The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-02
FORD SAYS STAKE
Is WORTH GAMBLE
Odds Against Peace Plan
Heavy, but He Believes
Good Will Result.
SCORES SOME CAPITALISTS

DETROIT, Dec. las the Wolverine
fier pulled out of the Detroit station
at 3 40 o'clock this afternoon the Henry
Ford peace crusade was considered
started. The party consisted Of Mr..
Ford. his son Edsel, Dean 9. 2. Mar
quls of st. Paul's Cathedral. William
Livingstone and Theodore Delavigne. his
private peace secretary.
Earlier in the afternoon Mr.. Ford sent
a cablegram to Pope Benedict outlining
his plans and appealing to the Pontin
for his support. II read:
'In this undertaking. Most Holy
Father, We bespeak your good will and
cooperation"
Just before starting for New York
Mr.. Ford issued the following, which
he termed his valedic,ory to his home
folks in Detroit:
"I am going to Europe Arm In the
conviction that good will come of the
trip. The party Of women and men
who go will be citizens of the world,
should be ended.
There Is no mlsconception Of the
conditions that will face the delegates
there. The expressions of lack Of faith
In success. given furtherance in this
country by the press. have not, been
taken lightly. We know the odds are
heavy against success. but the great
stake to be played for 10 worth the
gamble.
There will b no attempt TO stir UP
discomfort among the soldiers and no
| l-,. " yrtalxr nHATtnD nnana
terms. This group Of men and woine
will join with the representatives OF
other neutral nations to establish a court
for peace. The warning nations will be
notified that such "A court exists and
any VINO wish to talk terms Of honorable
peace nay notify the court and the court
in turn will convey the intelligence to
the other belligerents.
with the appointment OF ambassa-
doris by the Governments to discuss peace
terms the court will dissolve.
with such a court in existence there
is no sane reason to believe that negotia-
tons for peace may start ooner than
II nothing of its kind existed. Even II
one day be cut of from the length
OF the war. the work will not have been
in vain.
This project IL SO reasonable and SO
devoid of sensational features or any
motive detrimental To the standing OF
the United States or other neutrals in
| the eyes of the world thai / wonder at
the great Juror of doubt. scepticisnl
and ridicule. Happily l have seen no
single instance in which the feasibility
and openness Of the plan have been
clearly and definitely denied. II is the
methods which appears to be unaccept-
able TO the nation.
But why stand on formality wher
such a task exists? The good that ma ,
come is ~incalculable. The only evi
would be the disappointment of thos'
who want TO see the war go on"
Thus ended Mr.. Ford's valed!ctory.
1T is "A strange thing to remark
said Mr.. Ford this morning In discuss
ing the discussion on the peace shir
plan. that there has been no direc'
point for point attack on the peace plal
Itself. There has been a great deal Of
general attack on what they call pac.f'
ISM. There has been a lot of attack
on sentimental peace talk by people VIII,
want Us to nave sentimental war tall
instead. But no ono has stood up e
show us what is wrong with our plan
The proposition Is not sentiment, bu'
business.
II knew when | went into this thing
that there would be some fighting. But
] knew also that some of the interest
that would offer resistance We're tn,
greatest cowards on earth. and that 1!
why | wasn't afraid To tackle them.
some capitalists are the greatest O
these towards. They are afraid Of tn,
brief and false prosperity coming IN u
somc of them by the manufacture G
munitions. afraid that somebody vii
touch L and destroy II. M yet wha
Will happen To them II the war Il
stopped by the warning Powers? WHY
should they oppose an effort to hastci
the end"
The effort to bring about peace /
one in which a man must put himself
and that is why | am going myself. !
Is not enough merely to help others I,
go. The other peace sacieties hav
waited, apparently staggered and over
Whelmed by the magnitude OF the war
But wartime is the best time TO tall
peace, And ! think the DEVELOPMENT O
events WI! bring every sincere peace or
ganizatiou to give us their support"
Mr.. Ford is convinced that certai,
manufacturers are taking advantage O
the present war hysteria to increas