The Oskaloosa herald., 1916-01-06
HENRY FORD IS
BACK IN THE us.
SAYS PEOPLE ARE TO BLAME
..., FOR WAR IN EUROPE.
LET RULERS EXCEED POWERS
Peace Advocate Says Men in Trenches
Permit Others to Do Thinking for
Ihem--WiIl Return to Europe
II II 10 Necessary.

New York, Jan. 3.--Henry Ford, who
led the peace expedition which left
here December on the steamship Os-
car II in the hope of bringing about a
conference of neutral nations that
would end the war, arrived here on the
steamer Bergensfjord. He confirmed
cable reports that his return had been
FASTENED by illness, but said 1t made
a difference of only few days, as he
intended when he left to come back
this month.
Mr.. Ford said his views regarding
the cause of the war have undergone
a marked change. When he left, he
said, he was of the opinion that bank
ers and manufacturers OF munitions
and armament we've responsible, but
he returns with the belief that 1t is
the people themselves, those now be-
ing slaughtered, who are responsible.
The men doing the fighting have
been too content to let those who rule
! them do their thinking, and they have
not taken advantage of their divine
right to say for themselves what they
shall do and think, the pacifist as
serted.
Same In v. s., He Says.
Republics are no better than mon
arches in this respect" he said. Even
in the United States we let those whom
we have elected to Office be, swerved
from their duty. We do not assert
ourselves. Personally, l have been a
voter 81 years and in all that time
have voted only six times, and then be
cause my wife made me- ...-. .....
| OF the eventual success of the peace
commission Mr.. Ford declared he had
no doubt ..- .. 49,
The movement is now organized
and under way" he said. People are
talking about it and while some criti
CHE, when people talk they think, ant
when they think they think right"
Future Plans Uncertain.
Mr.. Ford's future plans with regart
to the peace expedition were uncer
tain, he said. While he had severa
ideas In mind, he deemed it too earl!
to speak of them. He left the part!
in charge of CASTOR PLAINTIFF, he stated
in accordance with his original plans
and, despite all reports to the con
trary, when the party left the Osca
u 1t was as harmonious as could b.
desired.
THE main idea of the mission,
continued Mr.. Ford, was to crystal
lize into concrete form, il possible
the various ideas and hopes for peac'
which prevail all over the world. Tn
nations doing the fighting would b.
glad to stop it If they could, l be
lieve, but they are afraid to let go.
Sees Victory for Mission.
Those who accompanied me on tn
Oscar II were as fine body Of pee
pie for that particular mission as
could ask, and the interested dele
gates that met US at Christiania wer
all good men. | am simply financing
and carrying out as far as possibi
the work set under way last year a
the meeting at The Hague of tn
Women's International Peace cor
gress., This work ultimately vii
bring Europe to its senses and sto
the war.
IF what | have done will brin
peace only one day nearer shall b
more than repaid. Every day tn
war is shortened will. save 5000
lives, and 10000 lives will mean nue.
toward restoring order and norma
conditions.
IF necessary | will go to Europ
again. and if it will help matters
will charter another ship. | am NO
doing it for personal glory, gain o
advertising | have more money nov
than | can use, and feel am sin
ply custodian of what l have.
was intrusted to me by the people
I some of whom are today fighting /
the trenches"
Commenting on the preparedness
issue in President Wilson's message
Mr.. Ford said:
Il am against preparedness, as PR
paredness means war. No man wi
arm himself unless he means to a
tack. Even when he takes a fork /
his hand he is preparing to attac
an oyster or beefsteak
1T would be better for the admin
istratien to find out first if the peopl
themselves want armament. II the
do they will eventually get what Ell
rope is getting now. AS to the oths
features of President Wilson's me-
sage. especially with. reference I
trade and greater merchant mi
rine, we are all with him."
wapkAr~ Mani IahS -.... 4