Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1915-02-04
HENRY FORD

Henry Ford must be a pretty thor
ough economic student as well as q
thorough business man. There was
more sound political economy in a
short interview given the New York
Evening Sun on January %, than ap-
pears in whole columes written by
some very prominent university "eco-
nomists." Said Mr.. Ford:
| think that the tariff should be
abolished entirely. believe in
free trade all over the world. If
we, had it things would adjust
themselves and we would all be
better off.
No one can well accuse Mr.. Ford Of
lacking business experience or of be
ing a mere theorist' whatever that
may be. Here is the man who volun-
tarily pays the highest rate of wages
in the United States and at the same
time advocates free trade with all the
so-caIIed pauper labor countries of the
world! Is not that enough to start
even Joe Cannon to thinking, or Floor
Leader James R. Mann.
1t surely ought to same the Louis
lana sugar kings when they start to-
whine for tariff while paying their
poem field hands a smaller wage than
the debts they are charging against
| them. 1t ought to shame the steel
trust magnates when they come to ask
that the people be taxed for their
benefit and offer the false plea of pro
lection to labor"
But Ford sees further than the
tariff. He knows that there are more
fundamental wrongs. In that same in
terview an opinion was quoted ex-
pressed by Daniel Guggenheim, the
copper king, while testifying before
the Commission on Industrial Rela-
lions. Ford at once said:
Where does Mr.. Guggenheim
get his money, anyway? Out of
the ground, doesn't he? Well,
hold that all that should go back
to the State. ] believe in the pub
lie ownership Of natural resources,
such as mines and water power.
There again is a clearer exposition
Of economic truth than nine out of ten
college classes in political economy
ever hear from their professors. Alb
solute free trade and payment to the
State of the value of all that mere
ownership of land-aside from indus
try expended thereon-gives to the
owner. That is coming very close tc
the truth that Henry George made SC
clear Mr.. Ford may or may not have
read Progress and Poverty It cannot
be told with certainy, from what has
been quoted that he is altogether in
accord with George But even if he
is not, he seems near enough for all
immediate purposes, nearer in fact
than many who nevertheless see their
way clear to help work for the first
steps toward the Single Tax.
| Another thing Ford made clear is
that he sees that crime is largely due
to poverty that comes from denial of
opportunities to work. Il will guaran-
tee, he told the Commission on Indus
trial Affairs, Ito make man of every
one In Sing Sing by giving them
work" There is practical common
sense criminology. A chance to earn
an honest living Is all the cure for
crime that is needed Society gains
nothing by Furnishing men for getting
living in wrong way when it de
MES opportunities to many who want
to earn 1t in a right way.
Business men, especially those who
profess contempt for theorists" and
Wage-workers and professional men
also, could profit much by earnestly
considering the ideas set forth BY
Henry Ford.
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