New-York tribune., 1919-05-21
Ford Libel Case
Arguments Are to
Continue To-day
Jury Is Dismissed While
Counsel for Both Sides
Plead for and Against
Admission of Evidence

MOUNT CLEMENS, Mich, MAY 90
The members Of the farmer Jury in the
Ford-"Chicago Tribune" 81 ,O0O,O libel
case, who were reported busy in their
fields to-day while counsel argued
points of law on the scope of the evil
dence, can continue at their plough to-
morrow, for the discussion was not
concluded and will continue before
Judge Tucker tomorrow.
Attorney Horace K. Tenny, who made
a special study of libel decisions for
THE Tribune" and who began his COM
mcnt yesterday, finished at noon to-
oay. In the afternoon Alfred Lucking,
representing Henry Ford, spoke stead
lly without recess and not only mott
ned the court at adjournment that he
had much more to say tomorrow, but
that his "associates were loaded" 1t
was also said that counsel for "The
Tribune might have more to say
Favors Full Argument
Il realize the Importance of this
phase of the case and have no desire to
curtal counsel in any way" remarked
Judge Tucker
In concluding his address for "The
Tribune" Mr.. Tenney said:
Are we to have no opportunity. as
urged by the other side, of showing
that under all these editorial comments
and all this editorial campaign for
military and naval preparedness there
was in its best and true meaning the
sentiment and desire to have Anne rica
and Americans stand for America and
to uphold that which we recognize as
public law and public order? And is it
not open to us, your honor to present
to the jury such evidence as will en-
able the jury to judge whether our
motives we're patriotic or sordd?
May we not show in fairness that
the condition existing at the time of
the alleged libelous editorial, and be-
fore, was condition of such anarchy
IN Mexico that force from the outside
alone could stop it, and that, therefore.
any one who advocated the abolition of
the only means through which govern
mental force could be exercised was
contributing directly, whether he un-
derstood it or intended it, to the pro-
motion and the continuance of that
condition Of anarchy, and that thus a
public writer was justified in using
compactly the word anarchist to de-
note the tendency of his doctrines ?"
Lucking Defends Ford
Mr.. Lucking then addressed the
Court
Il gather it is the desire of 'Tril
une' counsel to try some case other
than the one at issue here" he said.
Some of their arguments are persua-
slve, but unsound. 1t seems to me
that the issues as they have outlined
them have been left in a confused con-
dltlon, whereas the law of libel is
clear, especially as it covers case
like this one We shall refer literally
to Michigan decisions to prove our
contention. They claim that the whole
subject of preparedness comes proper
y before this court. In other words.
that what must be decided by Con
gress must first be decided here"
Mr.. Lucking then read an editorial
from yesterdays "Tribune," in which
the case was referred to, not as a per
sonal affair between Mr.. Ford and the
publishers, but as great public issue.
with pacifists and internationalists on
one side and nationalists on the other.
contest between idealsts and rcalists