Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1919-08-07
NO SWIVEL CHAIR
FOR FORD'S SON
STAYED AT HOME DURING WAR
TO HELP IN PLANT-REFusED
TO TAKE UNIFORM.
FATHER WAS RESPONSIBLE
Declares He Told Edsel That War
Work in Factory Needed Him
Would Not Accept Safety
First Commission.

~
the last hour Of his seven days
lon the witness stand. took occasion
to claim full responsibility for his son,
lEdsel Ford's, claim for exemption from
the selective draft. He wanted to
enlist" said Mr.. Ford, but 1 told him
that he could do more good where he
WAS. He was offered several commits
tsions which would have permitted him
Ito wear a uniform and stay right in
the factory, but he wouldn't accept
them"
Having made their decision, it was
shown, both Mr.. Ford and his son re-
fused to camouhage it behind i
swivel chair commission carrying
boots and spurs.
This subject, the introduction Of
which has been awaited eve since
the trial opened, did not develop along
the lines which had been generally ex-
pected. Mr.. Ford's inclination to
shoulder full responsibility, his state
ment that his son was absolutely
essential to the war work being done
in the factory and his revelation OF
the fact that Edsel Ford turned down
several offers Of a commission, dis
'armed criticism. The charges, spread
during a political campaign, and re-
gently repeated On the floor Of the
United States senate, to the effect that
the young president of the Ford Motor
company had shirked his duty were so
fully refuted that Tribune counsel did
not pursue the point.
1t was the first time that a full ex-
PLANTATION Of the facts in connection
with Edsel .Ford's war work has been
made public and it was easily the
feature of the eleventh week of the
trial.
Henry Ford spent seven days on the
tgave less than two hours to his owl,
lawyers. AS long as counsel for The
Tribune was hammering him Mr.. Ford
sat quietly in the witness chair an
Iswering the constant fire Of questions
with great patience. But the instant
his own lawyers took him in hand his
latitude changed. He became self
conscious and difident. He would not
accept the efforts Of his counsel to
provide him with an opportunity to
reveal the full extent of his patriotic
work during the war, his humanitari.
an views, or his advanced ideas of the
relations which should exist between
capital and labor.
at is all in the records" said Mr.
Ford. 81 have told it all here once
He avoided, with care, anything thai
Iverged on boasting. He would moi
even describe the extent of the wal
work which his factories did and wher
record breaking performances in the
production of munitions was mention
ed he declared, I'VE did all we could
let it go at that. l want to forge
all about it l feel just as the sol
Idiers feel. l don't want to talk abou'
my war work"
The witness did, however, after be
ing pressed, explain that his son hat
bought out the minority stakeholder
Iof tie Ford Motor company becaus,
these interests had insisted on MI
Ford squeezing the last dollar out 0
the public, the government, the work
ers and the product. lie wanted tt
cut loose from his associates, he said
so that be could carry out his idea
of the distribution Of profits to en-
ployees through increased wages an
to the public through lower prices
1t was either buy or sell and Mr.. For
had rom dered selling and organizia
a new company. His son, howeve'
took ur the task of buying out III
minority stockholders and succeeded
idispite the general belief in the final
cial world that this stock could not b
purchased.
One of the most interesting develol
ments of Mr.. Ford's testimony cam
out when 1t was testified that the onl
legislation Re has ever sought VIZ
th.t for the protection OF birds. Otnf
men Of millions, 1t was shown, kee
lobbyists in the national and stat
capitol to urge and work for speci'
privileges, but the one favor that n
Ford has aver asked from the LAY
makers lad nothing to do with b
own in erests. 1t was a curious bit
testAmory and left a deep impressi
on the audience in the court chambe
The subject was a result of que
tons concerning Mr.. Ford's list
friends He named Thomas Edisi
and John Burroughs, the naturalist,
lis best friends outside of his IL
mediate associates.
Litigation in which Mr.. Ford b
been interested was another subje
Of interest. 1t was shown that VIII
the automobile business was in Il
first years Of its growth all manufa
turers Of motor cars were compell
to pay tribute to what was known
the Selden patent on internal comb
ton engines. Mr.. Ford fought II
patent for seven years and won and
his victory freed the entire indust
from its shackles and made possil
thaewonderful growth which has ma
ID She last few years.