It was a fine, handsome political dream, and as such worthy of every courtesy and consideration but it was only a political dream in its ultimate aspects, and as such impressed the participants themselves at times.
The campaign was now in full blast.

The summer and fall (September and October) went by to the tune of Democratic and Republican marching club bands, to the sound of lusty political voices orating in parks, at street-corners, in wooden "wigwams," halls, tents, and parlors--wherever a meager handful of listeners could be drummed up and made by any device to keep still.

The newspapers honked and bellowed, as is the way with those profit-appointed advocates and guardians of "right" and "justice." Cowperwood and McKenty were denounced from nearly every street-corner in Chicago.

Wagons and sign-boards on wheels were hauled about labeled "Break the partnership between the street-railway corporations and the city council." "Do you want more streets stolen ?" "Do you want Cowperwood to own Chicago ?" Cowperwood himself, coming down-town of a morning or driving home of an evening, saw these things.

He saw the huge signs, listened to speeches denouncing himself, and smiled.