The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1921-09-01
SETTLING A
CONTROVERSY

wv w AAS64
1. is interesting to observe the
methods employed by various people
for settling controversy. Some men
are glad to observe the rights OF the
fellow ON the other side and to con-
cede them as far as possible without
IL jury to their own interests. Others
recognize the rights of the other Eel.
low but work upon the theory thai
their own are paramount-in other
words--"I am I" and that settles It
Still others cannot see any merit in
their oppdhent's position whatever
and no amount of argument can con-
vince them that the other fellow even
exists. The man who comedies the
status of his opponent and tries to
do justice to all concerned most often
concede anything to his opponent de-
spite the fact that he recognizes his
rights sometimes wins-but only in
those cases where be Is the stronger
man-stronger being used In the
sense OF physically If you will, but
preferably mentally or financially.
The third man of the class. the fellow.
who can't even admit the existence
OF the other fellow, wins when he is
lucky-and that is about all.
This little discourse is prompted by
an incident that came to our attention
only yesterday. There arose mild
controversy over certain public
question concerning which it Is best
not to make public announcement I'M
til 1t is entirely adjusted. In stating
1t as a mild controversy we are
stretching the point. for as a matter
of fact It had not developed into
controversy at all-the whole matter
being little more than in embryo.
Anyway, one of this latter class OF
fellows made q statement that II the
fellows who maintained a different
attitude than he did persisted that he
proposed to band together the fellows
who felt the same as himself and RE-
fuse to patronize their damned out
fit."
Now, this is just exactly the kind
of fellow who doesn't get anywhere
in settling a controversy. He proceeds
upon the theory that banding to-
gether and refusing to patronize the
other fellow" is going to Immediately
cause the other fellow to quit in his i
tracks and bring a swiftly vengeful
victory. He forgets that the patron |
age which he thinks he controls is
probably not the staff Of life for the
other fellow at all. and that II put to
it the other fellow can get along !
without it very nicely. Furthermore,
he forgets that the best way to rifle
most people is by becoming belliger-
emit and offering to do battle. You
know every fellow doesn't quit when
the other one wants to fight Some
times a fellow happens along who Is
just as willing to engage in a good
old tiff as the next one. and then there
is trouble-and plenty Of 1t. The fight
usually becomes a long, bitter, drawn
out affair that loses money. friends
and patronage for all concerned and
the result attained isn't worth the
candle nor one-half of it. But never
theless the fellow who said he would
get his gang together and make 1t
hard on the other gang doesn't want
to forget for one moment that there
are members of the other gang who
will Ego" just as promptly as he will
and no mistake And the best way in
the world to discover that mans or
a gangs personal status does not by
any means approach that Of the "only
tin can in the alley" is to start some
thing"
The object of this observation, how
ever, is not to precipitate row. but
to point out the fact to the fellow
who goes inc a conference with his
Opponents Will vi nio law,
good fellowship in his mind and
justice in his heart, and who gives
little here and takes a little there
adjusting this situation and improv-
ing that one-to the benefit not only
Of himself and his crowd but for the
benefit of all the people concerned on
all sides of the argument is the fellow
who makes a clean VIVA fellow who
makes along with it friends-friends
Of the appreciative sort who like to
see right and justice always para
mount. And the sour-faced pugilist
who is always hunting a fght-a nom
compromising chip on his shoulder
as it were-who cannot see the other
fellows rights at any stage OF the
proceeding may win one or two bat