The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-07-15
Clean Up World if League Not
Formed, Ford Urges.
Need Fullest Preparedness
Without World Union.
IMPLIES PERSHING MURDERER
Mysterious "FIag of Humanity"
Appears at Libel Trial.
Manufacturer Saw Little of His
Pacifist Propaganda.

Ford made many frank admissions in
the course OF his testimony today in
his $1.00O.OO0 libel suit against the
Chicago Daily Tribune.
Mr.. Ford admitted Ignorance of his
tory and said that more than ever he
consider 1t bunk" growing out OF ira
dition; nor had he any personal use
for music or other forms of art. He
reaffirmed his belief that professional
soldiers are murderers. nor would he
exempt General Pershing nor General
Grant from this category. He said
his present view is for the fullest pre-
paredness. unless there is a league of
nations and that, il the war just con-
cluded in Europe does not result in
such a league, he favors another great
war without delay in order to clean up
the situation so thoroly that universal
peace would be had.
1t developed that Theodore Della
vigne, publicity agent for Mr.. Ford
wrote practically all of Mr.. Ford s
pa acifist literature and that much of it
Ford having read it,
II accept full responsibility for it,
however" Mr.. Ford testified re-
peatedly.
The Flag of Humanity.
The mysterious flag of humanity"
which counsel for the defendants
have been demanding ever since the
1T is the first time l ever saw 1t,
remarked Mr.. Ford.
do you like 1t better than the stars
and stripes?" asked Mr.. Stevenson.
Its a different kind of flag" an
swered the witness.
The flag was about seven by four
| teen feet, with the earth in white on
blue field. Mr.. Stevenson was at
tempting to show it to the jury when
Mr.. Ford took hold of one end and
said, I'm help you" The emblem, de-
signed to typify world brotherhood,
is said to have grown out Of a remark
by Mr.. Ford three or four years ago,
when he said all national flags should
be succeeded by flag of humanity
under which all men of all nations
might stand.
| Up to today counsel for Mr.. Ford
denied the existence of such a flag,
but said a search for it was being
prosecuted. Last week Stevenson said
his information was that the flag had
had disappeared.
Where was it found?" asked Mr..
Stevenson.
'I don't know" said Mr.. Ford.
Attorney Stevenson introduced a
pamphlet containing pacifist argu-
widely distributed at his expense in
1916.
Mr.. Stevenson quoted Mr.. Ford as
-saying, Preparedness is the root of
war"
Opposes Overpreparedness.
That meant overpreparedness," j"
said Mr.. Ford.
! What do you mean when you say
that war is murder?"
War of aggression"
And those who urge preparedness
advocate murder?"
! "Overpreparedness; yes"
Witness said that sane prepared
ness for defense was legitimate. He
had no quarrel with it.
You state in this book that there
was ring trying to drive us into war,
continued Mr.. Stevenson. Can you
give us one member of that ring p
No"
/ could you them"
President Wilson was one of those
you call murder?"
Over-preparedn dness. 1 am strong
for preparedness, now"
In the course of his further exami.
nation. Mr.. Ford said he had no doubf
that General Pershing would admit
that as a professional soldier he hao
committed many murders.
The subject of the San Francisco
preparedness bomb outrage wa:
brought up by Mr.. Stevenson. the at.
torney for the Tribune, who sough
to establish an analogy between tht
men who melted the bomb throwing
and Mr. Ford's own propaganda
against preparedness.
Against oyer-preparedness," sait
Mr.. Ford.
do you believe that It is the duty
of a government to defend it's citi
zens?" asked the Tribune lawyer.
Yes. sir"
How"
by getting prepared up to date"
But in 1915-16 you were advocat
ing disarmament?
Yes. for the whole world"
Mr.. Stevenson read from a state
ment by Mr.. Ford advocating that tn
: United States take the lead in disarm
ing.
We'll, meant the world. 1 wa
not interested in the United States dis
arming. 1 was thinking of the world.
You wanted our country to lead :?
II think it would be a good thin
right at the present time"
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