An attorney representing the gas company, against which the "Star" had been waging war, called on the Colonel one day to complain of injustices which he alleged the company was suffering at the hands of the paper.
"Colonel Nelson," he said, "your young men are not being fair to the gas company."
"Let me tell you," said the Colonel, "that if they were I'd fire them!"
"Why, Colonel Nelson!" said the dismayed attorney. "Do you mean to say you don't want to be fair?"
"Yes, sir!" said the Colonel. "When has your company been fair to Kansas City? When you are fair my young men will be fair!"
If there is one thing about the "Star" more amazing than another, it is perhaps the effect it can produce by mere negative action—that is, by ignoring its enemies instead of attacking them. In one case a man who had made most objectionable attacks on Colonel Nelson personally, was treated to such a course of discipline, with the result, I was informed, that he was ultimately ruined.
The "Star" did not assail him. It simply refused to accept advertising from him and declined to mention his name or to refer to his enterprises.
When the victim of this singular reprisal was writhing under it, a prominent citizen called at Colonel Nelson's office to plead with the Colonel to "let up."
"Colonel," he protested, "you ought not to keep after this man. It is ruining his business."