The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-07-24
HENRY FORD MAY
Be UNOPPOSED IN
SENATORIAL RACE
CONTINUED from First Page1
Ford to win him a unanimous cleo
ton to the United States Senate.

CContinued from First Pagej
Ford to win him a unanimous cleo
ton to the United States Senate.
Runs on Two Tickets.
Mr.. Ford's friends will enter his
name in both the Republican and
Democratic primaries. There is moth
ing in the law TO prevent This. His
friends predict that he will over
whelmingly win both nominations.
Then he must choose, under the pro
visions of the law, which ticket he
VIII run on in the election. It is con-
hdently predicted that he will choose
to make the race on the Republican
ticket and withdraw his name from
the Democratic ticket. The Demo-
Gratis, being eminently satisfied with
Mr. Ford, being his sponsor, are likely
to refuse to name anyone in his place
on their ticket AS a result. Mr..
Ford probably will run in the fall
elections as a Republican unopposed.
But oh, what a Republican he will
be-" wall the politicians of Michigan
OF the standpat type who have con-
trolled the state virtually since the
civil war.
Henry Ford may be a Republican
IN name. He may sit on the Re-
publican side after he qualities as
Senator.
But he will vote mostly with the
Democrats. He will also vote to up
hold the hands and policies OF Presi-
dent Wilson He will be continuous
thorn in the side OF the old Republi-
can organization
Picayunish politicians OF the State
view this situation whereby a man OF
Independent thought may be elected
10 the Senate with much alarm.
They now declare. that unless Henry
Ford makes a definite statement be-
Tore the primary ballots are printed
setting forth which party he will affi-
late with the event of his, nomina-
ton, they will resort to the courts
IN an effort to prevent Ford's name
being printed on both primary ballots. |
Baird ProtestE-
State Game Warden John Baird one |
OF the political oracles Of the State, |
maintains the legislature did not in |
tend to open the way whereby a man
could be a candidate of two parties /
in the primary. It is his contention |
that this provision was put into the
law to cover a situation arising when
the name Of the candidate of one |
party Is written on the ballot OF
another party. Baird does not be-
ueve the law was designed to permit /
a man to file two sets OF petitions |
But the fact remains that there is no |
provision in the law to prevent the /
secretary of state from accepting the
petitions. The secretary OF state is /
afraid to do otherwise, and the poll
ticians are baked.
All this cantapkerous and petty op-
position to Ford makes the ordinary
voter Of the State lsuEh. In fact It
Is advertising Ford and bringing him
votes every day. Like the Roosevelt
tan attack made upon Ford by
Charles S. Osborn, 1t is acting as a
boomerang. 1t has overshot the mark.
But the schemings OF the politicians
do not stop here. As il convinced that
Ford cannot be prevented from win
ming the election, the politicians have n
raked up law which they say will L
ehectually bar him from ever taking
the oath OF office as Senator. This is
a Criminal statute making IL a crime II
for Senator after his election to be
Interested in a Government contract II
Now, MT. Ford probably is doing
more contract work to win the war
for the Government than any Que h
man in the United States. So the poll
ticians thought they had him on this
criminal Statute. They expected %
friEhten him into retiring from the
race. But Mr.. Ford had plenty Of
ecod legal advisers. He would never
Rave entered the race had there been
any legal bar to his qualifying as
Senator AS a matter OF fact. The |
politicians, in their eagerness to get"
Mr Ford, overlooked one provision cf
the law.
Fully Protected.
This insignificant provision made an
exception in the case Of members of
corporations elected to Congress and
holding Government contracts Mr.
Ford as an individual could not be a
Senator and a holder OF Government ,
Contract without subJecting himself
TO the payment Of a heavy fue. But |
as head Of great corporation he
can go as far as he likes.
He can be Senator and keep right
on making submarine destroyerF,
tractors, shell castings. tanks. Liberty
motor engines, helmets. munitions Of
all kinds, ambulances, and army auto 3
mobiles. Indeed. he can help win the !
war both in and out OF the Senate. 4
AS for the people OF Michigan, the
ordinary folk who drive Ford ma
chimes and do the voting, they are not
much bothered about political labels
this year. They know Henry Ford by
name. and they know from his accom-
plishments that he is the type they ,
want for Senator. Furthermore they ]
see no reason why he cannot continue 4
to use his great Industrial plants in
making war materials, while at the
same time employing his business
genius and humRnitarianism in soly-
ing the great war problems in the
Senate.