The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-07-21
TESTIMONY OF
FORD ATTACKED
Defense Moves to Strike Out
Hundred Pages of
+ Evidence.
OTHER SIDE COMES BACK
Asking That kirkland, Alex
ander's Evidence Be
Expunged.
(ey HARRY REUTLINGER.)

Mount Clemens. Mich. July 21.--U.
! n. S.)--Upon the decision OF Judge
| Tucker concerning arguments sub
mitted today depends the validity Of
| Testimony in the Henry Ford Chicago
| Tribune $1,000 900 1ibel suit which 1t
has taken days to introduce. His de-
| cision may strike out testimony that
| now fills hundreds OF pages OF the
record OF the trial.
With the jury absent teday attor-
neys submitted argument upon the
adInissibility of evidence dealing with
the preparedness question. Attorney
Elliot Stevenson, for the Tribune,
asked the court to eliminate all tes-
| timony that bears upon Mr.. Fords
action in 1917 and 1918, tontending II
is not material The statements made
In the editorial on which the suit is
based dealt with Ford's alleged at
titude toward military service in
1915.
| Preparedness Matter.
Judge Tucker said he would take
the preparedness question under ad-
visement and rule later.
Attorneys for the Tribune also
| asked that all records dealing with
Ford's profits on war contracts. which
was brought out during the two days
L
stricken out. Testimony concerning
the Ford profit sharing plan also was
attacked by the defense and its elm
| ination asked.
Fords attorney retaliated by ask
| ing that the testimony OF Kirkland
| Alexander Detroit advertising man,
who testified that Ford said that IF
| Germany. had not invaded Belgium
France or England might have be
! expunged from the record.
Judge Tucker admonished attor-
neys today that trial of the case must
be expedited, stating that the jurors
had stated TO him that they must get
away by Aug. /. Arguments, Judge
Tucker said, must be curtaiied. At
| torney Stevenson, who has been ex-
aiming Henry Ford for the past
week, stated today he expected to fin-
! ish with the witness by tomorrow
night. Ford's attorneys said their
| cross -examination would not require
longer than one day.
The. trial began it's eleventh week
| today.
you'll agree that man who con-
| tinues to keep UP state of anarchy
! should be classified as an anarchist
won't you2" Attorney Elliott Steven
son asked him.
II don't understand what you
mean. / can't get it clear" answered
| Ford.
Defense Claims Victory.
What was regarded as victory by
| the defense came today when the
! court allowed a deposition by John
| Read to to be read into the record,
| although attorneys for the plaintiff
/ had refused TO send a representative
| to New York to cross examine Read.
| Read interviewed Henry Ford in 1916
| for a leading magazine. The deponent
said that Ford made the following re-
| marks: :.
"That all nations are silly; all
/ ags rotten and were made only to
| rally around; that the American flag
would fly over his factory only until
after the war and then be replaced
! by flag of the world"
| Charles w. Wheeler's five-hour In
| teryiew with Henry Ford, which was
| printed in the Tribune. also was read
| in court today. It referred to Ford
! as a pleasing man--not bombastic.
| Ford stated in the interview. he was
one of the few wealthy men who
] could discuss any question.
1.-THE vanity of man" was referred
| to and the slogan, 81 hate fourfiush-
ers and posers." was attributed to Mr.
Ford On the matter of churches
Ford was quoted as saying:
Churches do their best work In
the country because young folks get
together and make up"
| World disarmament was another
matter touched upon in the inter-
view.
do you think a man must be a
bomb thrower to he AN anarchist?'
Stevenson asked.
II don't think So" answered Ford.
"Who was Count Tolstoy?" was the
next question.
"A writer" answered Ford with a
broad smile.
| "Was he an anarchist"
81 don't know" Ford replied.
do you contend that a man adopt
ing a policy to keep the country in
efficient and unprepared is not an
anarchist?" Stevenson asked.
II don't think So" was Ford's re-
ioinder N
did you have any reason for stat
ing you We're warranted in adopting
a policy against the president in
1852" Stevenson inquired.
81 thought | had knowledge at that
time" answered Ford.
Attorney Stevenson tried to pin Mr..
Ford to a definition of an anarchist.
"You said that a man who carries
bombs and undertakes to overthrow
the government is an anarchist" he
said.
YES" replied Ford,
"A man who throws bombs and at
tempts to overthrow the government
is an anarchist?
"Well, the man who threw the
bombs in the preparedness parade Is
an anarchist, isn't he?"
81 don't know" was Ford's answer
you wouldn't call them anarch-
ists?"
"Well, l don't know. They weren't
overthrowing the government" Ford
said.
u THAT literature written by De La
n vigne was supposed to come from you,
wasn't it?" he asked.
Ford then gave new definition OF
an anarchist,
War" ne said. sis a condition OF
, an anarchy. / was in favor of war
, he started to say. but stopped.
Stevenson tried repeatedlysto get Ford
to agree that the Mexican trouble was
serious. Ford would only retort that
: it was trouble"
Presidents Speeches.
Again the presidents speeches in 1917
were referred to.
You sent out that propaganda, HUI
manity and Sanity to courteract th'
PRESIDENT" Stevenson inquired.
81 merely took sides" Ford said,
5 well. who took sides with your"