New-York tribune., 1918-06-24
"A Rubber Stamp"
Says Chase Osborn
Of Henry Ford
Ex-Governor Objects to
Administration Dictat-
ing to Michigan
"Not a Republican"
Political Opponent Asserts
Automobile Man Was Made
by Others Brains

"A rubber stamp" and "the obtrud
ing pacifst of yesterday" were some
of the mildcr characterization applied
to Henry Ford by Chase Osborn, for
mcr Governor Of Michigan and candi
date against the automobile man for
United States Senator
Ex-Governor Osborn, who arrived
here yesterday to take his daughter
and grandchildren to Michigan, de-
clared that his opponent in the pri-
Mr.. Ford's candidacy had been dictated
by the Democratic Administration in
Washington.
Ford is just rubber stamp" said
Mr. Osborn. They talk of his being
self-made man. Why, his car was
made by one of the Dodges, James
Couzens made his organization and Mr..
Wills, his general manager made his
efficiency.
"The Ford Washington ordered SEN
atorial candidacy as a problem has as
far-reaching than my candidacy or the
ambition of MIR. Ford. There are at
least three fundamentals involved-the
welfare of America and loyalty to it,
the independence Of unhampcred and
unconfused political action of citizens
in every part of the nation. and the
question whether there shall be organ
lzation in governments represented by
responsible cohesive parties as against
a chaos of vagarics and individual am
btons.
Must Submit to the Group
"No government in republican form
bor thN oil,
the individual to subordinate himself
to The group and make intelligent Sc
lection of representatives to whom may
be safely delegated the great united
power of the people.
"1ncidental to these principles are
many interviewer questions putting to
the scverest test the ability of the peo-
pie TO govern. Always up to now the
people over reasonable space Of time
have been able to distinguish the safe
from the dangerous and The wise from
the foolish"
Mr.. Osborn then returned to the per-
sonal discussion Of Mr. Ford recalling
his famous peace expedition ship with
its party made up largely Of pacifsts
and pro-German propagandsts, with
their slogan of "Out of the trenches
by Christmas!"
Shall the obtrudng pacifst of yes
terday," asked Mr.. Osborn, playing
into the hands Of tho Kaiser and the
German Empire, be able to turn aeon
plete somesault and light in the Unit
cd States Senate to-day? Shall Ford
a free trade Democrat, be forced down
the Republican throat of Michigan?
"Shall Washington Democrats die
tate to Michigan Republicans who pos
sess normal state majority above
100000? This could be naralleled only
| h,r Il
Washington demanding that Alabama
send republican to the Senate. Shall
rubber stamp Senator represent
Michigan ?"
Mr.. Osborn explained his attack was
not on Mr.. Ford as man, but upon "a
dangerous force developed by in
triguing Democrats who would capital
ize politically his notoriety and at the
same time got their hungry hooks into
his feshpots."
"Mr. Ford" Ford, continued l., Mr.. NJ, Osborn,
| Washington. But Washington is now
overcrowdcd with rubber stamp forces
His whole force is needed right where
| it is now.
"That Mr.. Ford has forgotten for
whom he cast his first vote for Presi-
dent indicates just one thing: Mr.. Ford
does not think or act for himself. His
statements are made for him by his
secretaries and attorneys. He was a
rubber stamp in the crazy Germanized
peace ship adventure; he Is rub
Der stamp Senatorial candidate, and if
elected to the United States Senate,
ne will be a rubber stamp Senator. The
only thing he is sure of politically is
that he voted for Woodrow Wilson and
spent thousands of dollars for him.
"But in the last analysis, the dispo-
sition of the entire matter is in the
hands of the Michigan electorate
There is superior intelligence in Mich
igan. If the foggy surroundings of Mr..
Ford can be cleared away so that the
people can see the situation just as it
is, they will properly attend to the
case of August 27-primary day. Mich
igan has never abdicated yet at crit
ical time"
Mr.. Osborn said he believed Mr.
Ford would also be Democratic can
didate in the primaries. He said he
was the only opponent to the automo-
bile manufacturer in the Republican
primaries, William Alden Smith having
withdrawn.