South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-01-03
HENRY FORD BACK
FROM PEACE TRIP
Believes People Too Content
to Let Those Who Rule
do the Thinking.
Associated Press serriee:

Associated Press Service:
NEW YORK. Jan. 3.-Henry Ford
who led the peace expedition which
left here Dec 4 on the steamer Os-
car II for copenhasen in the hope
OF bringing about conference OF
neutral nations that would end the
war. arrived here Sunday on the
steamship Bereensfjord. He con-
frmed cable reports that his return
had been fastened by illness, but
said it made a difference Of only a
few days as he intended when he
left to come back this month.
Mr.. Ford declared his views re-
garding the cause Of the war have
undergone a marked change When
he left, he said. ne was Of the opin-
ion that bankers. manufacturers of
munitions. and armament were re-
sponsible. but he returns with the
belief that the people themselves
have been too content TO let those
VINO rule. do their thinking.
Republics are no better than
monarchies in this respect" he said.
Even IA the United States we do
not assert ourselves. Personally /
have been voter 81 years and in
ali that time 1 have voted only six
) times and then because my wife
maze me-"
Feels Mission VIII Succeed.
OF the eventual success Of the
peace mission. Mr.. Ford declared he
had no doubt. His future plans with
respect TO the peace expedition were
! uncertain While ne had several
ideas in mind, he deemed it too early
TO speak of them.
The main idea of the mission, -
Mr.. Ford said, was 10 crystalize III
TO concrete form the various ideas
and hopes for peace which prevail
all over the world. The nations do
ing the fighting would be glad 10
step, if they could, / believe, but
they are afraid % let 60"
Those who accompanied me on
the Oscar IL were as fine a body of
people for that particular mission as
could ask. 1 am simply finishing
and carrying out as far as possible
the work set under way, last year
at the meeting at The Hague of the
Womens International Peace con-
gress. This work ultimately will
bring Europe to its senses and stop
the war"
IF what 1 have done will bring
peace only one day nearer, 1 shall
be more than repaid. Every day
the war is shortened will save 80, 600
lives, and so. lives will mean
much toward restoring order and
normal conditions.
VIII Go Again If Necessary.
IF necessary, / will again go to
Europe. and II il will help matters.
I will charter another ship 1 am
not going in II for personal glory.
gain or advertising. L have more
money now than / can use. and I
feel j am simply custodian of what
have. Ii was entrusted TO me by
the people. some of whom are today
fighting in the trenches"
Commenting on the preparedness
issue IN Pres't Wilson's message, Mr..
Ford said:
Against Preparedness.
Il am against preparedness, as
preparedness means war. No man
will arm himself unless he means 10
attack. Even when he takes a forB
in his hand, he is preparing TO at
tack an oyster or a beefsteak."
1T would be better for the ad-
ministration 60 find out first if the
people themselves want armament
If they do, they will eventually get
what Europe is getting now. As tC
other features OF Pres't Wilson's
message. especially with reference Ia
trade and greater merchant ma
rine, we are all with him on that"