The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1908-01-17

much as you like about Vthe oppres-
siveness and arbitrary behavior OF
corporations, railroad corporations in
particular" he said, but / can tell
you that I'm nine cases out of ten-Tll
go as far as to say in ninety-nine cases
out of a hundred-you have yourself
entirely to blame for any difficulty you
have with them. A corporation isn't
any worse than an individual as far as
having a sense of justice goes"
I've known an individual to have
good deal of a sense of justice" said
the man who had been speaking Of
rebates.
80 have l." said the man with the
new headgear. Even in business.
That's what | am contending You'll
find individuals who will respect your
rights and you'll find corporations that
will, too, but you've got to let 'em
both know what your rights are You
don't want TO sit down and wait for
them to find out. Then, when you've
asserted your rights, you want to in
sist on having them. Insist and keep
on insisting. Let 'em know that you
don't intend to be trifled with Adopt
firm tone. Not necessarily buster
ing tone, but firm one. Look at this
hat"
81 see It," said the other man. II
don't like the. brim. 1t curls too much.
Otherwise it's a fairly decent lid"
"The c. & |. p. w railroad paid for
that hat" said it's wearer. It's a six
dollar hat. The reason the railroad
company paid for it is simply that it
spoiled my old one. | got out of the
train the other morning and started
TO walk to the gate and just as I
passed the engine the engineer turned
cock or touched the throttle valve
or something and let out a spout Of
steam and SCOT and lubricating oil that
absolutely ruined the hat | was wear
ing Simply ruined it.
Now, what would you have done
in case like that? | know without
your telling me. You would have said
something in an undertone and that
would have been the last of it. You
would have gone away nursing a sense
rankle in your breast forever. You
would have said to yourself: Wait till
they get me on a jury in a case in
which that railroad company is de-
PENDANT But you wouldn't have as
serted your rights and given the COM
pany chance to square itself with
you. You would have said: What's
h. \
did,"
We'll, what did you do? I'll bite"
said his friend
II walked right up to the general
Offices and asked to be directed to the
claim department is the claim agent
in? | asked the young man at the
desk, in a firm, decided tone of voice.
HE quailed beneath the firm look
| gave him and took in my card. In
few moments he returned and said
the agent would see me. l stepped
into the little room he indicated and
saw a man bending over his desk,
very much occupied to all appear
ances. He waved me to a chair with
out looking up, but l spoke right up.
wasn't going to take any bluff. I
said"
In a firm toner"
'In a firm tone, Kindly look at this
hat
He looked at It. 4 want you to tell
me what your company proposes to
do about it, | said.
az don't think the company con-
templates any action, he said. Would
you mind telling me as briefly as pos
sible why the dickens it should do
anything"
"Tll tell you with pleasure l an
swered An engineer in your employ
turned a geyser OF warm axle grease
and muddy water on it as | was peace
ably going by him. 1t was the S:12
train from Cedarbourne. where | re-
side, and have three highly respected
fellow commuters TO testify to the
truth of my statement. / don't want
any trouble, but If you invite ii shall
not shrink from it. | want you people
to buy me a new hat for the one that
you have spoiled. If you do it promptly
you will avoid a suit for damages l
said this quietly, but very firmly.
"He looked at me moment to see
If was in earnest. Then he said: Go
buy you a hat and send the bill to
this Office and | will see that it is
paid. I'm busy now and | haven't time
to inquire into the truth of your state
ment but | have no idea that you are
doing anything but trying to work u.s.
al object to that insinuation and
call upon you to withdraw it, | said.
firmly.
Anything you like he said. I'll
withdraw If you will. I'm busy. Send
your bill and will see that 1t is paid.
Good day
$50 | went and bought the hat. and
they paid the bill and | want to tell
you that what | have told you is the
exact truth. ! haven't added to or
taken away word from the CONVERSE
ton"
The other man looked enviously at
the hat. Il certainly had no idea that
they were as easy as that" he said.