River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1886-03-11
FARM AND HOME.
Best for Farmers.

hfest hoH
Arbitration is almost invariably
preferable to litigation. 1t is not
only the easiest, quickest and cheapest
way to settle disagreements, but saves
much veXation and subsequent
dissention. Were individuals. cor
porations and nations, to arrange their
disputes by arbitration, instead of
resorting to litigation and warfare,
the people would be saved millions of
reasure, and the world spared much
shedding of blood. A peaceful settle
ment of difficulties is usually followed
by prosperity, while going to law
or war, usually results in loss and
suffering to both contestants. Indeed.
litigation and warfare. are twin relics
of the DARK ages, and so long as they
continue in vogue, we may look in
ain for narbingers Of the promised
millennium.
But let us bring this matter home to
our readers. OF all classes, farmers
should so far as possible avoid entering
into litigation, for whether they win or
lose, they are proverbally worsted, the
lawyers usually taking the cream, and
leaving only the sKim-milk to the
winning contestant. The true illustra-
ton which portrays two farmers who
event TO law, holding COW between
them Gone by the horns and the other
by the taiD, while the lawyers MIXED
from the plethoric-uddered animal. all
the tactical fluid, is so familiar, that it
scarcely need be cited. We will
narrate an actual legal contest in
point, and which teaches a lesson
anent litigation that ought to be
needed by all. Under the truthful
title of "Better be Lawyer than
Litigant, a metropolitan paper tersely
tells how two jersey farmers, fought
as long as the money held out, and
finally both came out at the little end
of the horn, by preferring litigation to
arbitration.
'Is it true that the case of Zabriskie
VS.. Van Rlper is settled p asked re-
porter of lawyer l.. Nj. Ward, of Pater-
son. This case has been in the courts
for long time. 1t involved the pos
session OF a Bergen County farm, and
hinged upon the validity of receipt
given by Herman Van Ripper, deceased,
denotiBg the payment of the mortgage
The receipt was declared by Zabriskie
to be forgery. The question of its
gcnuinencss has ut last been comprO-
missed.
Yes, replied Mr.. Ward, 1.-THE case
is settled.
And it is said. Mr.. Ward, that you
have come into possession of the farm.
That's SO, replied Mr.. Ward,
laughing. 1--we got the farm, and
Garry Ackerson, the lawyer on the
other side, has got all the money.
got a mortgage on the farm, paid the
balance, and became the owner. The
money paid went to Ackerson.
And what have the two farmers
got?'
Nothing. When we began, there
were two well-off farmers, and two
poor lawyers. Now there are two poor
farmers, and two well-off lawyers.
Surely this significant but not ex-
IRENE case, conveys an impressive moral
that farmers should beware of litiga-
ton. Law fights may do for bulls.
bears and bruisers, in the corrupt, ''man-
made town. but they generally can,
and ought to be avoided among the
peaceful and industrious ''God-made
country" Farmers who wish to re-
tain their homes and their peace of
mind, should settle their disputes by
amicable arbitration. Truly, there is
neither glory, nor honor, profit nor
pleasure, in litigation, and the less peo-
pie who profess to live ION the square,
and according to the Commandments,
have to do Herewith, the better it will
be for both their present and future
peace and prosperity. Even in the
most aggravating eases of trespass, and
the like, no good citizen should resort
to the law, until all amicable attempts
at settlement have failed. Indeed, and
finally whatever may be the provoca-
ton, don't get mad, and impulsively
prosecute Your neigHbor, but keep your
temper and -ARBIrRATE.