The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1919-07-16
FORD CALLS SELF
IGNORANT IDEALIST,
. THEN RETRACTSH.
Describes Benedict Arnold as
Writer" and Never Heard
of Andre.

Mt CLEMENS, MICH. July is.-
In a moment OF petulance while on the
witness stand to-day. Henry Ford.
plaintlff in a 100000, libel suit
against the Chicago Tribune. admitted
that he was IAN ignorant idealist /"
Subsequently he reve rsed his sate-
ment.
This was one OF the alleged libelous
charges made against him in the
Tribune editorial Attorney Elliott q.
Stevenson. for the Tribune, had been
asking questions to establish n pos
sible that Mr. Ford as a matter Of fact
was ignorant The witness said that
he made the admission merely to stop
THU examination. Later when formally
asked 20 admit that he was an "isnor-
ant idealla" he declined to do 30.
In the course Of the examina tiou,
Mr.. Ford defined a traitor as 'one who
works against the Government" an
idealist rs one "who helps others 10
make profit" and possibly with
Arnold Bennett vaguely In mind. des-
cribed Benedict Arnold as "a writer
Much time was consumed in reading
President Wilson's preparedness
speeches OF 1915.
Mr.. Stevenson quoted the phrase
Same old scarecrow talk" from one
OF the Ford pamphlets and asked
whom was meant. Mr.. Ford returned
his familiar reply. "Delavigne wrote
that" He added that the scare
crows" were the professional agita-
tors for preparedness.
"Rour position was that they were
advocating preparedness in order to
proht by munitlons7"
er-preparedness, yes"
'Oh. you are still talking OF over
preparedness I think you dehned
that yesterday as anything In addi-
tiop TO what we had In 1913 or 1915"
reminded the lawyer. He then re-
ferred to the use OF the word "mur-
derer" as applied by Mr.. Ford TO
professional soldiers and those who
make money out OF war.
well, you were q murderer In
1917" suggested Mr.. Stevenson.
''oh. no." replied the witness
quickly. THAT waa during the war"
The Tribune lawyer asked Mr..
Ford numbeS of questions as 10
shl he knew Of the Aize. eddipmen.
and distribution " the army In 1915
and 1915. the Witneas having sal
ycsteI day thlt he considered the
force at that time adequate for
defense.
':'Do you know how many troops
were in the PhilIppinesy'
mo"
"In Alaska7"
"No."
IN Porto Rico7"
mo"
"By the way. what are tho rela-
tions between the United States and
Porto Rlco7"
Judge Tucker suggested that this
line had been followed far enough.
"But this man sets himself up as
an educator and wanted 10 60 TO
the United States Senate"
Mr. Ford Interrupted 70 say:
II can get a man in i've minutes
TO tell me those thlnEs"
Gould you get one II you were
ep0~Ahe ~ fHO SoH"So' ~'Noo @"i'
Stevenson. ,
A speech by President Wilson at
Kansas City in 1916 urging prepRr-
odnAss was read to the Jury and the
witness by Attorney Warren Stone
OF counsel for the Tribune.
you characterised everybody who
advocated preparedness as doing Il
for the purpose OF making money out
OF it7" asked Mr.. Stevenson.
''T advocated preparedness after
we got into the war"
II was speaking about 1915 or
1916" explained the lawyer, and Mr..
Ford added II was a murderer Just
you were n murderer
IL was a party 10 II, one of the
helpers"
zone OF the helpers OF MURDER"
"Yes."
Mr.. Stevenson repeated the story of
Benedict Arnold and his attempt 20
betray his country, and OF tho British
spy. Major Andre, through whose
capture the Arnold plot was disclosed,
but Mr.. Ford said he had never heard
or read OF II.
"Do YOU understand that II Is the
duty OF n man who undertakes 70
educate the people Rs vnu did 20 pa
NliiHIU 70 DC NuuCANcu hlIuhcI ? asked
the iwayer.
Yes; 10 an extent" answered Mr.
| Ford
Witness said he knew whnt the
/ Declaration Of Indnendence was, bui
did not recall details.
81 could read Il, II wanted "a
know" he said.
by the way. what was the United
states composed OF before the Revo.
lution7"
Land, I guess smiled the witness
you said yesterday that as 1914
was a Presidential year, the Presl.
dent might be playing politics wher
he delivered his addresses" said IN,
Tribune lawyer.
~ said he might be"
''In the interview with Mr.. Acker,
man, didn't you say that YOU hat
no objection TO an army OF 200 .OOl
or No. and you remarked at the sam,
time that Won didn't know what W,
would do with ~
81 don't emember-posslbly I sale
it,
j "And didn't YOU say that all IN,
notes on the submarine were 'polltica
bunkY'"
! u don't recall H."
Wilson 10 Review CEechs From