New-York tribune., 1919-07-19
Explanation Is Brought Out
as the Defence Contends
de Is Not Competent
to Educate the Public
mo Anarchy in EDITORIAL
Objects to the Headline, but
Thinks the Body of the
Article Is Simply ''Bad"

d" GMCNo, Mlch., July 18.-Al-
though Henry Ford to-day completed
week on the witness stand in his libel
suit against "The Chicago Daily Trib-
une," Elliott G. Stevenson. senior
counsel for the defence, who began
questioning him last Monday, showed
no sign of reaching a conclusion
The examination of the witness on
the contents of the alleged libellous
editorial in "The Tribune" on June 23.
1916, headed "Ford Is an Anarchist"
was the Important feature of the day.
Alfred Lucking, senior counsel for the
plaintiff, characterized the examination
as BRUTAL" The witness, pressed to
admit the editorial charge of being an
Ignorant idealist" and reminded that
on previous occasions he had admitted
it, remarked:
"You are a good enough attorney
to get me to say this or that, but it
would not be in my mind"
Haven't l tried to be fair with you,
Mr.. Ford 2"
absolutely"
II have not tried to mislead you 2"
"No, sir"
Calls Ford Modest
It was here that Attorney Lucking
made his charge Of brutality, adding:
"You take modest witness, Mr.. Ste
venson, and try to pound him into say
ing that he is an ignorant idealist.
1t seems to me that this should be
left to argument. 1t is not right to
pound a man Of Mr.. Ford's type, re-
tiring and modest, who doesn't like to
appear in public, and push him into
saying things against himself. He is
the easiest man in the world to get to
say thing"
Mr.. Stevenson pressed Mr.. Ford to
admit he was an ignorant man. as, he
said, was proved by the inability Of
the witness to answer questions about
American history. "In view Of what
you have said" the lawyer continued,
"you would not question that ignorant
is proper Characterization of you"
Mr.. Lucking jumped to his feet and
SAID:
"That is objected to as brutal and
inhuman."
Mr.. Ford ignored this and remarked:
GAS I said. Mr.. Stevenson, am ig-
norant Of most things"
Nearly two hours were consumed,
while Mr.. Ford was excused from the
stand, in reading into the record tes-
timony of General Erasmus Weaver in
1916 before the House Committee on
Military Affairs.
1t bore on one Of the Ford ADVERTISE
ments, written by Theodore Delavigne,
formerly plaintiffs peace publicity
manager, in which part quotation
made the general appear to state that
with 1000 additional men the coast
defence system would be adequate. 1t
appeared from further reading that
General Weaver admitted that the guns
were obsolete and outranged by mod
ern naval guns; that the fortifications
were too far apart, and that without
a mobile army they could be taken by
landing parties operating from the
rear.
mobile" and Modified"
what do you understand by mo
bile army'?" Mr.. Stevenson asked Mr..
Ford when he took the stand again.
"a large army, mobilized," replied
Mr.. Ford.
$50 that is your understanding Of q
mobile army?"
"A large army ready to be mobilized."
"All right, then, that was what you
thought mobile army was when this
ADVERTISEMENTS was printed ?"
"I don't know" said the witness.
Mr.. Stevenson let the subject drop
after explaining that mobile army
was one that could be moved quickly,
and took up the editorial.
"What is the Office of the headline
of an editorial, Mr.. Ford ?"
~ don't know what you have refer
ence to-"
Mr.. Stevenson explained headline
suggests what is in the body of the
article under it, and reminded the wit
ness that in previous testimony he had
defined an anarchist as bomb thrower,
or one who seeks to overturn govern
ment
What was said in the editorial about
bomb throwing, Mr.. Ford ?"
Nothing that know of. only in the
headline"
The lawyer then began to read the
editorials:
Enquiry Mt the Henry Ford Offices
in Detroit discloses the fact that en-
ployes Of Ford who are members OF, OF