The sun., 1919-05-17
FORD ENUMERATES
LIBELOUS CLAUSES
Attorney in Million Dollar
Suit Refutes Charge That
Volunteers Were Dropped.
ALLEGES PLOT IN MEXICO
Counsel for Chicago Tribune
Accepts Challenge and JUS
titles the Attack.
SPECIAL Despatch TO TBs srx.


Mount CLEMENS, Mich, Nav 16.--
Henry Ford and his son Edseli occupied
teats with their attorneys when court
opened to-day in the 1000, 900 libel suit
brought by the automobile manufacturer
tganst the Chicago Tribune. They were
Interested listeners to the opening ad-
dress Of Alfred ]. Murphy, who repre-
tents the Ford interests
Mr.. Murphy opened his address by re-
lerring TO editorials calling Mr.. Ford an
anarchist.
The United States had not then en-
tered the war;" he said I'VE were nell
tai The agencies of the Government
we're trying to preserve our neutrality
Under recognition of the rules of inter-
lational law we were engaged In selling
munitions of war to the belligerent
Powers. We were trying to keep out OF
he world war in June, 1916"
Mr.. Murphy read the alleged libel
EDITORIAL in full.
We shall establish to your satisfac-
ton he said, that the basis of this
trtlce Is tissue Of lies and deliberate
les in at least five respects:
Lie No. THAT guardsmen employed
BY Ford would lose their places.
Lie No. THAT no provision would
pe Hldue TOT tnelr dependents,
Lie No. S-That their families could
get along as best they might.
Lie No 4-That when they returned
they would have to apply for their old
Jobs as strangers
Lie No b-That this rule applied to
the Ford plants everywhere.
Volunteers All Protected.
We might we'll rest our statement
here" went on Mr.. Murphy, and say to
the defendant: Here is malice prove
that 1t is not here are lies, prove that
they are not
But We do not stop there. We are
willing to open up to prove that the
whole fabric of the Tribune article is
based on the shifting sands OF falsehood
and not on the rock OF truth"
The lawyer then took up the accuse
ton that guardsmen employed by Ford
would lose their places.
On the contrary" he said I'VE will
snow thai these men were assured tina,
their positions would be held for them
and each one who Joined the guard was
gwen a numbered disk to identify hin
when he came back"
Referring to Ties Nos and 3" Mr.
Murphy said they would be ref,Ited by
members Of families OF guardsmen who
had been given relief by the Ford Motor
Company.
Mind you. gentlemen" went on Mr.
Murphy. these things were going or
quietly as matters Of routine before the
Tribune editorial was printed Instead OF
penalizing them. Mr. Ford safeguarded
them and theirs In every possible way
and that was and is the Ford policy
everywhere.
"one OF the Ford employees Joined the
National Guard after he had been an en-
ployee for only three weeks" said Mr.
Murphy. but II was arranged that his
probationary time should go on while he
was absent, so that II he returned after
six months absence he would be imme-
dlately entitled to a share OF the profits
That, gentlemen, we shall show, was the
Ford policy
PrO-GermRnism Charge Stands.
The charge of pro-Germanism made
by Mr.. Murphy and directed at the
TrIbune's defence OF American!sm after
the acceptance OF the jury Thursday
apparently has removed the last OBJ
stacle IN the way of the theory that The
case should be postponed to influence
the worlds favorable verdict rather than
10 sway merely the minds of the twelve
mel selected from the vicinity OF Mount
Clemens
Mr.. Murphy said the plaintifr would
produce evidence to show that Mrs
EleGnor Patterson. who with her sister
Mrs Katherine Mccormick, controls the
stock Of the Tribune Company, main.
tains residence in Washington and
ina: in 1915 when the alleged libelous
editorial was published Mrs. Patterson
was on friendly social terms with Am.
hassador Won Bernstorff, and that she
was Tot on such terms with Ambassador
cprlng-Rice, representing Great Britain
nor with the Amba ssadors of countries
alled with Great Britain in the war
MT. Murphy. in addressing the jury
iaId great stress on the alleged report
that the principal owners OF the Tribun,
are holders of Standard OIL and Interna
nonal Harvester Company stock. both
these great Corporations having extensive
interests in Mexico He endeavored &c
snow that the Tribuns's policy was &c
prevent the shipping Of arms abroad &c
resist the Entente Allies.
Defence States Its Case.
The whole OF the afternoon session
vas consumed by Weymouth Kirkland
counsel for the defence. Not a sounC
vas heard in the court room while Mr.
kirkland, in n masterful and classic
manner admitted that the Tribune wat
ior intervention in Mexico. He told OF
tAH raids by villa. the shooting of a
NIUE group of sixteen Americans who
we're taken from train, stood up along
elue the railroad and shot only one
escaping by hiding in the brush near
Dy the murder and burning Of Ameri.
can soldiers and other atrocious crimes
sAd announced that the seventeenth man
IN the little band of Americans, the
onIy survivor, would give his testimony
r. this trial
MI kirkland recited to the jury the
ia'ts That led up to the publishing OF
he anarchist editorlal'-how the in.
IWmau"n was obtained from an au.
t""r'z'd official OF the Ford Motor Com.
pahF 20 the form Of a seventy five word
i"r,S'S', and told the jury that the
L"1'"' counsel were prepared to show
'na' Ia" editorial was substantially cor.
i''' lie read the definition of the word
d"ar'nl't ~ given by Lindley NJ Gar.
OF War.
4. IN other words the use of force Il
VI" basis Of government. 1t is wha
government stands for" said Mr.. Kirk
,eh'' The very term itself is explicit
'D'einment the right or power to com
pel obedience to the law. that is al
So, 'lnent Is; the right to compe
'o'ees TO Dragging in Women.
In their efforts to prove we wanted
var with Mexico for the purpose O
eep'ng munitions from the Allies the,
uas ~ couple of women. Mrs. Kathe
tlNe Mccormick p,otbar ~ ri ID u