New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-25
Question of Expanding
Money Was Taken Up
at Conference.
AUTO MAKER NOT
SEEKING CONVlCIS
Saws There Are Enough Prison
ers to Aid in Michigan With
out Going to Sing Sing.

Carnegie talk about as tncE twice cir
cled the reservoir in Central Park to-
gether yesterday morning? IL was a
four-mle walk and the conversation
did not lag, but what momcntous ques-
lions were settled on that walk neither
would state.
Mr.. Ford talked with the newspaper
representatives late yesterday after
noon in one Of the galleries az the
Hotel Belmont. With hands thrust
into his pockets. he settled down into
one Of the deep-cUsh chairs and
answered every question that was put
to him, with the characteristic half
nervous brevity that marks all his in
terviews. Finally he went upstairs
leaving his questioners 70 realize that
half Of his answers had been evasions
What did Mr.. Carnegie and | talk
about p" said Mr. Ford. well, We dis
cussed the history Of the steel in
dustry. | guess don't remember ex-
actly. We just had pleasant walk
that's all. / went out for good time
and / had II. We told each other sew
eral stories. No, ! don't remember
what they were, but Mr. Carnegie
listened; and he can tell good story
too. He is a wonderful man for his
age"
Carnegie's Dry Reply.
Mr.. Carnegie told his companion
that he had read what Mr.. Ford had
said about the Rockefeller and Car
negie foundations Mr.. Ford was asked
what comment Mr. Carnegie had made
Well" he replied. "he did say that
he thought that the men who had
earned the foundation were capable OF
spending it,"
Mr.. Ford ightened out the mat
ter Of taking Sing Sing prisoners 20
work at the factory. 81 said ! could
give every prisoner in Sing Sing work
and make a man Of him." he explained
but as for actually taking them, well
we have plenty of prisoners in Michi-
gan. No, never considered any plans
for taking Sing Sing prisoners into ms
plant. We get enough ex-conyict;
without planning for it, Then he
went on to explain his treatment OF
eX-prisoners in his plant, some OF
whom have committed murder. Some
times, he admitted, he has 10 give
men up for time, but IL is only be-
cause they need more experience with
hardship, and always with the idea OF
retaining them again.
Reform work is not Mr.. Ford's spe-
Cialty, however-m merely a by-product
Of his business. For every man ne up
lifts ne expects to get return for him.
self. The only class that does not
want to work. he said. is made up of
the people who have never been taught
how. That is why he does not believe
III philanthropy, and approves Car
negie's plan of making people pay, IN
part at least, for what he gives them.
Emerson hit it about right, Mr.. Ford
tanks, when he said that our chief
want in life is some one TO make US do
" hat we can do. That's pretty good
motto, isn't it? ," he said.
Bids Hoboes Quit City.
the Hotel de Gink as an attempt on the
part of the unemployed to help them
selves.
an my own hospital | keep hun
dred or so of those fellows every
night" he replied. But why do they
stay in the city? Aren't the cities
Cvercrowded? Back 10 the land is a
good proposition. | think"
He admitted that the building of his
hospital was philanthropic. but added
that he was not going to conduct it as
a charity. The men, he said. would
want to pay as they could for what
they received there.
There would be no hospitals" Mr..
Ford added after a moments thought.
IF people were temperate except. of
course, for accidents. Yes. ] certainly
am in favor of national prohibition"
Mr. Ford is optimistic enough not to
recognize any class of degenerates or
habitual criminals. A term in prison
for the regulation of habits and then
plenty of manual labor is a prescrip-
tion which he thinks will cure any man.
But" he added, 81 am not a doctor"
He was asked if he did any physical
work himself.
81 walked fifteen miles last Sunday
and fifteen the week before, not 10
mention the four to-day" he said He
gets his recreation chiefly on his farm
at Dearborn, Mich, and finds no time
for games.
One of the reporters brought up the
subject of religion.
81 don't know exactly what is meant
by Christianity" said Mr.. Ford, "but
we are all on the same road. | believe
in a hereafter. and il any one ever goes
20 heaven / think he will take it with
him. | was brought up an Eplsco-
palian, but haven't worked a i. much
since" He stopped a minute TO smile
as he remembered a recent experience.
"The last time | went to church." he
said 81 had my automobile stolen. No,
don't point any moral from that"
Mr.. Ford was told that Governor
Whitman was in the city, but he said
that he had not planned to meet him.
lie will return TO Detroit some time
this morning.