New-York tribune., 1919-07-17
Il Was a Party to 1t, One
of the Helpers" He AS.
serts, in Testimony in
sl,OOO,OOO Libel Suit
Benedict Arnold
Writer He Says
Admits He Is s'1gnorant
Idealist,'' but Later He
Reverses His Statement

MOUNT CLEMENS, Mich, July 1e.-
Henry Ford's testimony to-day in his
$1,000,000 libel suit against 1.-THE Chi
cago Daily Tribune" presented the.
picture of one who cast a pebble into
body of water, then turned away
without look at the ripples.
Mr.. Ford, it appeared from his story,
felt that war was a wasteful horror
imposed on the common people by self
seekers, munitions makers, bankers and
others who might profit. Accordingly,
ne cast his pebble by employing
professional writer in the person of
Theodore Delavigne to. educate the
public, and then very largely left the
writer to ripple about by himself.
Delavigne Given Free Scope
As witness Mr.. Ford remembered
scarcely anyshing that Mr.. Delavigne
published, and rarely knew what vas
to be published. While he worked over
his favorite puzzle, the way of drop
of gasolene with motor, Mr.. De-
laviene, using Mr.. Ford's name, prose-
cuted the peace campaign with vigor
and picturesque phrase, often putting
into his employers mouth historical
illusions of which the great manu-
faeturer admitted he never heard.
An instance of this lack of knowl-
edge was revealed when Mr.. Ford, in
answer to a question, said that he
thought Benedict Arnold was "a
writer"
C1uec+;oped ~, r11;.44 ~ c4
senior counsel for the defendant, Mr..
Ford repeatedly took refuge in the
statement that "if it is the book "a
compilation of Delavigne's) I'll say
that it gave the public my view"
Statements Ford Backs
Following are some of the statements
Puohshed by Delavinge and for which
MI; Ford assumed full responsibility:
1T (war) is the same old scarecrow
talk by the same old lazy vultures who
make human lives, seldom their own.
the stake in their so-caIled battle of
brains
Il feel that this cry for the training
OF men to kill other men and for the
pacing OF the army and navy as a
paroen on the backs of the people
Is 1aise conception of patriotism and
treason to the life of the people.
;, Ihe United States has spent more
than billion dollars on a navy and
army that would cope with an inva-
SION that never occurred and never
VIII occur. and yet the very war ex-
perts who are responsible for that
ourdensome army and navy admit that
our army and navy never would have
peer able to meet, with any hope of
success, those of other so-called
powers"
Grill Is Continued
The things that Henry Ford thought
snd that his peace secretary, Theodore
Delavigne, wrote for him, were again
she topic OF Examination when Mr.
Ford resumed ~ witness stand.
Mr. Stevenson, "The Tribune's" chief
counsel, quoted the phrase, Same old
scarecrow talk and asked who was
mean meant Mr.; Ford returned his familiar
reply, ''Delavigne wrote that" He
professional agitators for prepared
ness
Your position was that they were
advocating preparedness in order tc
profit by nunitions?"
Over-preparedness, yes"
"Oh, you are still talking of over
preparedncss.' 1 think you defined
taat yesterday as anything in addition
To- what we had in 1915 or 1916" re.
minded the lawyer. He then referred
70 the use Of the word murderer" al
soldiers and those who make money
out Of war.
We'll. you were a murderer in 1917
suggested Mr. Stevenson.
.oh, no." replied the witness
quickly; chat was during the war"
In the course of one of the Delavignt
articles, for which Mr.. Ford takes full
responsibility, the term "ballyhoo'
vas used. Sir. Ford, being questioned
aazarded the guess that it mean
blackguard"
If means shouter advertising 1
aaow or exhibition" Mr. Stevenson
eipcidated
hat do you understand by the word
Irsason p" asked Mr. Stevenson.
Anything against the government,
said 1r. Ford.
Calls Self Ignorant Idealist'
ar, Stevenson precipitated a torrent
q objections by asking the meaning
shieh Mr. Ford interposed:
III admit I'm an ignorant ideal
Why, Mr.. Ford" said Mr.. Stevenson
'p surprise, "if you admit that shal
not have 70 ask you any moro ques.
tiens along that line"
'IIl admit 1t IL 1t will close thi,
ts,k. !. IL for the Jury TO decide any
way"
~tst II yor admit IL thsre will be
nefhiny for the jury 10 decide. ThI
saEissson settles it,"
PREDATORY TO this outburst by tn,