The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-07-19
ADMITS HIS IGNORANCE
OF 'M|L|TAR|SM"
Henry Ford Says His Campaign Again st
over-Preparedness Was For
Taking Sides.

Mount Clemens. Mich. July IA
mobile army is a large army mob
tlized, said Henry Ford today, testi-
tying in his 100000 libel suit
against the Chicago Tribune for call
| Ing him an anarchist. Then when Mr.
Stevenson. attorney for the Tribune
informed him what a mobile army is,
the witness remarked that he oldn
know much about 'militarism."
Mr. Ford described his campaign of
attack upon over as
having been launched for the purpose
of taking sides.
Questioned regarding the trouble be-
tween the United States and Mexico
three years ago, Mr.. Ford testified that
he did not regard the border dis
turhances in 1915 as a war, but as a
riot"
You know Americans were being
slaughtered by Mexican bandits. didn't
youT' Mr.. Stevenson, attorney for the
Tribune. asked him.
II don't think we we're at war"
Ford answered
What was it,
"A riot" was the reply.
Would you call IL a riot when Mex
lean bandits cross the border, murder.
rape and take away tho property of
| American cttizens2" Stevenson asked
No" Ford replied
DO you know much about the
army" Stevenson asked him.
Knows Little About the Army.
NO" Ford answered.
Yet you were conducting . huge
Campaign to educate the people In re-
gard to over-preparedness?'
Ford then explained that his cam
paign was for the purpose of taking
sides"
1T was for the purpose OF stopping
appropriations for the army that you
! launched that campaign Stevenson
said.
NO It wasn't" Ford answered
You said SO yesterday" Stevenson
retorted
We'll. have said so many times
however I did that merely to take
sides" Ford replied
Henry Ford admitted that he did
not know what appeared In certain ad :
Sertisements bearing hts name, leav-
ing the work to Theodore Delavigne,
whom he ordered to stick to facts
he was questioned at great length
concerning the report submitted by
General Weaver to the house commit
tee on military affairs in 1915 dealins 2
with the subject Of coast defense which.
Stevenson charged. was garblsd and
distorted in a pamphlet. Humanity
and Sanity" which was published by
Ford.
LINE OF DEFENSE
The defense is seeking to show that
Ford Is irresponsible relative to mill
tary matters
Ford testified that the pamphlet
was written by Theodore Delavigne.
stevenson read some provisions
about the coast defenses and said
to Ford.
Why didn't Mr.. Delavigne put that
in his report -
II told Delavigne to get the facts
and print them" Ford replied.
DO you want the world to under
stand that you put out this vast edu.
cauonal campaign and you didn't
know what was given out ?" Steven
son asked.
i don't understand the question"
Ford replied
Are you charging Mr.. Delavigns
with being dishonest Stevenson
asked.
No" retored the witness.
Then why did he leave out some Of
General Viewers testimony"
II don't know" Ford replied
What do You know about . mobile
army" was the next question.
Its q large army modified" an
swered Ford,
Mr.. Stevenson then volunteered to
enlighten Mr.. Ford that such an army
Is one large or small which can move
quickly.
II don't know much about mill.
tarisnl." Mr.. Ford said
For the nrst time since the case
began the heart Of the trial was