The sun., 1919-07-19
FORD ADMITS
LIBEL ARTICLE
Is NOT ALL BAD
War Parts of Editorial,
However, He Considers
"POOr Stuff"
DESCRIBES MOBILE ARMY
One That Is Modified, He
Says, but Admits Military
Ignorance.
spccial DespntcA 10 TIE suN.

MOUNT CLEMENS, Mich. July IS
An effort was made to-day by Elliott
q. Stevenson, senior counsel for the
Chicago Tribune, to compel Henry
Ford admit that that newspapers
editorial calling the automobile king
an anarchist was substantially correct
and that there was no reason why he
should ask 100000 for alleged libel.
The cross-examining was rapid, and
Mr.. Ford's attorneys insisted that the
questions were 'inhuman and brutal"
and pleaded with the court that the
brilliant attorney was taking advan-
tage Of a modest man.
During Thursdays examination
Ford was asked the definition Of the
word anarchist" His answer was
~overturning government and throw
ing bombs"
To-day Stevenson, after getting the
witness TO admit again that he had at
tackled the preparedness advocates
without knowing anything about the
military need Of the country, began
questioning Ford on the editorial
which caused the suit.
The witness was saved as far as
possible by objections by his own
counsel These objections were offered
on nearly every question that was
asked, and in but few cases the objec-
tons were sustained. I want to show,
said Stevenson, that Ford's own def
milton of the word anarchist" would
not apply to this editorial.
Ford Objections Protested.
Mr.. Stevenson began the session with
. vigorous protest against objections
from counsel for Mr.. Ford. Mr.. Steven
son said that a scrutiny of the record
showed that 11s out of 26o pages Of
testimony had been devoted to objec-
tons and argument on them.
The report Of the House Military Com
:nittee, investigating the coast defence
conditions in the United States. was in
troduced. The Tribune counsel desired
to show by It that the advertising In
humanity and Sanity" has purported to
report testimony of Gen. Weaver before
the committee, but left out important
points.
Mr.. Stevenson bitterly characterized
the failure to quote Gen. Weavers tes-
A..
fraud" deception" and humiliation
Of testimony" Alfred J. Murphy pro-
tested that the failure OF Theodore De-
lavigne, publicity manager, to use the
testimony in its entirety could mean
nothing in this case
A long legal argument having for one
OF its bases the number of counsel en-
ployed by each side came when Mr..
Stevenson sought to introduce a depo-
sition OF John Reed. whose article in the
Metropolitan Magazine was read yester-
day. The deposition was taken during the
progress Of the trial and no Ford counsel
had been present.
Mr.. Stevenson argued that the Ford
sido had notice and could have sent one
of the attorneys to New Jersey when II
was taken. Alfred Lucking said that
none could be spared, and besides under
the rules Of laws no deposition could be
The court said he would rule later
Mr.. Stevenson examined Mr.. Ford or
the failure OF his advertisements tc
quote Gen. Weaver's testimony In full
The plaintiff conceded that some of the
statements left out might have some
bearing on the way the articles were
read by the people.
Q. You read the report of Gen
Weaver's testimony that is referred to
by you in your Humanity and Sanity ??
Read Only Part OF Report.
A. don't think read all. Mr.. Steven.
Q. Do you mean that you don't recall
whether you read 1t all at the time the
article was published?
A. Yes. don't recall that.
Q. But you heard what was read from
Gen. Weaver's statement this morning
that was not in the article?
A. Yes.
Q. You recognize, Mr.. Ford, don't YOU
that what was omitted had a very i'm.
portant bearing upon what was stated
here?
A 1t may have had some bearing
q. Don't you think 1t had a very i'm,
portaht bearing2
A. am not a competent judge.
.. FOR instance, Gen. weaver said a.
follows: You published this much: ''Yo,
don't take any stock in this idea tina
the ships OF foreign nations carry gun.
OF long enough range to silence YOU
guns? Answer: mo" You stopped
there but Gen. Weaver continued:
"Of course you understand our gum
were mounted along in the nineties anC
that they belong to that period"
You understand that gun manufac
tured under conditions in the ninetie
was not up to date. don't you, Mr.
Ford?
A. understand that guns are anti
ousted Immediately they are made.
@. What is that?
Guns Quickly Anticipated.
A understand guns are antiquate,
Immediately.
Q. You know that they are improve,
from year to year?
A Yes.
O. And that a gun that was manu-
factured in the nineties, twenty year
afterward. or nearly thirty years after
ward, would he pretty nearly out O
date. don't your
Objected TO as incompetent
Tho court: 1t seems TO me II there
anything about It, or is not anythin
out of the way about 1t, it is for Their
70 show II
O. (Readins) ''since then guns Q
longer range have been developed. an
there are now guns on warships tina
could stand on beyond the reach OF on
guns and IRE at our batteries withou
our being able 10 reach them In reply"
I,,A1a Murphy-That Is objected 10 Q