The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1919-08-02
league OR WAR
DECLARES FORD
MA NUFACT ER MAKES 1T
CLEAR HE BELIEVES COVEN-
ANT is GREAT STEP.
DECLARES WAR IS MURDER
Whiriwind of Questions Fail to Shake
Composure of Man Who Sues for
Million Because He Was
Called anarchist"

Mt. Clemens, Mich.-The high
idealism OF Henry Ford has freshened
the proceedings OF the Ford-Tribuue
libel case ana has brought into the
weaTisome arguments OF counsel and
the dull repetition OF cross-examina-
lions, new quality.
| For a week the man who has been
! described as everything from an AN
archist" to the greatest patriot OF bis
day, has been on the stand facing
! merciless fire Of questions.
During the reading OF an article
| written by John Reed on Henry Ford,
and published in the Metropolitan Mas
| azine, the audience in the court cham
| Der violated all precedent by breaking
into applause and Mr. Ford, yisiDly EN-
barrassed. raised his hand in protest.
Tribune counsel had endeavored TO
quote paragraphs from the Reed arti-
Gle but had been compelled, by objec-
ton OF Ford attorneys, to introduce
the interview in its entirety. In tne
main it was highly complimentary 10
Mr.. Ford.
MAKE Farmer independent"
What | want to,do,' Mr.. Ford was
quoted as saying, lis TO make the farm
er as independent, as / am; independ-
ent OF the banks, independent OF the
trusts, independent OF the railroads..
Inc audience, many OF them from
the surrounding farms of this commp-
nity, show ed visible evidence OF its ap-
preciation or that loeal.
Twice Mr. Ford, wearying Of the
questions having toido with his knowl-
edge OF history said ooh, III admit
that I'm an ignorant idealist ii you
wish"
what is an idealist?" queried Tri-
bune counsel.
The innate goodness OF the man
lighted up his kindly eyes with new
light, as he leaned forward and an
s&ered slowly, Il think an idealist is
one who tries totmake people happy
and prosperous. Il think l do that
little"
Quiet. unassumfng, courteous and
patient, Henry Ford made deep i'm
preston on the audience. Not once
did he lose his temper under the heck
ling OF opposing attorneys, even when
their questions verged on the edge OF
insult. But when the examination
touched onfsubjects which are close to
his heart, the League of Nations, war
and the happiness and prosperity OF
Humanity. counsel found him eagerly
alert
A League of Nations, or prepared.
ness up to, the ihilt.
That is the way he sees the situa-
ton today I'VE must either" he said,
accept the covenant of peace or DEM
ocracy must arm and stand guard for
ever at fthe threshold of liberty"
"War Is Murder"
Hej hammered that fact home and
with it he always added, War is muir
DER"
Il was.a murderer" he said, Il was
helper of murGer. When the crisis
came wesall took a hand. But it is ali
the same War is murder"
What do you mean by murder"
Il mean killing people,"
killing people to protect the inter
ests OF the speople?"
Killing anybody or anything. II
don't know what else war is. War is
murder. There is far better way"
What is. the better way?"
why, tor educate people. To teach
them to think for themselves"
A long examination was conducted
which sought to quiz Mr.. Ford concern
ing his views on history, based on a
remark which he once made that -
wouldn't give five cents for all the his
tory ever written"
Il don'tathink much more of 1t now
than didsthen." testified Mr. Ford.
THE war showed US that history
didn't last,a week. All the things they
told us wOuld happen didn't happen
They went. ahead, knowing what war
meant. andi made the same mistakes
all over again. Tie history we write
today is the thing that counts. I'm
not interested in yesterday"
The Flag Of Nations.
Thaimuch dtScuasad f3av nf a I an U1,e |