The sun., 1919-07-24

Y. Don't you recall that?
A. No, don't thoroughly recall.
Q. Finally, Mr.. Ford, Judge Hosner
did decide that you must distribute so
per cent Of the cash on hand?
A. guess 80. yes
Called Court Decision "Bad."
q. After advertising to the world that
the Supreme Court OF our State had
made O bad decision, and that because
Of II you were compelled to take some
money that you didn't want. some $l2.-
600, 900 out OF s19,oo0,Ooo, the balance
Of the dividend that you were going
then to compete with the Ford Motor
Company and make new car at a
cheaper price and better car that was
the substance of It?
A said that It was apparently bad,
but IL 1t rendered the public good ser
vice II was q good decision.
O. And beCause OF that decision you
were going to engage In competitive
business, you were going to manufac-
ture another car. cheaper car and
better car?
A. was going to make another car.
yes, sir.
Q. Then about month afterward. I'M
der cover. you commenced to negotiate
for the purchase of this stock?
A. My. son and Mr.. Lucking. l Of
fered my stock for sale.
Q. And the company finally bought
the stock at a good deal less than had
been asked for It before this litigation?
A / don't know, Mr.. Stevenson.
q. Didn't you testify that when you
inquired of the Dodge brothers what
they wanted for their stock that they
wanted $45. 100000?
A. l think 30, yes, SIR.
O And you bought 1t for $4,000, 900?
A. don't know what they bought It
for. what the sum paid for II was.
Q. Twelve thousand five hundred dol
lars a share, wasn't lt7
A. Yes, l guess 1t was.
Dodge Price Cut Down.
Q. So that by this arrangement you
succeeded in cutting the Dodges' price
down $10,00O,o00 on their share?
A l don't know that.
Q. Now there might be a great many
other considerations entering into this
question of war work. might there not,
Mr.. Ford?
A. There might be yes.
Q. Weren't there other considerations,
at least one?
A Whatever II would be, I will an
swer you, whatever 1t is.
@. Mr. Ford. do you recollect that
your son wanted to go to the war, didn't
he?
A. Yes. he did.
z. He wanted to enlist?
a. Yes, sir
Q. You were opposed to 1t?
A. told him he could do better where
he was
Q. He was drafted?
A. 1 don't know; that is on the rec
ord.
O. Now. Mr. Ford, that matter WAS
pending at the time that you entered
into doing all this work the appeal from
that decision OF the draft board, refusing
him exemption?
A. Not when he first started.
Q. The draft was in JuneH
A. We started Just as quick as the
was came on.
Q. 1t was in June and after the de-
cision OF the draft board refusing TO ex-
empt him an appeal was taken to the
President?
A don't know as to that
Appeal Came Back.
O. And that that appeal was never
decided, but came back later in Decem-
| Der OF last Year,
A don't remember; it is all part
of the record.
| O. Now, Mr. Ford, there might BE- a
| great many other considerations that
enter into the question Of why you were
willing to share, or do away with your
profits, weren't there2
A I don't think So
Q. You would have to pay taxes of
GO per cent. on whatever profits you re-
| ceived?
A did not know that at the time we
| commenced
Q. Didn't you know that at the time
| that anybody that had an income Of a
million dollars or over that they were
taxed IS per cent?
A think so
O. And you became subject to excess
taxes, the highest tax upon that?
| A Yes, sir.
| Q. or 66 per cent. only less 80 per
cent. Of anything that you realized or
received?
| A. Whatever II is; yes, I would he
glad of that the less money I have the
less trouble have.
O. When you gave the profits back TO
the Government that relieved your
| troubles?
| A. Yes some Of them.
Q. That was the reason OF ~
| A. Yes
Examined by Mr.. Lucking)
Q.With respect 10 the matter Of Edsel
| Ford. will you state whether Mr. Ford
| had become necessary to the work in
this great factory, in order to relieve you
| Of the detail routine OF It?
A We have worked together all our
lifetime, all his lifetime.
EdseI willing to Enlist.
@. He personally was willing to go to
the war as stated by Mr.. Stevenson?
A Yes has had many on offer
Q. You felt you needed him in the
factory
| A. Yes
Q. Mr. Ford, was he offered commits
sions in the army and TO stay right in
the factory?
A Yes.
Q. On war work.
| A Yes.
Q. Were they declined9
| A. Yes. He declined them.
i Q. Do you remember stating that there
would be no camouhaging about that
that you did not wish him to take n uni
form and appear TO be in service. when
he actually was attending to matters
that were necessary in the factory. do
you remember that?
Il A Yes.
O Any difffculty about getting a uni-
form for Mr.. Edsel Ford II It had been
desired, II he were willing TO take it2
Il A. / guess not
Il Q. That Is all
Il (By Mr.. Stevenson.)
q. ] understand. Mr.. Ford. that this
matter il not a private matter at all
A. No.
O. That you publicity declared, an
| hat noA oil