South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-05-23

THE HENRY FORD-CHICAGO TRIBUNE
LIBEL SUIT.

Il will be a considerable contribution, and one Of
immense value to newspapers OF the Chicago Trib-
une yellow" order. If out Of the Henry Ford libel
suit ar Mt Clemens Mich, trial there
should emerge definition Of that term anarchist
that people may when it is safe to use it. and
what Il really implies. Just now, and for a consid-
cradle time past. anarchy in the parlance Of q
great many people rippes of from their tongues as
meaning pretty much anything that all you at
the time If It IS to their liking. Like boshe-
visna it is an epithet in the vocabulary Of the
apostles '1aissez faire" awaiting the opportunity of
being hurled at whoever dares TO lift voice
point finger in condemnation of things as they are
or to propose an improvement.
..Ford is an anarchist" said the Chicago Tribune
when Mr.. Ford opposed American invasion of
Mexico back in June. 1916. It is the basis of the
libel suit All Of have that term used rather
promscuously. The elder J. Perpont Morgan used
it against the automobile king at the time that
the latter introduced profit sharing in his factory
along with the SIS day minimum wage. Ford was
denounced then as an anarchist" because a
traitor 20 his class'-the capitalist class,-and
from that it spread until anything and everything
that Mr.. Ford did 'anarchistic" even to run
ming for the United States senate Ford did not be
lieve the United States should Mexico pro-
tect the adventures there of our soldiers of for
tune" such the Morgan interests. the Hartman
interests the Rockefeller interests, the Interna-
tionaI Harvester interests of which ne asserts the
Tribune is a of official organ. and therefore be
ing indsposed TO having his country made the plant
tool Of these interests and its young slain in
their behalf the Tribune says he lis anarchist
Which too. quite as Elliott c. Stevenson.
counsel for the Chicago newspaper says is a quite
popular application the term; sufficiently that
ne seems to assume that the courts should justify
TT oil
anarchist" ne asserts, does not of necessity imply
that ne is bomb-thrower, but may signify that he
is a teily-hsh." This latter seems the view
Tribune wants take of him in calling him
anarchist for opposing invasion of Mexico,
even Morgan applied him for conceding
larger distribution OF the rewards of labor among
his employees
But that is not anarchy at ALL in its proper sense.
burt rather a preventative OF anarchy and we viii
have which the courts hang TO. Anarchy.
Webster, other reliable authorities define it,
means headless government; implies that all gov
eminent is evil and a thing be rid Of, while as
an economic and social theory it declares for a sys-
TEN under which each person produces what he
pleases. in what manner he pleases and consumes
disposes OF n ne wills without regulation or
interference II is eerministic full meas
OF individualism claiming full emancipation
from all social, moral or economic law Commun-
ism terrorism nihilism are its nearest synonyms
3 Does Mr. Ford belong in any Of these classes II
not then he IS Hbeled. anarchy being a defa ma
tory term, tending 20 expose a man 10 the hatred
reproach. contempt and ridicue OF his fellows
From newspaper standpoint we might hope that
The courts viii throw down the bars and render il
the privilege OF press TO run wild as it pleases
but II might be dangerQus 10 the public particu-
larly when such "yeows" - the Chicago Tribune
care little for existing restraints Remove the
restraints and heaven only knows what that paper
might print 1t cares little enough truth and
It's respect for law and government-unless it De
government under republican dictation.-as IL Is In
deed this is true that wonder If it isn't Just
trhe anarchists i'm its tendencies itself: claim
ing full emancipation from all SOCIAL moral or
economic law, that runs counter TO it's Judgment
the Ford-Tribune libel suit promises to become
one Of the most interesting instructive libel suits
OF recent years and viii probably b. listed among
the leading cases-certauly so if the definition is
placed upon that word anarchist" that the de-
PENDANTS lawyers are seeking TO give 20 d.