The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-12-04
Widespread Ridicule and Ef-
forts by Friends to Dissuade
Henry Ford Fail to Deter
MR.. FORD MAKES WILL;
WANTS TO BE READY
Declares He Is Not of German
Decent But English. Scotch
and Dutch Oscar II. Liken-
ed to Ark

New York, Dec. 3~-Despite al
manner of eleventh hour difficulties.
despite widespread ridisule and even,
IL II said. strenuous efforts of friends
TO dissuade him. Henry Ford is de-
termined that his peace ship, Oscar IL,
shall sail at o'clock tomorrow after
noon from Hoboken. hearing "a hum
dred peace advocates whose mission Is
to stop the war.
There Is to be no goinB back, AIR.
Ford said, shortly after one of the
passengers. a judge who has gained
wide prominence through his reform
work In a Western state. told report
ers that MIR. Ford had received many
remonstrances from friends, even
threats from enemies. ali aimed TO
prevent him from carrying his plan
into effect. 1t was said, in fact, that
a conference was held this afternoon
at the Biltmore Hotel. at which last
earnest effort was made to dissuade
Mr. Ford and to get him TO cali the
whole thing off no matter at what
expense In money and In prestige.
MFR. Ford Has Made His VIII.
After announcing that he had made
his will In preparation for the journey.
Mr. Ford went down 70 the dock al
Hoboken 10 look over the Oscar IL.
Then. forgetting entirely that William
Al.
would meet him az, theD Biltsnore al
. O'Clock. MI. Ford spent the after
noon visiting banks a. he put 1t,
rambling about Wall Street with his
son. E.dssl while the former Secre-
tary of Safe s,tt la room s2S at the
FILLMORE Wondering when MIR. Ford
would appear Ia keep his appointment.
Not until O'Clock did the automobile
manufacture r7stUgu to see Mr.. Bryan.
After tn. conference, which result
ed In nn t.5soAtrA in MI. Rryans plan
~ Join thu PARTY at The Hague later.
Louis = f.ochn"r. secretary nf The In
ternationsi Pehce Society. he'd AR. lssTd
TO the Waiting reporters and said
"Wcn. here .he is ASH him anything
you want Is.
Are YnH going through with N"
peace expedition Wa almost thn
first question ihat was asked
II am gein.z through with IL. Ar,
Ford answered, but when more details
were asked he turned to Mr. Lochner-
You tell Them" he said Very often
he turned 10 Mr.. I.ochner, even IL tell
the reporters now much the "trip had
cost him about Ss6.oo9, they said
and To tell what time the ship sailed.
Two o'clock" Mr., leochner remind
ed him,
Asked just how he thought the peace
expedition would help stop the war,
help even To lead to its stopping, Nj.
Ford said
Fight Preparedness Parting Word.
well. | want them to stop fighttng.
No. l don't know how We'll go about
il. I haven't thought much ABOUT
that
His eyes snapped when he was ask
ed what parting word he wished 10
leave to the American people.
Fight preparedness" he answered
quickly. and in raised voice. Maybe
this is part of the German pro-
paganda, as some papers say" he con-
tinued. slf II will help stop the war.
l don't care. And. by the way. I've
looked 1t up and find that I'm not If
German descent; I'm English, Scotch
and Dutch
Earlier In the day, when telling Of
making his will, Mr.. Ford said that
England Is the country that has held
mtlitzrism in check. and that II mill
tarism Id crushed IL will be through
England. In his will. Mr.. Ford ex-
planned, he turned over all his stock
In the Ford and other companies to
his son. Edsal, and gave him a power
Of attorney. He wished to be ready
for anything. he said
Just what went on at Mr.. Ford's be-
lated conference with Mr.. Bryan could
not be ascertained. but both parties
that Mr.. Bryan's explanation that he
ia delaying joining the party because
he wants TO fight preparedness here
IL perfectly acceptable. Mr.. Bryan's
statement was as follows:
Earnest Unselhsh Effort.
Il came to New York, as l stated in
my telegram, 10 explain to Mr. Ford
more fully than / could by wire my
reasons for believing that just now
\ tNz hA~A
!, posing the attempt to increase the APP
preparations for the army and navy
than could by going with him on the
peace ship.
II have seen Mr.. Ford and laid my
reasons before him and he recognizes
the weight OF those reasons ] desire
to add that | am In hearty sympathy
with the effort which he Is making.
and hope to Join the party at. The
Hague. As the date of their arrival
at The Hague Is not yet known. j
cannot fix the date Of my departure
''Ar. Ford is making an earnest and
unseifish effort in behalf OF peace.
and he ought to have the good wishes
and sympathetic support of all who
desire peace. even though some may
not fully share his faith in the inn
mediate success of the trip.
Lake Voyage Of the Ark.
cot course, those who want the war
to continue rid!cule the effort. especi-
ally those who speak for the big mu.
milton factories which are exporting
war material at a large profit. This
was to be expected. Ridicule Is the
favofite weapon Of those who desire
ID oppose any movement when they,
and themselves unable to support
their opposition with argument. II
any OF the people on the Ark had
hoen making money out Of the Mood.
/. thsy would probably have ridiculed
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