The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-07-22

Q. 1 am not talking about the lam
guage. / am asking the substance OF
the expression. understand this Is
Mr. Abbott's language.
A. I don't remember of being con-
WINGED at the time that we wers.
Q. Whether you were convinced, you
thought that that was the situation.
didn't you?
A. Well. I don't know about that.
Had in Mind Foes of Peace.
Q. You had In mind the foes OF peace
we're the people engaged In that war,
and you said that 1t was started by mil
itarists?
A. We did talk some of the causes Of
war. think. never saw the article,
and II was long time ago.
Q. Mr.. Abbott says he read this to
A. doubt very much that he read an
OF It
Q. Let us see what is the matter with
this:
1T was convinced, as soon as had an
opportunity to study the war situation In
Europe at first hand, that this war could
be ended only by crushing the foes of
peace"
A. didn't study the war very much
In Europe.
@. (Readins): Ever since returned
from the peace ship expedition have
devoted all my thought. energy and re-
sources to this end"
Q. rs that true, or isn't II?
A. don't remember talking about
that
O. isn't all this article, or a great
part of this article. about what you were
doing about the present war?
A. Yes. it goes clear Back to the peace
ship, and don't remainder talking about
that at that time.
Q. The whole thing is built around the
peace ship?
A. ! don't know.
All About Peace Ship.
Q. And pictures of the peace ship at
the head Of IL?
A. don't know what the whole ar
ticls is.
9. I am Just asking about this that Is
in this here because 1t seems TO he a
condensed statement OF things that re.
fer to the article itself.
A. Yes.
Q That you were engaged then very
actively in the support OF the Govern
ment7
A Yes. sir.
Q. And that this war you were In ia
war before that time?
A. I was in favor OF this war after
We got into IT,
Q. And that you had. since your re-
turn from Europe. devoted your energy.
your time and your thoughts TO seeing
what you could do?
A. That Is not true.
Q. To that end. to bring about peace
A. No. that isn't true.
Q. Before this country got into the
war certainly you were opposed to war
or the country going into the war?
A. Yes
Q. And you were opposed to the coun-
try preparing for war more than It was
then preparing.
A. More than was needed.
Q. Now, then, there came a time when
you changed your mind and found that
the country did need more preparedness,
and I want to know when that was?
A. II WAS when We broke off.
Q. Broke off what?
When HI. Mind Changed.
A. When we broke off diplomatic re-
lations with Germany.
@. Was that the first time that you
had given it any thought?
A. 1t was the first time had given
any thought TO II
O. You found, when you got around
to preparing for this war. that this coun-
try was entirely unprepared for II. didn't
you?
A. thought We were pretty we'll pre-
pared to do anything that was necessary.
Q. You found that 1t was totally un-
prepared. and did not even have any air
planes?
A. In my opinion. We did not know
how to make them.
Q. They didn't have any, old they?
a. No.
Q, And everywhere there had to be a
great rush of people to get ready and
prepare themselves for carrying on and
taking part In the war?
A. Yes
q. Practically all OF the great In
dustrial facilities Of the country were
| engaged as quickly as possible to start
In the work?
A. War work. yes.
Q. want to ask you a fair question,
or what seems to me a fair question.
| Mr.. Ford. Didn't you find tNat you were
mistaken IN your views that you enter
tanned prior TO the time the country
actually became engaged in this case /?
His Opinion Unchanged.
A. NO, sir.
Q. You were still OF the opinion that
the country should not be prepared more
than they were prepared2
A. ! was still of the opinion that we
were right and were we'll prepared
Q. Didn't you find that 1t took long
months, and even years. to make propa-
rations after we really did get started ?
A. We had good factories and facili-
ties.
Q. Even the factories had to be re-
equipped. didn't they?
A. Not cars.
.. You had to change your machln-
cry?
\. OF course. some things. yes.
Q, Didn't YOU have any VOL, l
won't press that.
A. ! certainly did not.
Q. Did you change your mind that the
| soldiers who entered the Federal army
were murderers?
A. This was not a war OF aggression.
.. They became professional soldiers,
didn't they. according to your definition ?
Not Professional Soldiers.
A No. they did not. l don't think so.
No, sir. There were no professional
soldiers In that war.
@ The Regular Army was there,
weren't they2
A. Yes, guess they were
Q. Don't you know the Regular sol
diers were the first TO be sent over with
Gen, Pershing to face the enemy
| A possibly didn't know it at the
time. yes
q Don't Won know ~ pnu7