Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-12-28
First Of Ford Party to Re-
turn Tells Of Wrangling
on Voyage !. -
roRD's RETIREMENT
piled I'm Huge Bill for Wireless Tolls
Sending Messages to European
Monarchs


New York, Dec. 28-The story Oh
the Ford peace party's warning voy'
AFRO On the Oscar II. including the
split over President Wilson's pre-
paredness message; the many stormy
meetings held on the peace ark, when
finally led to Henry Ford's virtual
retirement, and the big sums paid out
for wireless messages, was narrated
by the first members Of the peace ar
cosy to get safely back to the un'ted
States.
This was Robert b. Bermann, a
newspaper man, who arrived on the
new Swedish-American liner Stock
holm. He served as censor on the
peace ship.
Thanks to the kindness of the port
officer Mt Kirkwall, Scotland,~ ne was
| able to transfer from the Oscar II to
the Stockholm. Bermann's own parel-
cular reason for quitting the warning
peace edvocates was, among other
things, the multitudinous pages OF
"copy" which came his way from
anyone who wanted TO make "stare-
mept." After the dissension among the
Ford pilgrims began, Bermann said,
he had some 10000 words day.
According to Bermann, things went
smoothly enough aboard the Oscar IL
Tor the! first few days out of New
York.
Ford at that time seemed well and
usually appeared for all meals. But
Friday. December 10, was approach
ing and that was the day of the grand
miy-up. S. S. Mcclure read to the
peace pilgrims the Presidents mes
sage$on preparedness and the turmoil
began right away.
A committee of three, SO bermann
said composed of :the Rev, ;Jenkln
Iloyd Jones, the Rev. DR.. Charles +.
Aked and Mrs. Joseph Fels, offered a
resolution attacking the Wilson mes
Sage, whetedpen MeClGIe %entIYe2 the
Presidents rescue. ;.'i :
Naturally these ;sauabRlles !displeas-
ed Henry Ford, but he made the best
(of it until the strife increased to the
proportion that life aboard the peace
ship, was entirely pro and con on the
preparedness issue. These were also
meetings on how Ito get the boys out
of the trenches by Christmas" but
tor a time the affairs Of government
back in the United States, held first
place with the peace advoeatess Ber-
mann recaled SIS. McClere's prompt
iefense Of President Wilson's utter
.nces. :.
!, Because. of my previous policies,
both, editorial and personal" said mr.:
plSGlssre; according to sBefmann, ~
cannot be silent while on official ac-
ion of the President Of the United
States is attacked" Mcclure, fur
hermore, drew up another "'.resolu-
lon" of a pro Wilsoninature which
Judge Ben Lindsey, Mrs. Inez Mil
POLAND Boisseyain, Lieut.. Gov! Betha,
II South Carolina, and others, inciu-
ing most of the newspaper CORE
pondents, signed. This document, ac-
ording to the returned member of
he party, dissentedS strongly from the
Fttack on the President. y
"The Rev. Mr.yJones accused Mr.
Mcclure of spreading dissension on
he ship" said Bermann, sand charg-
sd that this was his reason for COM
rg along in the peace party.
The more heated the arguments the
more strenuous the meetings on the
beace' ship, the more thickly came the
lengthy statements which Bermann
vas doomed to read.
Henry, Ford, himself, according tc
8ermann, was about the only promi.
pent member. Of the peace party tt
Eeep out:of these preparedness squsb
les-at& least, he refrained from
|pesking at the meetings, and anall!
ook to. practical retirement.
Bermann;ssaid there were discus
ions sometimes Of the preannounce
determination of the Ford party, bu