“I know exactly what it means,” said Galt. “It means for once a Wall Street panic won’t be followed by unemployment and industrial depression. Our orders for materials and labor now going out will start everything up again at full speed. Others will act on our example. You’ll see.”
“You will draw upon the financial institutions you control, the Security Life and others, for a good deal of that money,—the five hundred millions?”
“You get the idea,” said Galt. “That’s what financial institutions are for. There’s no better use for their money.”
“You have great power, Mr. Galt.”
“Some,” he said.
“If it goes on increasing at this rate you will soon be the economic dictator of the country.”
No answer.
“I say you will be the economic dictator of the whole country.”
“I heard you say it,” said Galt. “It ain’t a question.”
“But do you think it desirable that one man should have so much power,—that one man should run the country?”