The daily banner., 1919-07-28
HERE TO TELL
WHOLE TRUTH
BISHOP WILLIAMS ON STAND FOR
FORD REFUSES TO ANSWER
TRIBUNE QUESTION.
CLASHES WITH ATTORNEY
"If Ford's Views Are Anarchistic Then
Am an Anarchist, Too" Says
Head Of Episcopal Church
in Michigan.

Mt. Clemens, Mich.-The libel suit
of Henry Ford against the Chicago
Tribune swung back today to the orig
inal question, rs Henry Ford an an
archist?''
The Chicago Tribune, which has
occupied five weeks in presenting its
defense and which has not yet con-
Guided the effort, withdrew from the
field for the day to permit Mr.. ForGs
attorneys to place the Right Rev.
Charles D. Williams, D. D., Episcopal
bishop of Michigan, on the stand.
Bishop Williams was called in rebut-
tai of the testimony of Prof. ]. S.
Reeves, of the University Of Michi-
gan, who declared several weeks ago,
that many of Fords ideas were fun
damental principles of anarchy.
The bishop gave it as his belief that
the ideas of Henry Ford were not
only not anaFchistic, but were Chris
tiof, very common and, indeed, al
most commonplace. Many of Mr..
Ford's observations, the witness said,
he himself had often made.
Tribune counsel objected. ''We are
not trying the bishop for being an
anarchist" said Elliott Stevenson.
II am afraid my turn is coming" I"
returned the bishop, because if this
is anarchy 1 agree with it mostly"
Ford counsel then asked the wit
ness whether Henry Fords belief that
eI,o 6n hrnlZor
up and that all the paraphernalia of
war should be destroyed or turned to
honest toll was held by other than
anarchists.
81 could quote half a dozen pages
from Scriptures that express almost
that idea," returned the witness.
"Can you do so off-handr' queried
counsel.
Slowly and impressively the bishop
began to repeat from the forty-sixth
Psalm:
"Come, behold the works of the
Lord, what RESOLUTIONS he hath made
in the earth. He maketh wars to
cease unto the end of the earth. He
breaketh the bow and cutteth the
spear in sunder. He burneth the charts
OF in the fire.
Then came quotation from the
second chapter Of Isaiah:
"And they shall beat their swords
into plowshares and their spears into
pruning nation shall not lift
up sword against nation, neither shall
they learn war any more"
estate whether the sentiments ex-
pressed in these articles are followed,
adopted and preached by thousands
of Christians within your knowl-
edge"
'"That is a pretty large order" re-
sponded the bishop, "but | will say
that in the main these views OF Mr.
Ford are distinctly Christian. COM
monty preached IN Christian pm pits
and that if they were lived up to, 1t
would be a pretty good Christian
world"
Under cross-examination the bish-
op said he believed in patriotism. He.
declared he believed also that, as Mr..
Ford has quoted patriotism was some
LILIES JllC IdSI 1C1u$SO VI q CAs
/ have often seen it so," he declared.
The witness said he did not consid-
er that Mexico was in a state of an
archy at the time of the border trou-
BILE. There were riots and disorders
theret he said, but there was also a
form Of government over the largest
part of the country.
1.-THE recent riots in Washington,
did they indicate anarchy to your"
the bishop asked Of his interrogation.
Whereupon Mr.. Stevenson had a
short furry of anger and then began
hurting crossflre of questions at the
witness.
"It is the belief of anarchists
"Yes, and the belief of Christians
who are not anarchists, too
81 asked you if it was the opisl-
ion Of anarchists, you'll be good
enough to answer the question"
81 will answer it according to my
understanding of the truth. l am here
to tell the truth and all the truth
and 1 am not telling the truth if l
answer half questions"
"First answer the question"
anarchists teach that and Chris
tians teach that" replied the bishop
persistently.
"When 1 asked you if anarchists
taught that, was it necessary for you
also to say that some others taught
it?" queried Tribune counsel intig
nantly.
eyes, if 1 tell all the truth"
disarmament is a doctrine Of an.
archists, too, isn't it?''
"And others
snow, Bishop"
81 am here to tell all the truth
"You are telling something I have
not asked you about"
"You are not asking me for the
whole truth. l have to follow my
conscience. 1 am q simple man.
That practically ended the cross
examination of Bishop Williams,
member of the clan of fighting paci-
fists who believe that Americas cause
in the great war was necessary and
righteous ara who himself served In
France.