The Covington leader. (Covington, Tenn.) 18??-current, 1921-01-06
FORD WORKERS GIVEN
A S7,5OO.OOO BONUS


Distribution of b.nus checks,
amounting to more than 100000,
was begun by the Ford Motor Car
Company December 80. More than
$4,000 employees will be the bene-
ficiaries
"The gift makes the layoff Of the
men, due to the temporary closing of
the Ford shops, more Of vacation
with pay than anything else" said
an official If the company. Hundreds
of the idle employees swarmed the
streets of Detroit. They were on
shopping expeditions.
The great Ford plant has been rum
ming full blast fer three months. but
there has been a falling off in the
purchase Of cars. Some orders have
been cancelled.
Henry Ford startled the industrial
world in 1914, when he instituted
his Notwithstanding plan. He said at
the time that he did it as blow at
greedy corporations which watered
their stocks to prevent the workers
from sharing in the pr fits.
at is an act Of social Justice" Mr..
Ford said. II did it to eliminate
the pinching penury and give my
fellow humans a wage that will per-
nit more pleasures and some saving.
Good will is about the only fact in
in life"
Mr.. Ford iolted the Industrial
world again this year when he an
nounced that he had reduced the
prices of his automobiles to pre-war
levels. Following this announce
ment came tumble in prices of
hundreds Of other commodities.
Manufacturers Of some other cheap
cars followed his plan, but were more
conservative. Builders Of high priced
cars, however, did not cut the prices.
They said they would be broke if
they did. Ssme Of them even pre-
dicted that Ford would 90 broke by
following the plan.
The story Of Henry Ford's rise in
the industrial world reads like
fairy story, He was a financial fail
ure until he was 40 years old Then
he suddenly became one Of the rich
est men in the wtrld.
He was born on farm and went
to work as a machinist when he was
Is. Later he became a stationary
engineer In 1894 he helped form
company to make automobiles. The
company failed after making one
car
In 1903 he tried it again and
launched the Ford Motor Company
on borrowed capital Of $4,000. Two
bankers who put up $4,000 each have
been drawing $4,000 a year divi-
dends since that time.
After his $5-a-dav minimum wage
plan had been in effect a few years
he raised the minimum to Sc. In adj
ditfcn to sharing profits with his
employees he also started campaign
If social service among the ranks of
his men, which resulted in greatly
improving their home lives and in
creasing their efficiency
When the war broke out in Europe
Mr.. Ford became pacifist. He spent
a fortune in advertising to foil the
prepare lness movement. He de-
nounced British and French bankers
who came t. America to get backing
for the allies. Then he sent his
famous peace ship to europe in an
effort to "get the boys ous Of the
trenches by Christmas"
But when the United States en-
tered the war Tord probably tock
greater part in the fight than an
otter civilian. Tie turned all his
energy toward the manufacture of
He said his rooney and
his plants belonged to the govern
ent. He made Liberty meters and
helmets and ambulances and tanks
and built a snip ward ,,lat would
have turned out submarine chaser
a day had not the war come to an
end. He also spent millions for Lib
ertv bonds.
Later he entered politics and ran for
the United States SCI ate at the re-
nuest Of President Wilson. Both
Democrats and Republicans wanted
Kim for a candidate but he chose the
Democratic mat He was defeated
bv narrow margin by Thurman
Newberry, who was later indicted
for coTTuptinp the electorate.