The Era-leader., 1919-08-07
NO SWIVEL CHAIR
FOR FORD'S SON
STAYED AT HOME DURING WAR
TO HELP IN PLANT-REFVSEO
TO TAKE UNIFORM.
FATHER WAS RESPONSIBLE
Declares He Told Edsel That War
Work In Factory Needed Him.
Would Not Accept Safety
First Commission.

Mt. Clemens, Mich.-Henry Foro'
during the last hour Of bis seven days
on the witness stand, took occasion
to claim full responsibility foz his son.
Edsel Ford's, claim for exemption from
the selective draft. He wanted "
enlist said Mr.. Ford, but told him
that he could do more good where he
was. He was offered several com1als'
sions which would have permitted him
to wear q uniform and stay right IN
the factory. but he wouldn't accept
them"
Having made their decision. 1t WAS
shown, both Mr.. Ford and his son fe'
fused to camounage 1t behind J
swivel chair commission carrying
boots and spurs.
This subject, the Introduction "
which has been awaited ever since
tho trial opened. did not develop along
the lines which had been generally OK
pected. Mr.. Ford's inclination 20
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 9 commission, dis.
armed criticism. The charges, spread
during a political campaign, and re'
Gently repeated on the hoor OF tho
United States senate, to the effect that
the young president Of the Ford Motor
company had shirked his duty were 80
lily refuted that Tribune counsel did
not pursue the point.
1t was the first time that a full ex'
planation of the facts In connection
with Edsel Ford's war work has been
made public and 1t was easily the
feature OF the eleventh week Of tho
trial.
Henry Ford spent seven days on the
witness stand and OF this time he
gave less than two hours to his owh
lawyers. AS long as counsel for The
Tribune was hammering him MI. 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 difldent. He would not
accept the efforts Of bis counsel to
provide him with an opportunity to
reveal the full extent Of his patriotic
work during the war, his humanitart.
an views, or bis advanced ideas Of the
relations which should exist between
capital and labor. ....
1T is all in the records said Mr..
Ford. II have told It all here once"
He avoided, with care. anything that
verged on boastins. He would not
even describe the extent Of the war
work which his factories did and when
record breaking performances in tho
production Of munitions was mention.
ed he declared, "ke did all We could,
Jet 1t go at that. I want to forget
all about It l feel Just a. the sol.
diers feel. don't want to talk about
my war work."
The witness did, however, after b.
ing pressed, explain that his son had
fought out the minority stockholders
of Il "A Ford Motor company because
these intn ests had insisted on Mr..
Ford squeezing the last dollar out OF
he puDl'c, 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 and
o the plblic through lower prices.
, 1t was either buy or sell and Mr.. Ford
had cons dered selling end organizing
Il new company. His son, howeva:,
took ur. the task OF buying out .he
minority stockholders and succeeded,
dispite the general BELIEF in the ,nan.
cial world that this stock could not bo
purchased.
One Of the most interesting develop.
, ments of Mr.. Ford's testimony camo
out when it was testified tina. the only
Legislation re, has ever sought was
th't for the pro'ection OF birds. OtnsY
men OF millions, 1t was shown, keen
lobbyists in the national and state
capitol to urge and work for special
privileges, but the one favor that Mr.
Ford has ever asked from the law
makers lad nothing to do with h.,
cwn IN erests. It was curious bit Of
], lest .mory and left deep impressi N
on the audience in the court chambe,
The subject was result of ques
tons concerning Mr.. Fords list o,
niends He named Thomas Ediscu
and John Burroughs. the naturalist, al
3 lis best friends outside Of his i'm
. mediate associates.
Litigation in which Mr.. Ford Ia,
been interested was another subjec,
OF interest. 1t was shown that wher
the automobile business was In TIL
first years of It's growth all manufac