without sharing the burden of the problems of other enterprises”
OK……
“For instance, consider Associated Steel. We’ve got the most modern plant in the country and the best organization. That seems to me to be an indisputable fact, because we got the Industrial Efficiency Award of Globe Magazine last year.”
That certainly speaks volumes (except you can’t make any steel.)
“It’s generally conceded that free economy is now on trial. Unless it proves its social value and assumes its social responsibilities the people won’t stand for it…”
If you say so.
Rand notes, this is Orren Boyle, of Associated Steel, who started his company with $100,000 of his own cash… (and a $200,000,000 loan from the G.) Rand is not subtle with her irony.
“Jim, will you agree, I’m sure that there’s nothing more destructive than a monopoly.”
“Yes, on one hand … On the other, there’s the blight of unbridled competition.”
“That’s true, that’s very true. The proper course is always, in my opinion in the middle. So it is, I think the duty of society to snip the extremes now, isn’t it?”
“Yes” said Taggart “it is.”
(Christ. If these two guys kiss, I’m gonna puke.)
“It seems to me that the national policy ought to be aimed at the objective of giving everybody a chance at his fair share of iron ore, with a view toward preservation of the industry as a whole…”
OK, I think we get the picture. Somebody has to be sacrificed so these two girls can keep ordering $12 scotches. (Or whatever they cost back then.)
I should also mention that the 3rd man at the table is Paul Larkin (Rearden’s friend.) And gentleman #4 is Wesley Mouch. He’s Rearden’s lobbyist in Washington. (This doesn’t bode well.)
The talk turns to an apparent mutual investment in a concern called the San Sebastian (did I mention this before? It’s Friday at 7 and I’m having a glass of Tito’s vodka…) mines in Mexico. (7-P.M.!!!) They seem to be on the coattails of something and Jim Taggart has built a line into Mexico to serve the mining concern.
But there has also been talk of nationalization. Impossible according to Jim. (That should seal the deal.)
But we have a revelation in the conversation. Orren asks Jim why he’s only running one decrepit, wood-burning locomotive run down there per day? This comes as a shock to Jim. I suppose we know who’s behind this maneuver.
Cut to Dagny’s office. She’s reveling in some memories of how much she loves the railroad. This turns to a certain stoicism when she thinks about the blunder her brother made by attaching a railroad line to the Mexican mining project.
The mines are the property of a certain Francisco D’Anconia. Spanish playboy and copper king of the universe. Apparently a do-no-wrong investor.
So while Taggart needs all its resources to deal with their crumbling Rio Norte line, Jim is tying up capital in this Mexican venture… (oooh! TBC)