The Semi-weekly leader., 1919-08-09
NO SWIVEL CHAIR
FOR FORD'S SON
STAYED At HOME DURING WAR
TO HELP IN PLANT--REFusED
TO TAKE UNIFORM.
FATHER WAS RESPONSIBLE
Declares Ne Teld Edssl That War
Work In Factory Needed Him
Would Not Accept Safety
First Commission.

Mt. Clemens, Mich.-Henry Ford,
during the last hour Of his seven days
on the witness stand, took occasion
10 claim full responsibility for his son.
Edsel Ford's, claim for exemption from
the selecuye draft. He wanted to
enlist" said Mr.. Ford. but l told him
that he could do more good where he
was. He was offered several commits
sions which would have permitted him
to wear uniform and stay right in
the factory, but he wouldn't accept
them"
having made their decision, 1t was
shown, both Mr.. Ford and his son re-
fused to camounage it behind q
swivel chair commission carrying
boots and spurs.
This subject, the Introduction OF
which has been awaited ever since
the trial opened, did not develop along
the lines which had been generally ex-
pected. Mr.. Fords inclination to
shoulder full responsibility, his state
A4CAb IAdS lis o0A Woo dO9OA0bOA%
essential to the war work being done
in the factory and his revelation ot
the fact that Edsel Ford turned down
several offers Of o commission, dis
armed criticism. The charges, spread
during q political campaign, and re-
Gently repeated on the floor Of the
United States senate, to the, effect
that the young president Of the Ford
Motor company had shirked his duty
we're SO fully refuted that Tribune
counsel did not pursue the point
1t was the first time that full ex-
PLANTATION Of the facts in connection
with EdSel Ford's war work has been
made public and 1t was easily rhs
feature Of the eleventh week Of the
trial.
Henry Ford spent seven days on the
witness stand and Of this time he gave
less than two hours to his own Law.
xers. AS long as counsel for Tho
: Tribune was hammering him Mr.. Ford
sat quietly in the witness chair an
swering the constant fire of questions
with great patience. But the instant
his own lawyers took him in hand his
attitude changed. He became self.
conscious and dif1ident. He would not
accept the efforts Of his counsel to
provide him with an opportunity TO
reveal the full extent Of HIS patriotic
work during the war, his humanitari.
an views, or his advanced ideas Of
the relations which should exist be.
tween capital and labor.
1T 10 all In the records" said Mr.
Ford. at have told It all here once. e
He avoided, with care, anything that
Verged on boasting. He would not
even describe the extent of the war
work which his factories did and when
record breaking performances In the
production Of munitions was mention.
ed he declared. eve did all we could.
let 1t go at that. I want to forget
all about it feel Just az the soldiers
ftel. don't want TO talk about ny
war work"
The witness did, however, after be.
Ing pressed, explain that his son had
bought out the minority stockholders
Of the Ford Motor company because
these interests had insisted on Mr.
Ford squeezing the last dollar out of
the public. the government, the work
ers and the product He wanted to
cut loose from his associates, he said.
so that he could carry out his ideas
OF the distribution Of profits to EN-.
ployees through increased wages AMI
to the public through lower prices.
1t was either buy or sell and Mr.. Ford
had considered selling and organizing
new company. His son, however.
took up the task Of buying out the
minority stockholders and succeeded.
despite the general belief In the tanan.
ctal world that this stock could not be
purchased.
One OF the most interesting deyeIou-
ments OF Mr.. Ford's testimony cams
cut when It was testified that the onIv
legislation he has ever sought WIS
that for the protection Of birds. Other
men Of millions. II was shown. keen
lobbyists In the national and statS
capitol to urge and work for special
privileges, but the one favor that M
Fold has ever asked from the law,
makers had nothing to do with hIs
own interests. It was curious bit
Of testimony and left deep impres.
sion on the audience IN the court
chambuf.
The 81 bject was result OF ouss.
tons concerning Mr.. Ford's list Of
friends. He named Thomas Edison
and John Burroughs, the naturalist AZ
hts best friends outside Of his i'm.
mediate associates. I.
Litigation In which Mr.. Ford has
been interested was another subject
OF interest II was shown that when
the automobile business was In the
first years Of its growth all fnanufacs
turers OF motor cars were compelled
to pay tribute to what was known A.
the Selden patent on internal CON bus,
ton engines. Mr.. Ford fought this
patent for seven years and won and b.
his victory freed the entire industry
from its shackles and made posnibio
the wonderful growth which has mark.