Atlas Shrugged

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 "But there will be no increase in wages," said Dr. Ferris hastily. "An essential point of the plan is that we
will grant no increase in wages to the steel workers, in spite of their insistent demands. We do wish to be
fair to you, Mr. Rearden, and to protect your interests—even at the risk of popular resentment and
indignation."
"Of course, if we expect labor to make a sacrifice," said Lawson, "we must show them that
management, too, is making certain sacrifices for the sake of the country. The mood of labor in the steel
industry is extremely tense at present, Mr. Rearden, it is dangerously explosive and . . . and in order to
protect you from . . . from . . . " He stopped.
"Yes?" said Rearden. "From?"
"From possible . . . violence, certain measures are necessary, which . . . Look, Jim"—he turned
suddenly to James Taggart—"why don't you explain it to Mr. Rearden, as a fellow industrialist?"
"Well, somebody's got to support the railroads," said Taggart sullenly, not looking at him. "The country
needs railroads and somebody's got to help us carry the load, and if we don't get an increase in freight
rates—"
"No, no, no!" snapped Wesley Mouch. "Tell Mr. Rearden about the working of the Railroad Unification
Plan."
"Well, the Plan is a full success," said Taggart lethargically, "except for the not fully controllable element
of time. It is only a question of time before our unified teamwork puts every railroad in the country back
on its feet. The Plan, I'm in a position to assure you, would work as successfully for any other industry."
"No doubt about that," said Rearden, and turned to Mouch. "Why do you ask the stooge to waste my
time? What has the Railroad Unification Plan to do with me?"
"But, Mr. Rearden," cried Mouch with desperate cheerfulness, "that's the pattern we're to follow! That's
what we called you here to discuss!"
"What?"
"The Steel Unification Plan!"
There was an instant of silence, as of breaths drawn after a plunge.
Rearden sat looking at them with a glance that seemed to be a glance of interest.
"In view of the critical plight of the steel industry," said Mouch with a sudden rush, as if not to give
himself time to know what made him uneasy about the nature of Rearden's glance, "and since steel is the
most vitally, crucially basic commodity, the foundation of our entire industrial structure, drastic measures
must be taken to preserve the country's steel-making facilities, equipment and plant." The tone and
impetus of public speaking carried him that far and no farther. "With this objective in view, our Plan is . . .
our Plan is . . ."
"Our Plan Is really very simple," said Tinky Holloway, striving to prove it by the gaily bouncing simplicity
of his voice. "We'll lift all restrictions from the production of steel and every company will produce all it
can, according to its ability. But to avoid the waste and danger of dog-eat-dog competition, all the
companies will deposit their gross earnings into a common pool, to be known as the Steel Unification