El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-06-09
FROM HUDSON MAXIM.

Editor FL Paso Herald:
In view Of the fact that you pub
Hshed on the 22d Of April a page ad-
Fertisement by Henry Ford, IN which
/ was personally attacked and false
accusations were made against me.
trust, as a matter Of justice and fair
play, that you viii print this letter
N order TO allow me an opportunity
Of replying 10 Henry Ford
Henry Ford charges that I wrote my
book. Defenseless America for the
purpose Of fostering my munitions
business, and that The Battle CRY of
Peace" founded on my book. was &C
IuaIy q munition selling scheme.
again. ne charges in effect that
when lectured last fall in Kansas
Lll4 ana ST Louis i palpablE did IL to
advertise the sale OF Maxim munitions
stock and he calls attention TO the
fact that St Louis paper mentioned
the appearance Of certain advertise
Inenls Tor Maxim munitions stock on
the day Of my lecture, and he refers
10 a reprint Of that announcement
later in the New York World
Now, as a matter OF fact. Defense
less America" was written during Feb
ruary, 1915, before I had any idea
whatsoever Of becoming financially in
terested in any munitions corporation.
me book was written for and at the
request OF the publishers.
The Battle Cry Of Peace" was writ
ten and most Of the work done to-
wards its production before had ever
poration or had ever negotiated with
o. even met the persons who are
mainly responsible for bringing out
that corporation The Maxim muni-
lions corporation was not organized
until the zSth of August, 1915. nearly
six months after wrote "Defenseless
America"
The Battle Cry Of Peace" was writ
ten by J. Stuart BlacktOn, president OF
the Nitagraph company Of America
J sent him a copy Of my book. with my
compliments, and he Immediately con
celved the idea Of the motion picture.
The Battle Cry Of Peace" He wrote
me. sending me a check, which he
asked me 10 accept as an initial pay
ment for the privilege Of picturing
my book OF founding his play upon
my book. "Defenseless America" and
sent me a contract 10 sign under
which j was to receive a certain per-
centage Of the profits that he might
make on the production. A little later
on he settled with me by making me
a cash payment in lieu of 2 royalty
Commodore Blackton is not inter-
ested IN war munitions, and there was
absolutely no connection between the
production Of that film and the NUM-
ton business. Commodore BIackton
told me that he had no idea that this
country vas in such grave danger.
His patriotism was very much stirred
when he read the facts which I gave,
and he was actuated far more by a
patriotic spirit and a sincere desire
10 save this country from the red hell
Of war than he was TO make money
from the production
Referring 10 the st. Louis incident
a. the time i spoke there no Maxim /
munitions stock had yet been issued I
or offered for sale to the public but /
the advertisements had been inserted /
by speculative brokers entirely with l
out warrant or authority from the I
1IaXlm munitions corporation The !
advertisements were for Maxim NUM- 1
tons stock ~as, when. and If issued" /
That fact alone is pretty good evidence !
that the Maxim munitions corporation
was not responsible for their appear
ance.
II grant that it is possible that Henry 1
ora may be sincere in his endeavor
10 defeat the armed preparation of this
country against war He may posi-
bly, actually believe that If he were TO
succeed II would insure the country Z
against war.
The mere fact that II he should sue
oeed II would absolutely insure the I
coming Of war and would bring upon I
his country a most frightfuI calamity, I
Toes not impeach his sincerity. but ii Z
must be granted also that even II /
sincere the result Of such a calamity I
would be no less an evil.
Hudson Maxim