Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-07-15
Blast Wrecks u S. Boat; Seven Perish
HIS WAR VIEWS
ARELAID BARE
BY HENRY FORD
Calls All Soldiers Murder
ers and History Bunk
For New Fight.

Mt. Clemens, Mich, July 15.-
Henry Ford made many frank ad-
missions in the course of his tes-
timony today in his 81. 100000 libel
suit against the Chicago Daily
Tribune Examination was by At
torney Elliott G. Stevenson, repre-
senting the Tribune.
Mr.. Ford admitted ignorance OF
history and said that more than
ever he considered it bunk" grow
ing out of tradition; nor had he
any personal use for music or 9th
er forms of art.
All Soldiers Murderers.
He reaf1rmed his belief that
professional soldiers are murderers,
nor would he except Genera.
Pershing or General Grant from
this category. He said that his
present view is for full prepared
ness unless there is q league of
nations, and that If the war just
concluded in Europe does not re-
suit in such a league. he favors
another great war without delay In
order to clean up the situation so
thoroughly that universal peace
would be had 1t developed that
agent for Mr.. Ford, wrote practic-
ally all of Mr.. Ford's pacif1st lit
erature and that much of it was
circulated broadcast without Mr..
Ford having read it.
81 accept full responsibility for
it, however," Mr.. Ford testified
repeatedly.
Flag Brought Forth.
The mysterious flag Of human
ity,' which counsel for the de-
fendant have been demanding ever
since the case began, made its ap-
pearance.
at is the first time 1 ever saw
it." remarked Mr.. Ford.
do you like it better than the
stars and stripes?" asked Mr.. Ste
venson.
Its a different kind of Sag"
answered the witness.
The flag was about by IA feet
with the earth in white on a blue
field. Mr.. Stevenson was attempt
ing to show it to the jury when Mr..
Ford took hold of one end and
said, iii help you"
The emblem, designed to typify
world brotherhood, is said to have
grown out of a remark by Mr..
Ford three or four years ago, when
he said that all national flags
should be succeeded by a flag Cf
humanity under which all men of
all nations might stand.
Denied knowledge of It
Up to today, counsel for Nj.
Ford denied the existence of such a
flag, but said a search for it was
being prosecuted. LAST week Attor-
ney Stevenson said that his infor-
nation was that the flag had been
brought to Mount Clemens and had
where was it found?" asked Mr..
Stevenson.
'I don't know" said Mr.. Ford.
Attorney Stevenson introduced a
pamphlet containing pacifist argu-
which, witness admitted,
was widely distributed at his ex-
pense in 1916.
Mr.. Stevenson quoted Mr.. Ford
as saying preparedness is the root
of war"
THAT meant over-preparedness,'
said Mr.. Ford.
What do you mean when you
say that war is MURDER
War of aggression"
"And those who urge prepared
ness advocate murder?"
"Over-preparedness; yes"
FaVOrs "Sane Preparedness
Witness said that sane prepar-
edness for defense was legitimate.
He had no quarrel with it.
The lawyer quoted from the
peace pamphlet wherein Mr.. Ford
disarmament and asked
if in 1915 Mr.. Ford was opposing
any preparedness whatsoever.
YES" said the witness
Let US disarm and the world |
will follow" Mr.. Stevenson read !
from the booklet.
THAT was a good plan," said tEa !
manufacturer.
Attorney Alfred Lucking OF coun- |
sci for the plaintiff, entered fire.
luent objections. He asserted that |
Mr.. Stevenson should not pick oW |
stray phrases, but should give the !
entire articles when he read from |
the pamphlet.
Mr.. Ford never advocated any
hing but universal disarmament"
said Mr. Lucking.
Strong For 1t Now.
You state in this book that there |
was ring trying to drive us into
war;" continued Mr.. Stevenson.
Can you give US one member of
hat ring?"
No"
Gould you them"
81 don't know that l could"
$50 you wrote this without !
Knowing anything about it,"
"Oh. hardly that. l had read
some"
President Wilson was one of
hose who urged the preparedness
which you call murder?"
"Over-preparedness; am strong
or preparedness now"
you were not in 1857"
81 thought our preparedness a.
hat time was adequate"
TRADE LICENSES ISSUED.
Washington, July 15.-Licenses
trade between the Unit