﻿There is no doubt in the human mind but that things will improve now that the election is over. It always was that way—and hope springs eternal. It is not asking too much of the suffering people to cast their ballot every four years in favor of that improvement —but, I should think, if each election brings such wonderful reliefs, I demand that elections be held oftener even if the good citizens have to eat a bowl or two of soup in order to equal the occasion and that the bounties of ballotting be stored for any possible future need: slim, indeed and inconscievable save in the event all the good people grow suddenly and simultaneously lame and unable to register their national preference and will. Before election, you will remember, McKinley was a good boy, so was Coolidge, Hoover and “Rosevelt”; their mothers say so. 
None of our presidents ever stole boyhood grapes or had to be cried out of jail. They were perfect—but look at ‘em now. George Washington had four set of false teeth which, his doctor said, had been discolored by being soaked in port wine—seems to me, the doctor did throw in a slug and infer that George had swallowed some of that sour preparation . . . 
If the latter be true, his fame shall flourish in my estimation, but if he deliberately tossed a set of false teeth into cup of pure true wine, two hundred years have been wasted. 

St. Lawrence seaway is salt water and unfit for soup—it’s merely an addition to our transportation already four times as extensive as needed. Argument “to create competition” won’t hold. 
Doubling of transportation did not reduce rates: 
Tripling did not reduce. 
Quadrupling increased the rates. 
St. Lawrence seaway will double the cost of transportation, in view, “rails” will feed on Washington, willi-nilli, without delivering service—in lieu of the freght denied them. Russian, Spanish, and other ores will land as far west as South Chicago; Argentine meats shall land at Duluth. Elliot Packing Company and stump farmers shall hang themselves to jack-pines. Moss shall grow on Duluth’s Superior St . . . . 
You’re not increasing competition in transportation, you’re increasing competition in commodities—already New York Times, Chicago Oak Parker gets its print paper in Canadian National R. R. cars—”Times” has paper mills in Canada, I understand. 
Minnesota pulp-wood cutters are starving. 
Are you ready for this change the St. Lawrence seaway will bring about? 
One main purpose of compulsory assessment in union (when not voted by rank and file) is to bait and weed out radical (independent) members. 
As in the A. C. W. A., the. membership can take the edge off the joke by passing the assessment to the boss with their compliments; and a few minor items attached for to cover expense and mental anguish. 
If they do this, the boss soon gets a notion the leaders are no longer “friends” of his—may even undertake to lecture the leaders for their lack of diplomacy. 

You wouldn’t hardly invite a businessman to advise you how to do a thing in the factory, would you? ‘course not. 
Well then, what do you want of him [i]n your political party? 
Man’s relationship to unionism is not different (dissimilar) to his relationship to learning.—F. W. H. V. Rice said it in another way. When we remember man is “a forgetting animal” we must conclude he must learn each day as much, at least, as he forgets—otherwise his well of information will soon go dry. To guarantee a supply of enlightment for himself he must systematize his learning—in other words, organize it. 
There is yet time to pack up and go to the Work People’s College, Duluth, Minn.—one “hunnert” dollars will carry you through three month) and you’ll have four dollars left over for foolishness. 
Even as a man forgets and must replenish his store of knowledge so, too, a union loses members and must therefore everlastingly be on the alert for new members and it is here the similarity of man’s relationship to unionism and learning sticks out. F. W. Rice said as much in one paragraph.