The sun., 1919-07-08
SOUGHT TO OFFSET
FORD'S INFLUENCE
Chicago "Tribune" Editorial
Writer Explains Policy as
True Amcricanism.
LUSITANIA WAR CAUSE
Blake Denies Having Ennlity
Toward Detroit Motor Car
Manufacturer. -.
Special Dsspdtch to Tar sen.


MOUNT CLEMENS, Mich, July THE
Ford-Chicago Tribune million dollar
libel suit entered it's ninth week this
morning. Tiffany Blake. chief editorial
writer of the Tribune. resumed the
stand. He declared the Tribane's one
attitude toward Ford, toward Mexico.
toward the National Administration
and toward all the European belliger-
ents was one Of square-toed American
ism. He said:
I'VE attacked Henry Ford because we
believed he was placing himself in OPP
position to the Government in its protec-
ton of its citizens, and that without
performing ouch duty OF protection the
Government did not deserve the name
and became an anarchist"
Mr.. Blake then began review OF the
Mexican internal and border conditions
as endangering Americans. but this was
stopped by objections OF Ford's counsel.
He said frankly that the Tribune had
not advocated ruthless war on subma-
rines, declaring the newspaper had seen
In them a possible valuable asset TO the
American coast defences.
The Tribune, he said. denied the right
of submarines to sink unarmed mer-
chantmen without visit or search and
regarded the Lusitania sinking as cause
for war. However, 1t disapproved carry
ing munitions on passenger boats, plac-
ing this in the same category with
passengers riding on muniton trucks
bound for the front The Tribune was
unalterably opposed to an embargo. such
as was demanded by Germany, believing
the embargo policy would be serious
blow to American defence in case or
future war
An editorial from the Tribune on the
submarine policy was read In which 1t
observed that the Administration was
adamant toward Germany and flexible
toward Great Britain. 1t said:
III the Administrators policy In that
our best interests are to be served even
tually at war with Germany. II that Is
It's policy, 1t Is to be respected, for 1t
gives the American people definite
basis"
I'VE were ready to be with the Presi-
dent when he had made a definite state
ment." said Mr.. Blake. when that de-
cision was made our discussion OF the
submarine policy ceased"
Mr. Blake was asked by Attorney
Kirkland what was in his mind when
he passed the famous editorial which
was published on June 20. 1915. in
when Mr.. Ford was branded an anar-
chist.
The question was objected to by At
torney Lucking. but Judge Tucker AL
lowed the answer to be received. 1t
was:
Our motive for passing and APPROX
ing this editorial was trying to assist
the United States Government to do its
duty when as a matter of fact we con-
sdered that Mr.. Ford was opposing the
Government in trying to protect the
life and property OF its citizens. and to
perform its duty as Government which
we consider was the basic duty OF the
Government, the duty OF protecting its
people. We considered that Mr.. Ford
was putting himself and had put him
self in opposition 10 the Government
and We were trying to offset Mr.. Ford's
influence in that respect"
Mr. Blake said that he was wholly
without personal enmity toward the au-
| tomobile manufacturer.