Connecticut western news. [volume] (Salisbury, Litchfield Co., Conn.) 1871-1970, 1919-07-31
MO SWIVEL CHAIR
FOR FORD'S SON
STAYED AT HOME DURING WAR
TO HELP IN PLANT-REFUSE
TO TAKE UNIFORM.
FATHER WAS RESPONSIBLE
Declares He Told Edsel That War
Work in Factory Needed Him
Would Not Accept Safety
First Commission.

on the witness stand, took occasion
to claim full responsibility for his son,
Edsel Ford's, claim for exemption from
the selective draft. He wanted ID
enlist" said Mr.. Ford, but told HIM
that he could do more good where ne
was. He was offered several commits
sions which would have permitted him
to wear a uniform and stay right in
the factory, but he wouldn't accept
them"
Having made their decision, 1t was
shown, both Mr.. Ford and his son re-
fused to camoufage 1t behind a
swivel chair commission carrying
boots and spurs.
This subject the Introduction of
which has been awaited ever 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 q commission, dLs-
armed criticism. The charges, spread
during q political campaign. and re-
Gently repeated on the floor or 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
It 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 1t was easily the
feature of the eleventh week OF the
trial.
Henry Ford spent seven days on the
witness stand and OF this time he gave
less than two hours to his own law
yers. AS long as counsel for The
Tribune was hammering him Mr.. Ford
sat quietly in the witness chair an
.swering the constant fire Of questions
with great patience. But the instant
his own lawyers took him In hand his
attitude changed. He became self
conscious and difident. He would not
accept the efforts of his counsel to
provide him with an opportunity t.
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. II have told 1t all here once"
He avoided, with care, anything that
verged on boasting. He would not
even describe the extent of the war
work which his factories did and when
record breaking performances in the
production Of munitions was mention.
ed he declared, I'VE did all we could,
let II go at that. / want to forget
about 1t. I feel Just as the soldiers
feel. don't want to talk about my
war work"
The witness did, however, after be-
ing pressed, explain that his son had
bought out the minority stockholders
of the Ford Motor company because
these interests had insisted on Mr..
Ford squeezing the last dollar out OF
the public, the government, the work.
ers and the product. He wanted to
cut loose from his associates, he said,
so that he could carry out his ideas
of the distribution of profits to an
ployees through increased wages and
to the public through lower pESAa&
1t was either buy or sell and Mr.. Ford
had considered selling and organising
a new company. His son, however.
took up the task Of buying out the
minority stockholders and succeeded,
despite the general belief in the f1nan-
cial world that this stock could not be
purchased.
One Of the most interesting develop.
ments Of Mr.. Ford's testimony came
out when it was testified that the only
legislation he has ever sought was that
for the protection Of birds. Other
men Of millions, 1t was shown, keep
lobbyists in the national and stats
capitol to urge and work for special
privileges, but the one favor that Mt
Ford has ever asked from the law
makers had nothing to do with his
own interests. It was a curious hit
of testimony and left a deep impress.
sion on the audience in the oourt
chamber
The subject was a result of ques-
lions concerning Mr.. Ford's list of
friends. He named Thomas Edison
and John Burroughs, the naturalist, as
his best friends outside of his i'm
mediate associates.
Litigation In which Mr.. Ford has
been interested was another subject
of interest. 1t was shown that when
the automobile business was In the
first years of its growth all manufac-
turers OF motor cars were compelled
to pay tribute to what was known as
the selden patent on internal combus-
ton engines. Mr.. Ford fought this
patent for seven years and won and ny
his victory freed the entire industry
from it's shackles and made possible
the wonderful growth which has mark
ed the last few years.