The Washington times., 1916-04-25

To the Editor OF THE TINES:
In view of the fact that you pub
'ished on the 18th day OF April page
advertisement by Henry Ford. In which
[ wss personally attacked and false &C
cusations were made against me.
trust, as a matter OF Justice and fair
Ilay, that you will print this letter IN
order to allow me an opportunity OF re-
plying to Henry Ford.
Henry Ford charges that wrote my
book. 'Defenseless America" for the
purpose OF fostering my munitions busi-
ness, and that THE Battle Cry OF
Peace" founded on my book. was actu-
! ally a munition selling scheme.
What Ford Says.
He makes the following remarks
about THE Battle Cry OF Peace:"
Have YOU seen that awful moving
picture, The Battle Cry Of PeaceT
Ibid you shake with fear. and tremble
for YOUR country's safety?.
Ibid you know that others were shak-
ing at the same time, but with laugh
ter al your fear. and with Joy over the
fat contracts your fear might bring
ION the screen you were told that the
play was founded on the story OF Hud-
son Maxim's 'Defenseless America.
You saw Mr.. Maxim in the picture. He
was hOlOInB sOihctnihb oioaS - ""S ~~,'
| instrument of warfare.
Now, Mr.. Maxim was merely adver-
Using his wares and playing on your
fears to make n market for his goods.
M. Maxim has something to SELL
war munitions"
Again, he charges, In effect, that when
I lectured last fall In Kansas City and
4 st. Louis l palpably did II to advertise
the sale of Maxim Munitions stock and
he calls attention to the fact that a
hA
ance OF certain advertisements for Max
i'm Munitions stock on the day OF my
lecture. and he refers to a reprint OF
that announcement later in the New
York World.
Written In February, 1915.
| Now, as a matter of fact. ''Defenseless
America" was written during the month
of February. 1915. before l had any
idea whatsoever of becoming financially
interested in any munitions corporation
| The book was written for and at the re.
quest OF the publishers.
A THE Battle Cry of Peace" was writ
ten and most of the work done towarG
its production before ! had ever thought
of tho Maxim Munitions Corporation
or had ever negotiated with or ever
met the persons who are mainly re-
sponsible for bringing out that corpora
ton. The Maxim Munitions Corpora
August 1915, nearly six months after
| wrote "Defenseless America"
The Battle Cry of Peace" was writ
ten by j. Stuart Blackton. president o.
the Vitagraph Company of America.
j sent him copy OF my book, with my
compliments. and he Immediately con-
ceived the idea OF the motion picture
THE Battle Cry OF Peace" He wrote
me, sending me check. which he asked
me to accept as an initial payment FOR
the privilege of picturizing my book, Of
founding his play upon my book DE.
fenseless America" and sent me a con.
ceive a certain percentage 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 q
royalty
Blackton Not Interested.
Commodore Blackton is not interested
in war munitions. and there was abso.
lutely no connection between the pro.
duction of that film and the munitior
business.
Commodore Blackton told me that hi
had no idea that this country was IL
such grave danger. His patriotism wa,
very much stirred when he read tho
facts which / gave. and he was actu
ated far more by patriotic spirit ant
n sincere desire to save this country
from the red hell Of war than he wa.
to make money from the production.
| Nevertheless, that production has beer
a great moneymaker, for the reason tha
II has made very unique and timely
great success Is warrant that tn,
AUaarican naonla atill haya left In thar,