The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-07-17
NO WORLD FLAG?
Henry Ford Claims His Inter-
national Emblem a Myth.
Manufacturer Doesn't Recall
Slandering q. S. Flag.
SAYS ALCOHOL CAUSED WAR
Said To Have Indirectly De-
Tended Invasion of Belgium.
Famous Peace Ads Cost Ford
$4,000 Witness Asserts.

Mount Clemens, Mich. July IL
Henry Ford's international flag was a
myth, the automobile manufacturer
claimed today.
Recalled to the stand in his million
dollar libel suit against the Chicago
Tribune, Ford was quizzed sharply on
alleged remarks concerning a uniYer-
sal flag, patriotism and the American
flag.
did you ever say you were going
to pull down the Stars and Stripes
after the war and never raise 1t again
that you were designing a new
flag?" Attorney Stevenson of the
Tribune asked Ford.
II don't remember making such a
remark. I never saw the flag until
recently"
Stevenson checked up the testimony
on flag design about the time of
Ford's interview with John Reed, a
magazine writer.
IT never saw but one design of the
flag and that was small one" Ford
"Woman's Place at Home"
The Reed interview came in for
much discussion. 1t quoted Ford as
saying he thought the business of a
WOAAluh was 70 ACSp mousse ana raise a
family.
1t contained the following quoted
expressions on which Stevenson was
expected to touch in his examination:
Il wouldn't give a nickel for all the
history in the void; think flags are
silly. If the country is rotten. the flag
is rotten. When this war is over that
flag will come down and be replaced
by flag of all nations which is being
designed in my office right now. 1
don't believe in preparedness; working
men will upset wars. In this country
most soldiers are lazy or crazy or out
of a job"
Liquor One of Wars Causes.
Mr.. Ford opposed the use of alco-
holic drinks and Mr.. Reed pointed out
that the Germans thrived on beer and
the French on wine.
Yes, and 1 think that was one of
the causes of the war" said Mr.. Ford.
Howl" aske the lawyer.
at made them suspicious of each
other"
The reading of the Reed article was
interrupted to permit testimony by Mr.
Alexander, an advertising agent of De-
troit.
In December. 1917. he said. he in
teryiewed Mr.. Ford at a. luncheon in
the Ford factory at which Alfred
Luciing. Mr.. Ford's attorney. and q
Defends Belgium Invasion?
''Mr. Ford, in the course of a general
conversation, said that If Germany had
not invaded Belgium, France and Eng
land would" related the witness. 81
asked him If he thought Germany was
ready for peace and he said yes, that
! the kaiser was. He said that was why
he went over in the peace ship, but he
/ was not allowed to see the kaiser"
was selling motors to the government
at that time. but Mr.. Ford said 1t wa.
not for profit and he did not consider
them munitions of war. The CONVEX.
sation turned on the defeat of Russia
and that poor people held many Of
the bonds and would suffer.
According to Mr.. Alexander, the
following remarks followed:
Mr.. Ford-'Let them go to work
Mr.. Lucking-"Perhaps many Of
| them are sick"
Mr.. Ford-"Then let them get WELL
On cross-examination by Attorney
Alfred G. Murphy. witness recalled
that there was some further talk con.
corning the peace efforts of the DOB,
and of Lord Lansdowne.
Spent $50, 900 for Peace Ads.
On redirect examination it deveI
! oped that Mr.. Alexander handled tn,
! famous Ford advertisement headed
| Concerning Preparedness.
Il read 1T over and noticed that 1
was signed by Mr.. Ford" said the wit
ness. Il went to him to make sure h,
had read il and reminded him that b,
his signature he was accepting full re
| sponsibility for the sentiments ex
pressed"
Mr.. Alexander said that It cost Mr.
Ford $4,000 to publish Concerning
Preparedness" Humanity and San
| ity," and one. other advertisement
Reading Of the Reed article was thel
resumed.
Mr.. Ford testified yesterday tina
he knew Reed. The latter. in tn,
! course of his article, recounted tina
! Mr.. Ford belonged to none of the ex
! elusive Detroit clubs. but preferred .
+, pleasant evening to sit on a neighbor'
back porch and talk things over"
''He has mind Of appalling sim
! plicity," wrote Mr.. Reed. The articl
/ was Mandatory and the words poor
/ ignorant Mr.. Ford" were used in al
! admiring way.
His Flag Statement.
A letter from Peace Secretar
Delavigne to Henry A. Wise Wood wa
read which referred to Woods inter
view with Ford. The Wood state
ment, which said Ford would TAX
down the Stars and Stripes from tn
Ford plant, was under considera ton