The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1918-09-09
FORD DIElLsVHY !
SON IS not IN
UNIFoRMOF U. 5.
Authorities Consider Boy More
Servlceable at Home. =

DETROIT. Sept, 9.--Contrary to ex-
pectations and former announcements,
Henry Ford is 10 become an active
candidate for the u. S. senate. He
SAYS lie appreciates the great rcspon-
sibiity to the people of Michigan and
that he will do what he lawfully can
10 be elected. This information came
in response to the following three
questions submitted him today:
will you accept the nomination for
the scnatorship on the democratic
ticket in the full spirit OF the situa'
tinn"
"Will you discu. for the information
OF the people the charge frequently
made that your son, Edsel Ford, is a
slackerI"
"Will you discuss for the same pur-
pose the charge that you made flippant
and unpatriotic remarks about the
American flag"
To all OF these questions Ford re-
piled r5"Ycs."
"In the first place and in reply to
vour first question" said Mt Ford,
YOU understand that accept the nomi-
ration on the democratic ticket in the
exact spirit in which il was rendered
by the leading democrats OF the state
upon the occasion when they Offered
10 form a non-partisan combination
with the republicans. regard this no
time for the promotion OF partisanpoli-
tics.
'If ] am elected 10 the senate ! shah
90 70 Washington 20 give the president
all the support within my power to help
bring this war TO such an end as will
give permanent peace TO the world, and
believe, infinite glory TO the United
states.
Son Wants TO Go.
"kbout my son, Edsel The full
responsibility for his absence IRON the
firing line in France rests with me.
lie wants 10 90. lie has wanted 70
from the day we declared war, and
he wants TO now. But ! also say that
when the duly authorized authority
saws his services are more needed IN
the army than here in these industries
lie will he found in the front fighting
and will not be found sticking his
spurs into a mahogany desk at Wash
inp,on. lie has had more than a
dozen opportunities TO the latter. lie
could be holding a commission down
there now. bu, he's not built that way
and neither am ].
"They say am a paeifist. I am. ]
hate war despise from the bottom OF
my soul the profiteers who cause
wars But when my country IS driven
INTO war. ! perceive but one duty be-
fore me and that is to place myself to
Ne used 60 the utmost advantage OF our
cane. That is why ! asked the gov
ern eat Is classify my son where he
could he Of the utmost use 10 these
2 t.vitieS known rs the Ford indus
tries.
"Ead | been a politician probably
would have taken the obviously easy
course OF covering up my son IN a uni
form with an assignment IN Detroit,
something which could have been ae-
complshed as examples in different
parts OF the country demonstrate,
"I know and he knows he is OF more
value many times over, right where
he is than he could be as a soldier.
And il YOU think il takes no moral
courage for him TO take the course ne
has. why Just put yourself into ms
place and think Il over
Flay Sacred to Him.
"Now about the flag The spiritual
meaning ot that flag to me is sacred,
utterly loathe the man who would
nut our illg to commercial uses. That
D., what / was discussing when somt
rool,r ior preparedness out OF date
came here and opened the subject OF
the flag. remember the incident well
We were standing in the balcony ol
the power house and he turned TO look
on, OF the window at that flag flying
How can you be against preparedness
with that flag flying theref he asked.
How do YOU know that we shall not
have to hoist the flag Of all nations
when this war Is over' | replied, re-
ierring TO the project for an interna
tional league ior the enforcement OF
peace.
u did not regard the conversation a,
an interview. Neither did he, appar-
emily, since he departed to publish that
which he desired, and not that which
had said. When | saw what he had
put out the contemplate nature ot his
action caused me to ignore it ! can,