Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-12-30
FoRD.s JOKE TRIP.

Henry Ford is returning home ana
\ his peace expedition apparently mas
come to the end generally predicted
4 for it. In other words, Henry's peace
expedition is coming home In pieces
but without single peace. Ford ana
his invited guests set sail with high
hopes that their presence in Europe
and their pleas to the warning gov
ernments would result in an armlshce
which would see the conclusion or
I neace negotiations. Ford claimed TO
have information that his expedition
yuld meet with favor at the hands
* the masses, in the warning coun-
tries who were bowed down by the
burden of debt and sick Of the flow OF
blood occasioned by the war. He ex-
oected a warm reception at the neut-
ral countries which he felt would fall
right In line with his project.
Ford. the automobile man, Is pretty.
close to the top Of the ladder in his
own line. He started at the b c end
.#of the auto game and has reached
the ~. Ford, the international
Speace advocate, wanted to start in
where Ford. the automobile man, had
left OH. He wanted to skip the b
c,s and the m o's Of peace and be-
rim with the < y z. What happened
Is him Is what happens to most men
when they start building without q
foundation.
Ford got in with the peace-at-any
cost advocates in this country anu
fooled himself into believing That the
time Is ripe for an end to wars. Along
with others, he preached that because
war ID Iflhuman. it should be stopped
and that those who were participating
would stop if their attention was
called to the fact that justice can be
acquired by peaceful means. So he
set out to say in effect to Europe
Here. you fellows, CIT out this non
sense. War is unnecessary. None
of you want anything that is not right
and so there is no use fighting. Just
get together and make what little sac
rifices are necessary to achieve the
aims Of each"
"A Ford is returning to America.
sadder and wiser man.
In the first place, the world In gen.
Aral hooked on the peace mission as
heg Joke it was. Furthermore the
yarring nations showed ill-concealed
annoyance at the "meddlers" and
ysemi- off cial disapproval was not lack
ing. That was Ford's first disap-
pointment. So he turned hopefully
to the neutral countries for encour-
az ment and assistance.
J, se Norsemen, neutral and anxious
AfoH ar to cease, met his expedition
SwitI politeness and extended their
best wishes, but did not fall in line.
! The Morse people and government
knew that they were facing facts and
! not beautiful theories. They knew
athat the countries OF Europe are
gneart and soul in this war; that they
are fighting what is to them real
danger and to avert what is to them
IN grave injustice and national cal
ARmity The Norsemen are close
#enough to the war zone to see condi-
&tions as they are. They did not join
H5the peace expedition.
q That was Ford's second discourage
ment.
81 The third and deciding one was
forthcoming Immediately. Denmark,
he next Neutral country on the itin-
ry, was not slow in showing down
ght disapproval of the peace expe-
,on. The government limited that
would not be permitted to hold
meetings and public opinion in
al was that the mission would
fish nothing and might even
he peace that all hope will
on.
Ford took sick and left the
a and is now out on the At
sSng back to America His
F Is still in Europe. but
aarture of the angel who