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                       CHANGE:  A Hard Pill To Swallow 

Doing things better means changing the way you do things. And change is
widely feared. History proves this out. Consider this portion of a letter
written in 1829 by Martin Van Buren to President Andrew Jackson. 

Dear Mr. Jackson: 
       The canal system of this country is being threatend by the spread of
a new form of transportation known as "railroads." The federal government
must preserve the the canals for the folowing reasons: 
-- If canal boats are supplanted by "railroads," serious unimployment will
result. Captains, cooks, drivers, repairmen, boat builders and lock tenders
will be left without means of livelihood, not to mention the numerous
farmers now employed growing hay for horses. 
-- Canal boats are absolutely essential to the defense of the United States.
In the event of the expected trouble with England, the Erie Canal would be
the only means by which we could ever move the supplies so vital to waging
modern war. The government should create an Interstate Commerce Commision to
protect the American people from the evils of "railroads' and to preserve
the canals for posterity. 
       As you know, Mr. President, "railroad" carriages are pulled at an
enormous speed of 15 miles per hour by "engines" which, in addition to
endangering life and limb of passengers, roar and snort their way through
the countryside, setting fire to crops, scaring the livestock and
frightening women and children. The Almighty certainly never intended that
people should travel at such breakneck speed. 
                                                       Sincerely 
                                      Martin Van Buren  -Governor 


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