The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1916-01-13
JONES TELLS OF
FORD PEACE PARTY
REGISTERS WASHINGTON COR
RESPONDENT ACCOMPANIES
PAcIFISTS TO EUROPE
SCOTS At PRESS "MUTNY" REPORTS
Says People on Ship Not Conscious of
Any Serious Outbreaks Among
Members of Dove Enthusiasts

Soothing at the metropolitan press
reports of a "mutiny" among the mem
bers of Henry Ford's peace party, j. E.
Jones, the Registers special cores
pendent who sailed on the Oscar III
to war-ridden Europe writes two let
ters concerning the trip. The first
was written at Christiania, Norway,
and the next at Kirkwall, Scotland,
and both contain interesting accounts
of the journey. The first letter fol-
lows:
When our party sailed everyone was
trying to form an opinion of Henry
Ford, and | persume the world is still
busy at that same job, but it is a
finished undertaking on board the
Oscar ii. | never had seen Mr.. Ford
until we were the second day out, and
then | determined to study him at long
range to avoid coming under the spell
Of his personality. Evidently this same
thought had taken possession of many
trained newspaper men. We lombard
ed him in our press meetings, asking
personal and impertinent questions
all OF which the witness answered
good-naturedly in a simple and direct
manner, taking us readily into his CON
fidence and divulging his plans and
purposes. We found him to be as
gentle and kind as a woman-not only
willing, but anxious to share with
others the responsibility of the mission
he had ~inaugurated in the interests of
humanity.
Henry Ford exhibits more conf
dence and trust in people than any
prominent man / have ever known.
Madame Schwimmer, the Hungarian
peace worker, related to a few of us
that she had told Mr.. Ford that she
had in her possession documents show
ing that the nations at war would well
come a peace movement. Mr.. Ford
took her word for it, and never asked
to see these documents, which were
evidently so important as to be almost
the foundation Of his work. l do not
want to %eulogize Henry Ford, but I
feel that the people in the United
States who have become interested in
my work. will appreciate my frank
opinion of the man. That opinion
is: First. l have never seen a man
more sincere in urpose. Second: He
is intent on doing something tangible
for the benefit of his fellow men.
Third: He is thoroughly unselfsh.
Fourth: He does not apparently wish
personal recognition. Fifth: He is
bashful. Sixth: He is energetic, but
free from nerves. have seen him
running like a school boy, hatless and
coatless, along the decks; usually he
goes up a staircase two or three steps
men as equals, and talks and visits
with them all.
Much Variety Of Views
1t took several days to agree hat
this was a serious mission. 1t was an
illusion if anyone supposed that the
party was picked because of a one
mindedness of thought. On the cor
trary / never have found such a var
iety Of views among 165 people, nor
witnessed such freedom of expression.
The party is made up of thoughtful
men and women of every belief and
every opinion. Some are for peace,
some for war, some for prepared
ness" some for disarmament; some
are neutrals, some are sympathetic
with the allies and others espouse the
cause of the central powers. We take
ourselves very seriously and consider
this to be a great mission. With this
conviction we are content that those
who wish may ridicule, since it is
positively plain to us that our work is
"cut out" for us-that there Is much
good that we are going to be able to
do.
Already the busy wireless, which
keeps us in touch with events, has
told us that peace is seriously discuss
ed in London, Berlin and other CAPT.
tails; and we believe that the Oscar II
is the ripple in the center of the ocean,,
and that the waves of peace have
widened 80 that they have reached the
shore. The Pilgrims Peace Mission
started the little ball rolling, and it has
been gathering force as it has rolled
on its way. We at least have the salts
flying consciousness and the knowi-
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