Part 9/10:
Everything culminated with the hubris of two financiers, F. Augustus Hines and Charles W. Morris, who inadvertently hastened the impending crisis. Known as the "Copper King," Hines was embroiled in tumultuous conflicts with Amalgamated Copper, showcasing an aggressive, sometimes unscrupulous approach to business that escalated tensions within the industry.
Hines' conflicts symbolized the deeper issues within an unchecked financial system—aggressive speculation, cutthroat competition, and loose regulatory frameworks. His actions, along with others in the upper echelons of finance, ultimately contributed to the catastrophic outcome of 1907, echoing warnings that remain significant even today.