The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1919-07-18
FORD THINKS BEER
AND WINE ON { OF
BIG WARS CAUSES
SAYS USE or 'EM MADE GERMANS
AND FRENCH SUSPICIOUS
or EACH OTHER

ldu DctN III SeSSloll nNttllN N'hN' H'"' -
today before Henry Ford, plaintiff in
the 81 900 600 libel suit against the Chi
cago Daily Tribune, resumed the wit.
ness stand The opening hours We're
consumed with testimony by Kirke b.
Alexander and the reading of a maGa,
zine article on Mr. Ford by John Reed
in 1916.
"rhc article says you live in a mil.
lion.dollar house." said Attorney Elliott
G. Stevenson. representing the Tribune.
"Morc than that, | think"
"a million and a half?"
"Wcll, l don't really know"
Maybe YOU don't want to know"
Il told them not TO tell me- said Mr..
Ford, laughing.
Mr. Reed paints you as a very demo.
cratic person who loves to sit on a
ncighbor's back porch and talk. The
neighbors don't sit ON your back porch,
do they? Guards keep them away, don't
they?"
An objection was sustained.
MIR. Ford said that Reed gathered
virtually all of the statements in his
=
Witness suggested that Reed borrowed
some of it from an article by Henry y.
Wise Wood about disbelief in national
boundaries and proposing a flag of all
people.
Mr. Ford opposed the use of alcoholic
drink and Mr.. Reed pointed out that
the Germans thrived ON beer ami the
French on wine.
Yes, and | think that was one of the
causes Of the war" said Mr.. Ford
How" asked the lawyer
ut made them suspicious of each
other"
kirke b. Alexander, an advertising
agent of Detroit, was placed on the
stand
In December. 1917, he said, he in
tcrvicwed Mr.. Ford at a luncheon in
the Ford factory at which Alfred Luck
ing, Mr. Fords attorney, and a man
named Smith were present.
Mr. Ford in the course of "A gen
eral conversation said that if Germany
had not invaded Belgium, France and
England would, related the witness.
Il asked him if he thought Germany
VAS ready foI pea, .nd ne said yes,
that the kaiser was He said that was
why he went over in the peace ship,
but he was not allowed to see the kai-
ser"
Witness said that the Ford plant
was selling motors to the government
at that time, but MIR. Ford said it was
not for profit and he did not consider
them munitions Of war, The conVersa-
ton turned on the defeat of Russia
and it was stated that poor people held
many of the bonds and would suffer.
According to Mr.. Alexander, the follow
ing remarks followed
Mr.. Ford-"Let them go to work"
Mr.. Lucking-"Perhaps many of
them are sick"
Mr.. Ford-"Then let them get we'll"
on cross examination by Attorney
Alfred G. Murphy, witness recalled
that there was some further talk con
cerning the peace efforts of the pope
and of Lord Lansdowne. on redirect
examination it developed that Mr..
Alexander handled the famous Ford
advertisement headed Concerning Pre-
paredness.'
II read it over and noticed that it
was signed by Mr.. Ford" said the wit.
ness. Il went to him to make sure
he had read it and reminded him that
by his signature he was accepting full
responsibility for the sentiments ex.
pressed. He said he understood that.
The advertisement was printed in
number of prominent papers with
combined circulation of about 4,000,-
900"
Mr.. Alexander said that it cost Mr.
Ford $4,000 to publish Concerning
Preparedness" Humanity and Sanity"
and one other advertisement Reading
of the Reed article then was resumed.
Mr. Ford testified yesterday that he
knew Reed. The latter, in the course
of his article, recountcd that Mr.. Ford
belonged to none of the exclusive De-
troit clubs, but preferred of a plea
SAINT evening to sit on neighbor's back
porch and talk things over" He has
a mind of appalling simplicity" wrote
Mr.. Reed. The article was laudatory
and the words poor ignorant Mr..
Ford We're used in an admiring way,
with reference to Mr. Ford advancing
wages and doubling his production.
Mr.. stevenson invited attention of
the witness to testimony of Henry A.
Wise Wood, who quoted him as stating
that he would take down the American
flag from his factory never to go up
again. This was published in the De
troit Free Press in report Of a speech
by Mr.. Wood.
Did you read it in the Free Press?"
asked the lawyer.
My attention was called to it."
Did you write a denial of il to the |
Free Press?"
Not that / recall"
And Theodore Deavigne. your pub. |
licty man, wrote to Mr.. Wood stating
that you were grateful for what he
has said"
Il don't remember"
'Do you wish to retract what you
said about Mr.. Wood yesterday. that
he was a slave of the big interests?"
Not slave; he is simply controlled |
by them" said Mr. Ford.
''He was for preparedness.
"Oh. that's it-he was a slave be- |
cause he was an advocate of prepared |
ness" said the lawyer. In the same |
class with President Wilson,"
No
Both are in the murder class"
NO
But you said yesterday that you |
yourself We're a murderer in 1912"
NO, a murder helper"
The attorney was unable to get the |
witness to place the president in the |
murder class except by deduction |