The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-08-07
The Case Of Henry Ford.

Henry Ford, Republican, Of Detroit,
who, at the behest of no less person
age than Woodrow Wilson, Democrat,
president of the United States, has de-
cided to accept the Democratic nomina-
ton for United States senator from
Michigan, is learning lesson which
many a man has learned before him !;
namely that the shortest cut to calum-
ny is through the announcement of ones
candidacy for political office. When the
Michigan Democratic conference antici-
pated President Wilson's open invasion
OF state politics by indorsing Mr.. Ford
and advocating his nomination II accom-
panied the action by inviting the Repub-
liean central committee of Michigan to
go and do likewise Obviously, II was
an adroit move to embarrass hte Repub-
licans. There are those who say that it
succeeded and that the Republican or
ganization in Michigan has been shat
tered into atomic fragments by the con-
fiict of sentiments which the Democratic
coup has engendered. On the surface of
things, however, there is nothing to con.
firm any such assertion On the con-
trary, not only has the Republican cen.
trail committee forborne to avail itself Of
the Democratic invitation, but there is
manifest a very definite disposition
among Republican leaders in the state
TO subject Mr.. Ford to political annihila-
ton.
At least one candidate for the Repub-
lican nomination has withdrawn from
The race since the Ford candidacy was
announced-but that one is not ex-Gov-
ernor Chase Osborn, who vows he will
receive the Republican nomination and
beat Mr. Ford to fragile. Chairman
Mangum Of the Republican central com
mite is quoted as saying that the Re-
publicans have good candidates enough
Of their own for the party's nomination,
and do not intend to entertain sugges-
tions from the Democrats for another.
Meanwhile, former Governor Osborn has
launched his campaign with a catapult,
and the left hooks, right swings and
upper cuts he is delivering to that Ford
candidacy are caution.
Michigan Republicans, including Mr..
Osborn, should have a care. They may
easily walk into the trap so cieverly
set for them by the Democrats Of their
state, aided and abetted by that as
tute political general, Mr.. Wilson. Re-
publican abuse Of Mr., Ford, in view of
the undeniably patriotic service he has
been rendering TO the country during
the last year or more, is Of all things
the one most desired by those who have
conceived his candidacy and made it an
actually. Being human, Mr. Ford has
made mistakes and is to that extent
vulnerable in a political campaign--iust
vulnerable enough to offer tempting
target for the shafts Of his opponents, as
his sponsors very well know; and, as
they know equally well, possessed OF
sufficiently demonstrated vitality OF
character to make personal attacks upon
him react to the disadvantage of the
assaults. In other words, it would be
the easiest thing in the world for Mich
| igan Republicans to confer upon Henry
Ford the benefits Of a quasi-martyrdom
early in the campaign, which would en-
sure his election and make the Republi.
can party in that state ridiculous-and
some Of them already seem bent on do.
ing 1t.
From this distance, it would seem that
the wisest course for Michigan Repub.
hcans to pursue, If they do not care for
Mr.. Wilson's hand-picked candidate, is
studiously to avoid any display Of per-
sonal animus against Mr. Fordin fact
to concede that he probably is most
estimable gentleman and an admirable
patriot--and to make their campaign on
the anomalous situation presented by
| Democratic solicitude extending even to
the White House for the nomination and
election of this particular Republican