The Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 191?-19??, 1919-08-02
STAYED AT HOME DURING WAR
TO HELP IN PLANT-REFUsED
10 TAKE UNIFORM.
FATHER WAS RESPONSIBLE
Declares He Told EdseI That War
Work in Factory Needed Him. !
Would Not Accept Safety
First Commission.

| TO claim full responsibility Tor his son,
Edsei FofdIs, claim for exemption from
the selective draft. HE wanted to
enIiste said Mr., Ford, but told him
that he could do more good where he
was. He was offered several commits
sions which would have permitted him
to wear a uniform and stay right in
the factory, but he wouldn't accept
them.Sl !. 1l;a 3 4 EIfsSi
! Having made their decision, 1t was
] ahown. both Mr.. Ford and his son re
fused to camouhage 1t behind q
swivel chair commission carrying
boots and spurs. .ssaslsAG.HsaiAe-
This subject. the introduction OF
which has been awaited ever since
the trial opened, did not develop along
the lines which had been generally ex-
pected. Mr.. Ford's inclination to
shoulder full responsibility, his state
ment that his son was absolutely
essential to the war work being done
In the factory and his revelation Of
the fact that Edsel Ford turned down
several offers Of a commission, dis
armed criticism. The charges, spread
during a political campaign, and re-
Gently repeated on the floor of the
United States senate, to the effect
that the young president of the Ford
Motor company had shirked his duty
were so fully refuted that Tribune
counsel did not pursue the point.
1t was the first time that full ex-
PLANTATION of the facts in connection
with Edsel Ford's war work has been
made public and it was easily the
feature of the eleventh week OF the
trial.
Henry Ford spent seven days on the
witness stand and of this time he gave
less than two hours to his own law
Kers. AS long as counsel for The
Tribune was hammering him Mr.. Ford
sat quietly in the witness chair an
swering the constant fire Of questions
with great patience. But the instant
his own lawyers took him In hand his
attitude changed. He became self
conscious and. difndent. He would not
accept the efforts OF his counsel to
provide him with an opportunity TO
reveal the full extent OF his patriotic
work during the war, his humanitari-
an views, or his advanced ideas Of
the relations which should exist be-
tween capital and labor.
ut is all in the records" said Mr..
Ford. ut have told 1t all here once.
He avoided, with care. anything that
verged on Boosting. He would not
even describe the extent of the war
work which his factories did and when
record breaking performances in the
production of munitions was mention
ed he declared, I'VE did all we could,
let 1t go at that. ] want to forget
all about 1t. feel just as the soldiers
feel. l don't want to talk about my
war work.
The witness did, however, after be-
ing pressed, explain that his son had
bought out the minority stockholders
of the Ford Motor company because
these interests had insisted on Mr.
Ford squeezing the last dollar out Of
The public, the government, the work
ers and the product. He wanted to
cut loose from his associates, he said,
so that he could carry out his ideas
of the distribution Of profits to EN-.
! ployees through increased wages ami
to the public through lower prices.
1t was either buy or sell and Mr.. Ford
had considered selling and organizing
a new company. His son, however,
took up the task Of buying out the
minority stockholders and succeeded
despite the general belief in the finan.
cial world that this stock could not be
purchased.
One OF the most interesting devotion.
ments Of Mr.. Ford's testimony came
cut when 1t was testified that the only
legislation he has ever sought WIS
that for the protection Of birds. Othe,
men of millions, it was shown. kees
lobbyists In the national and state
capitol to urge and work for special
privileges, but the one favor that NJ
Fold has ever asked from the law
3 makers had nothing to do with hl,
\ own interests. II was a curious bit
Of testimony and left a deep impre.
2 sion on the audience IN the cour
J chamber.
J, The subject was q result OF quS4
2 tons concerning Mr.. Ford's List O
1 friends. He named Thomas Edisor
6 and John Burroughs, the naturalist. a,
his best friends outside Of his i'm
- mediate associates.
t Litigation in which Mr.. Ford Ia
been interested was another subjec
Of interest II was shown that whei
q the automobile business was In thl
first years Of It's growth all manufae
g turers OF motor cars were compells'
S to pay tribute TO what was known a
the Selden patent on internal combni
e ton engines. Mr.. Ford fought INF
patent for seven years and won and b
bis victory freed The entire industr
3 from its shacl1ss and made DOss,bl
he wonderful growth which has meri
e Cd the last few yeafe