During the session of 1921, strong attacks on us were made; and were continued in the campaign that preceded the election on December 6th of that year. The Board was assailed on the ground of interlocking directorates. Intimation was given that there would be an alteration if the Government were changed. Evidently we were to be the section men to retire with the Minister of Railways. One of the most vehement critics of our administration was Mr. Kennedy, of Windsor, who became Minister of Railways. There is no reason why I should not tell of my first meeting with Mr. Kennedy. Naturally, I had taken note of what had been said in the House by Mr. Kennedy. When he sent for me I took along the Hansard report of his speech. Though I had heard good accounts of how he was shaping as a railway administrator, it seemed best to be ready to let humility wait upon candour. We had never met. As soon as I entered his room, and before there was time to say anything, Mr. Kennedy opened with a speech of which this is a fair summary: “Mr. Hanna”, he said, “before we begin our official relations I want to say something to you. You know, politicians in opposition often make criticisms and say things which, if they bore the responsibility of office, they wouldn’t say. You may have read some pretty strong things I said about you. I want you to forget them entirely, if you will. I know nothing about the railway business; and you have spent your lifetime in it. I want your help in mastering my job, as freely as you care to give it me.” To such frankness only one reply was possible. I offered to prepare for him a survey of the work we had done since 1918, the head of each department setting forth its activities. When that had been done Mr. Kennedy was extremely appreciative of a very voluminous document, all of which, I came to know he had read. Mr. Kennedy won my entire respect, for the speed and comprehensiveness of his grasp of whatever was put before him; for his desire to give the Board all the support to which we had become accustomed, and for the openness and confidence with which he treated me personally and officially. It is characteristic of an old politician that he cannot believe his fellow on the other side has changed his habit. The persistence of the partisan attitude towards the Intercolonial manifested itself speedily after the election of 1921. It must have been assumed by many veterans of hustings and committee rooms that all the talk inside and out of Parliament about the abolition of political considerations from the National Railway management was so much bunkum. Letters soon began to arrive from Parliamentarians the substance of which was “Now that we are in power, of course, our friends will have consideration.” Hundreds of such letters went on file, some of them from men high in the nation’s service. Surprise was great when it was found that the talk about political eliminations wasn’t merely gas.