The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-02-11
FORD WON'T
CUT WAGES;
OPTIMISTIC
Never Knew He Was "Hard
Up" Till Wall st. "loan
Sharks" Said So
ny REX r. GI.ASS0N
(Copyrfght 1921. United Press;
Copyrighted In Canada

he said The 50 q day minimum
IN his plants viii remain In force.
Twenty thousand men arc now en-
ployed In the Ford plant The en-
tiro payroll OF $4,000 men viii be
employed on alternating twowcek
periods until full capacity produo-
ton Il resumed
PRICE OF STEIcI. Is
RETIG FORCED DOWN
A good feature Of the existing In
dustrial situation Is that tho price
a steel Is being forced down. Ford
declared
Tho motor industry Is the main
stay Of practically all other en-
sesprises and Its future Is assured
90 long as the world keeps NOV
ing Ford said
Tho world today n on wheels
ana l am certain that n always
win hA Tho motor industry II
called upon to supply those wheels.
and the demand Is getting stronger
Al tho time
This Is Fort's answer 10 those
who are saying that the automo-
tive industry has reached tho end
q In rope
but what about financing tire
Industry: have you succeeded In
esttinE that $4,000. 600 YETI the
lnterviewer asked.
II didn't know we needed n until
fcw loan sharks came out and
ty5ed 10 tell us we DID, Ford ~
plied. with a laugh But I think
~ proved 10 a few OF them that
we could take caro- OF ourselves"
STUDIES A WHEEL IN
HIS INNER SHRINE
While Ford talked Of the future
u tho industry ho walked about
his experimental shop In his Dear
horn plant and stopped before a
wheel proppcd up In corner.
which he studied carefully. I, ap-
parcntiy was to be used In work.
ing out some new Ford idea be-
cause II was the only object that
held the attention of tho motor
king In his room. his inner shrine.
IN which many Of his patents have
been worked out and into which
few arc permitted TO enter.
Seven or eight mechanical experss
were busy In different parts Of the
room. working on machinery and
blue prints.
-what Is being done hers, Mr..
Fordf- the interviewer asked
ooh. we are just working out . fsw
new IDEAS for some OF our machin-
cry" he replied. You know. there
II always sonsething that can be i'm.
proved upon
In Ford's private office were many
photographs. among them those of
Thomas Edison. the electric wizard.
and close friend Of Mr.. Ford. John
Burroughs. tho famous naturalist.
who Is another intimate friend. and
the Prince OF Wales
In one corner was q black ieasher
chair. and into this Mr.. Ford sank.
What would you say about future
businees conditions the interviewer
pursued. -wu they ever return to
snormal'r-
BUSINESS ALWAYS
GETS BACK TO NORMAL
The answer To the question. WIN
business ever get back to normal7' Is:
Tt Away did before
1T may take six months: II may
take year. or even ten. before bust
ness 10 again normal. but IT win get
back
But. then. a. I said before, the
motor industry's future Is assured.
II II necessary 20 keep this moving.
The pace OF the world would slow
down II II were not for motors. That
will never happen. SO you see what
II demanded. and will DO demanded.
Of the industry
why, then" he was askcd, did
you close your plants in December ?
IL It true that the closing was forced
by hard tfmes'7"
I'VE have not experienced any
hard times' In our businees,- said
Ford We received $1,000 orders In
January.
we closed down to make a num-
Der of important changea--
This was his only reference. for
publication, to the reagnations Of
Frank Klingensrnith, vice president
and treasurer for the company. and
other high officials.
ROTATE CREWS TILL
FULL TINE IS RESUMED
Before we closed" he went on,
~we were employing about 1900
men In our Highland Park plant At
the present time we have brought
back nearly half that number. Next
week we are going to bring back
tho other half. The first crew will
step out for two weeks while the
other works. Then the first will come
back for two weeks. This rotating
system will be used until we grad
uaily get to a point where we find
II necessary to put on :uii quota
At the present time married men
and others with dependents are being
given the preference. That seems
20 be the fairest way"
Are you going TO cut the mems
pay7v he was asked.
Certainly not" Ford replied. with
emphasis. Nobody In our employ In
going to starvc while the readjust-
ment Is going on either. Our go
Biological department. despite reports
10 the contrary, Is now in the best
shape II has ever been TO look up
and handle deserving cases"
There is one good thing that has
come out Of this present situation. :"
Ford continued. And that In II is
forcing down the price OF steel. The
steel Interests are now willing to take
half loaf rather than none"
The interview also establishes the
falsity OF the many rumorB that have
been circulated 10 the effect that
Ford is H. He appeared to be in
the best OF health. He was az alert
and active as ever; his face radIated
the news that he was not III and had
not been III recently.