The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-08-11


Sir. Skinner. president ana gen.
cral manager OF cappy Kicks vast
lumber interests. represented by
the Kicks Logging 4 LAUNDERING
company. with five sawmiIla. BIZ.
lion feet Of virgin timber and "A
score Of retail lumber yards, had
been away on his vacation During
skinnera absence u pleased Cappy
20 develop an intercst In SINNERS
Job. with the result that be had
lnterfered more or less with Skin.
ner's understudy. MT. HankIns. and
was absolutely bursting 90 tell
Skinner a number Of things when
the latter returned.
AZ the first glance az Cappy.
when Skinner answered the iatter's
perompiory summons 20 tho office
Of the president emeritus. the gen.
srul manager realized that cappy
had taken on "a cargo Of bellicose
veins and was about TO discharge
them.
"Ahem,' began cappy and eyed
Mr. Skinner belligercntly over the
rims OF his spectacles. "Hum.mml
Hsrump.h.h.hl What sort OF u rob.
bera roost arc you trying 20 run
Ia that office Of yourH. anyhow
"Eiuoldate. II you please. SIR.
Kicks" Skinner replied. patiently.
You're having too many rows
with euntomsra,T Cappy charged.
Il haven't a claim on file which
isn't an unjust one. refuse 10
approve any claims against us that
IL. palpabiy. kick for revenue.
All OF our orders are booked-and
nave been for 20 yearB-at mill thiiY
and inspection. The customers agree
TO accept our grade OF lumber and
after the cargo IL delivered any
claim for rebate due 10 Inferior
grade cannot be tolerated"
quite 70. quito 20, skinner dear
boy" cappy replied calmly. i've
scanned your correspondence In
connection with claims In suspense
and tho thing that rileg me is
your Internal pusay.footing. After
receiving the claim you should In.
ycstigate. marshal your facts and
la your very first letter 90 the
claimant tell him blun,ly he's out
Of order and return his claim TO
him with payment denied. Don't
puasyfoot. skinner. Don't Try 10
sooths a sinner that's trying 10 har.
poon you. Stab him flrsi and stab
him deeply. Tell him whore 10
head In. Never hesitate. when
you know you're right make Il n
point 20 explode with viriuous IN.
dignatlon. but only explode once.
Don't argue: don't imagine you're n
human comet giving off me,eors
every 10 miles"
"well. will admit require
moro Tins TO adjust these annoying
quarrcis with the trade. bu, in the
long run adjus; them saiisfae-
iorily. II Is sometimes we'll. for
the sake OF future business with a
customer who discounts HIS bills. 10
admit tho possibility Of error. even
when there IL gravo doubt as to
our responsibility.
Wrong. Skinner. ali wrong
when you make up your mind that
you've got 10 lick a man. tic into
him without preliminary symptoms
and lick him thoToiy. Tho average
human being only requires one
licking A. the hands OF tho samo
man. and nino men out Of ten VIII
abandon a just claim II their oppon.
cnt opposes them ms n fighting man
should. Skinner. have written
letters 20 all OF the cranky custom.
crH you've been pussyfoo,ing with.
where there was half chance that
our customers contention was right.
and particularly in cases where
claims for n shortage or irregular
grade nrr never made save on
basis Of absolute belief in the Jus.
tico OF the claim. I sent checks and
letter reErctiing that the matter
hadn't been aotiied with moro dis.
patch. In cases where knew or
believed tho claim to be unjust. I'm.
founded and n mere, dirty little kick
for revenue. denied tho claim
fatty and informed the claimant
that hereafter we would accept no
further orders from him. And. In.
asnuch "a Il In a we'll known fact
that customer can always grade
little select and better out OF our
No. common boards wherefore
we have a waiting list Of customers
who like 10 do business with decent
honest people-this cdict OF mine
Will make these bandits curse the
day they opened their mouths In
such feeble protest.
skinner. never DO ycs.man. n
middie-of.the.road man. perhaps or
maybe man. Never give man the
slightest ground 10 hope you're
going to be nice 10 him when you
know. in your heart. that in the
long run you're going to whittle
out handle on piece OF two by
four rough Oregon fir and chase
him out OF tho office. II Is the
lRck Of an aggressive spirit In you.
Eklunar pshtrh ranssa ,,,,t 49, 49,