The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1917-06-06
Judge HOsmer Hints
Extension Must BE
Limited
COUNSEL START
CLOSING PLEAS
Former Judges Carpen-
ter and Angel Ar
que for Clients

against Henry Ford, Wednesday
morning, interrupted the argument
OF judge Alexis C. Angel one OF
Ford's attorneys. TO ask a signih-
cast question that 'stumped' the
lawyer
Judge Angel was in the midst Of
a defens9of the blast furnace which
Mr.. Ford wants TO build. lie said
that Il was being done simply 20
save one process in the production
Of iron. Instead Of starting the pro
cess Of manufacturing castings with
pig iron the process would be start
ed with iron ore. thus saving the
melting first OF the ore and later Of
tho pig iron. He said this step was
necessary 20 care for the future.
But" interrupted Judge Hosmer,
'if you want the privilege OF max
ing your own iron. why not 5uy your
own crude rubber and make your
tlresg Also. to carry IL further,
why not set out hickory grove 10
supply wood for wheels sometime
in the future? Then II might be
proper along that line OF argument
10 buy and cultivate cotton fields 20
make the fiber that goes into the
tires and tops. There would be no
end to the preparations that might
be made for the future"
Judge Angel appeared confused
for a moment, but said he would re-
quire time 70 reply TO such cues
tions.
When the case was resumed Wed
nesday morning. Henry Fords pol
Icy OF paying high wages and max
Ing low priced automobile was at
tackled by former Judge William l..
Carpenter. OF counsel for the
Dodges, who maintained that II
was unlawful because II was done
at the expense Of the stockholders.
He sought to show that Ford ought
90 be checked by the court because
he was not working 10 make money
but simply 10 fulfill hts altruisuc
ambitions 10 do good.
The Dodges. he said, wanted the
profits that have been eliminated
thru the reduction OF the sale price
OF the automobile in special divi-
dends.
Judge Hosmer suggested that Mr.
Ford had had the price lowered that
he might have complete monopoly
in the field OF cheap automobiles,
but Judge Carpenter disputed this
by quoting his testimony that he
wanted "a great army OF men at
work at high wages and wanted 10
reduce the selling price so that all
might have the car" The Dodge
attorney charged that Mr.. Ford had
lied on the witness stand 10 dis
credit the Dodges.
When Mr. Ford said that the
Dodges came 10 him and tried 10
force him to buy their stock he took
advantage OF his position on the
witness stand where his words were
being reported all over the country
to state an untruth and stigmatize
the motives OF the Dodges," said
Judge Carpenter.
Think OF the SANDER OF this in
view OF the testimony Of other wit
nessesl II discredits Mr.. rord's
testimony, but more than this II
shows his intent 10 iniure the
Dodges In view Of this can II be
thought that he would be fair 20
their interests Of from $4,000, 900
10 s50.OOo.00 in the concern OF
which he IL head?
"Mr. Ford had an ambition 70 do
good. He wanted an army OF men
working at high wages and the car
selling az low price. In doing
this be was not considering the In
terests OF the stockholders He
wanted 10 be public benefactor, 70
fulnll an ambition"
Judge Angel, In opening for ihe
Ford interests. said that the case
made In the argument OF Judge Car.
penter was not borne out by the
testimony. He declared that OF the
s52,000,000 surplus held by the com
pany when the suit was started ar
rangements had been made TO spend
at least $4,000 900 year before
that time in extensions and that il
was only carrying out we'll de-
fined policy o the stockholders lie
also said that since that time about
s6.200,000 had been disbursed In
dividends.
lie also argued that II the con-.
pany did not have the right 10 main.
tain assets OF more than t25 ZOO 00o
the plant might as well be sold and
the concern cult business He said
the assets OF the company now are
about sl15.000.O00. tho the author.
ized capital STOCK Is only s25,
100000 lie quoted many authori-
/ ties 10 show that the enhancement
OF values did not cause a violation
Of the law limiting the capital
stock.