Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-07-17
FORD GAVE HIRED
WRITER FREE HvNO

FORD is NOT SURE.

rpRD is NOT SURE.
Il don't know whether 1t Is a fact
or not. that is for the jury to decide"
said Mr.. Ford
Later in the examination, when the
question was repeated, Mr.. Ford
shook head slowly and declared that
he did not consider himself an isnor-
ant idealist
| This was not the only volunteered
testimony with which the manufacN
; turer surprised his counsel The dues-
/ ton Of preparedness was under dis
cussion and MIR. Stevenson was pur.
suing Mr.. Fords Characterization OF
preparedness advocates, murderers.
! 81 advocated preparedness after we
got into the war" said Mr. Ford
81 WAS A MURDERER"
But / was speaking of 1915 and
1916" explained the lawyer.
The witness in an apparent an
straction ignored the dates and fol-
I lowing his own train of thought,
added:
II was a murderer just as well as
anybody else
you were murderer fasped
| Mr.. Stevenson.
Il was a party to 1t. one of the
/ helpers" said the witness calmly.
=. do you mean that in 1917 you were
the same kind of murderer that
advocates Of preparedness were in
1915 and 1852"
NO; We were in the war in 1917;
in 1915 we were not"
Mr.. Ford described an dealist as one
who helps to make people prosperous An
anarchist he said with conviction, was
one who throws bombs and seeks to over
turn government. He thought that
''bally- hoo" was "a black guard" until
counsel explained to him that 1t is
bit of theatrc jargon applied to the criers
outside shows. Questioned further wit
ness. evidently with Arnold Bennett IN
mind, hazarded the opinion that the
revolutionary traitor Benedict Arnold
was a writer. He has forgotten what year
the United States organized as nation
and asked what the country was before
that event said that he guessed that 1t
was land" He defined treason as any
thing against the government" and said
that a traitor, in his opinion was any
one who advocates over-preparedness or
war for aggression
| Having stated that in his opinion the
army and the navy in 1916 were adequate
for defense. Mr. Stevenson. asked him a
number of questions as to the size of the
army and the disposition of the troops
at that time, but witness was able to
return only vague answers or none at
all.
VIEWS ON CASE OF MEXICO
Did you ever hear any one talking
about having an American army to in
wade any other country" queried the
Tribune lawytr.
Yes. to invade Mexico.
And men who advocated training men
TO go into Mexico and pacify that coun-
try. YOU regarded traitors?'
Not to pacify: to burglarize'
An objection cut short this line Of in
quiry. Mr.. Stevenson asked what were
the relations between the United States
and Porto Rico.
I'VE keep some of the army there,
guess
Stevenson that the question was far out
side the case.
1T is rather an intricate relation to ask
the witness to explain to you said the
court This led to comment on Mr.
Ford's recent senatorial campaign.
This Witness" said Mr.. Stevenson
was a candidate for United States sena
tor; he was an educator of the people
surely the standard that applies to the
average who does not assume &c
. educate the people or to qualify as 6
statesman, does not apply to Mr.. Ford
: Mr. Ford nterposed say that il
five minutes if he wanted to know HI
could get man to tell him all abou
the Porto Rican relations,
DIDN'T WANT TO GO TO SENATE
You could not find man who woulc
MIA in 10 ~
sna ppcd Attorney Stevenson
II never wanted to go to the United
States Senate replied the manufac
= turer
Il might add that the people didn'
. want him either, hut I won't" said Mr.
: Stevenson. Mr.. Luckng declared tina
. the remark was a dirty slur," and thu
y court cautioned the Tribune attorney.
Much of the session was taken VI
- in the reading of four of the speeche
v Of President Wilson in January AM
y February of 1915 made q Kansas City
q Des Moines Chicago and cleveland, il
: which he stated that the country wa
u treading among dangers: that any da,
u might see the United states plunge
y into the European conflict, and tina
u there was urgent need to enlarge tn
+ army and navy and to take other pre-
- paredness measures.
u The purpose of the recitation was {
/ show that Mr.. Ford's structures on pre-
II paredness advocates were made in op
position to the President Mr.. For
II admitted that the DelaviEne bookle
e and the pacifstic articles. "Humanit
n and Sanity" and Concerning Prepared
ness" in which the futilty and vast
g. of war were pointed out and the Unite
n States urged to take leadership in dis
r armament. were published hroadcas
S after the Presidents speaking tour. Nj
h Lucking stated that some of the arti
S Giles in tho booklet we're printed /
e newspapers prior to 1915.
!, Mr.. Ford will be questioned to-mor
at row and probably Friday.
VERMONT CASUALTIES
oil 1tetc