The Adair County news., 1919-07-23
WANTED WAR FOR
FINANCIAL GAIN
TRIBUNE EDITORIAL WRITER
TESTIFIED PAPER THOUGHT
INTERVENTION WOULD
BE PROFITABLE.
NINTH WEEK OF FORD CASE
Famous Million Dollar Libel Case Con
tinues in Mt. Clemens-EdseI
Ford is Called to Stand
by Newspaper.


Tribune 100000 libel case.
Tiffany Blake, chief editorial writer
of The Tribune, was one of the most
interesting witnesses. Mr.. Blake tes-
titled that he had deliberately permit
tee the Characterization of Mr.. Ford
as an anarchist because it seemed to
him to sum up Mr. Ford's activities.
He testified at length, under cross-ex-
animation, concerning the attitude
which mis- paper took in favor of war
with Mexico but against war with Ger
many, and admitted that The Tribune
had in mind the material - benefits
which would accrue to the United
States in the event of Intervention,
and the fact that no such gains could
be reaped from war with Germany.
Ford Was in the Way.
During the course of his testimony
Mr.. Blake characterized the utter
ances and the attitude of Mr.. Ford as
notorious" Ford counsel took the
stand that Mr.. Ford's position could
uOL nave OCOA AOIOA AOAo " AOoACA0 VI
The Tribune because The Tribune new
er referred to the alleged statements
which it is now using as a means Of
justifying it's attack Its attitude to-
wards Mr.. Ford, counsel attempted to
show by questioning the witness, was
based upon the fact that just when it
seemed that the papers long campaign
for war with Mexico was about to
bear fruit, and troops were being hur-
ried to the border, it suddenly found
Henry Ford in its way.
Submarine warfare, in the estima-
ton of The Tribune, the witness said,
was never sufficient cause for war Mr..
Blake admitted that the newspaper
lid not demand armed redress after
the sinking of the Lusitania, and that
when the President used the Sussex
case as a. test, The Tribune continued
to declare that the submarine issue
was no cause for war.
! An editorial from The Tribune was
! introduced and Ford counsel proceed
! ed to read from it, "If we win in Ger
many, what do we win -
Eyes, what do We win," interjected
the witness.
blessed if we know"-continued
the editorial.
Eyes, blessed if we know" broke in
the witness again, I'VE don't know to-
day."
you stated said Ford counsel,
that when the government finally de-
cided on its position that you sup
ported it and stopped argument
against war with Germany. Do you
consider that when the President had
presented an ultimatum and broken off
diplomatic relations that you were
supporting him and the nation by con-
tinuing to tell the people that the
President had no ground for war with
Germany"
Yes, because the submarine issue
was not a good ground for war;"
well, when the President broaden
ed the issue by telling the country
that we must enter the war to make
the world safe for democracy, did you
argue for war on these broader
grounds?"
mo, we did not"
Overlooked Ford's Offer.
did you know, Mr. Blake, that Mr.
Ford was the first person in the Unit
ed States to offer himself, his ability
his factories and all he had, to assist
the government in the event of wal
did you know that?"
mo, did not know that"
"Your perusal of The Tribune did
not give you that information about
Mr.. Ford?"
NO.
r. R. Mccormick, president of The
Tribune company, and one of the edi
tors of the paper, was another wit
ness. Mr.. Mccormick testified thai
The Standard Oil and Internationa
Harvester interests, in which Tribune
stockholders have holdings, never il
any way directed the policy of the pa
per towards Mexico. His testimony
also IOucneU the mdIIoI VI SdldTISS
which The Tribune cut off as soon a!
men entered the service of the nation
IN the great war, although it had con
tinued salaries when its employees
were called to the border. The fac
that the army pay had been doubled
that married men were discharges
from the guard and that conscriptiol
had been put in force, caused the pa
per to change its policies, Mr.. McCor
mick stated.
E. G. Liebold, general secretary t
Mr.. Ford, and Edsel Ford, the pres
dent of the Ford Motor Company, wef
called to the witness stand by Tn
Tribune late in the week Mr.. Liebol
testified concerning letter which h
had written in response to commit
nication which sought to interest Nj
Ford in device which would des
out death.