The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-07-17
HIS IDEAS OF
PEACE AND WAR
Witness in Million Dollar Libel
Suit Tells of Conversation
With Henry
Ford.
BELGIUM NOT INsULTED
II Presidents, Kings and Emperors
Were Put In Trenches, War
Would Soon be
Stopped.

limited Press Leased Wire Service.
MOUNT CLEMENS, Mich, July
l17.-Henry Ford gave way as wit.
ness here today to Kirkland D. Alex.
ander. Detroit publicity man, In his
million dollar suit against the Chi
cago Tribune and was an interested
listener to quotations regarding war
and war makers, which Alexander
said were culled from conversations
with the automobile manufacturer.
Alexander said Ford remarked that
"if the prime ministers, presidents,
kings and emperors were put in the
trenches they could find way to
end the war"
Ford added, he said, "yes, there is
no hate in the trenches, as usually
the men who make money out of the
wars are men who start them and we
finish them"
"Do you think Germany has in
suited Belgium p Alexander said he
asked Ford.
NO" was Ford's reply, the wit
ness said. "rf Germany had not done
SO, England or France would have
beaten them to it."
Alexander said Ford expressed the
belief that Germany was ready for
peace about the time the peace ship
idea was discussed with him and for
that reason he launched his famous
"out of the trenches by Christmas"
project. =
THAT is why took the peace trip.
l knew the kaiser was ready to talk
peace, but | wasn't able to reach
him." Alexander quoted Ford.
1--WE would have been in the
war II we had not
had war on with England" Ford
said, according to Alexander.
ri expressed surprise to hear such
talk by Mr.. Ford" said Alexander.
IT asked him If he was making muni-
tions to make money His answer
was mo- he said he was not making
Alexander said Ford told him his
peace trip" had shown him the Ger
man people and emperor were for
peace, but the people who started
the war prevented peace. He said
Fcrd told him the nation could not
accept the pope's terms because that
would leave the pope too high"
After Alexander's testimony
lengthy magazine article by J;hn
Reed was read to the Jury.
Flag Was Myth.
MOUNT CLEMENS, Mich, july II
Henry Ford's international flag was
a myth, the autom obile manufacturer
claimed today.
Recalled to the stand in his million
lollar libel suit against the Chicago
Tribune, Ford was quizzed sharply on
alleged remarks concerning univer-
sal flag, patriotism and the American
lag.
Did you ever say you were going to |
'uu down the Stars and Stripes after |,
he war and never raise it again-that |
'ou were designing a new flag?" At |
orney Stevenson, of the Tribune,
lsked Ford.
Il don't remember making such a !
'emark. never saw the flag until re- i
ently."
Stevenson checked UP the testi. |
nony of Irving Bacon, that he had I
worked on flag design at the time of |
lords interview with John Reed, a |
magazine writer.
81 never saw but one design of the
lag and that was a small one" Ford
'aid.
The Reed interview came In for
much discussion. 1t quoted Ford as
aging he thought the business of
woman was to keep house and raise
. family.
1t contained the following quoted
expressions on which Stevenson was
to touch in his examination:
Il wouldn't give nickel for ali the
history in the world; think flags are
lily. If the country is rotten, the ,
lag Is rotten. When this war is over |
hat flag will come down and be re. I
,laced by a flag of all nations which
s being designed in my office right
ow. 1 don't believe in prepared. /
ess; working men will unset wars