The Washington herald., 1921-08-03
MUST DENY FUNDS
FOR WAR PURPOSES,
EDISON DECLARES
Believes Only Lack of
Money Will Force
Disarmament.
RELIES ON HARDING
Henry Ford and H. s. Fire
stone Discuss Prospects
OF Conference.
RELIES ON HARDING
ny KARL A. BICKEL.

Keep the nations Of the world from
obtaining money to prepare for "the
next war" If this is done-and
America has the power to do it
President Harding will succeed In
the conference he has called for linn
itation Of armament.
In that manner the situation was
summed UP today by Thomas A. Ed
SON. Henry Ford and H S. Fire.
stone, as they sat on the shady
bank of a rippling West Virginia
mountain brook. munched sand
witches, frizzled bacon and talked
about disarmament, prosperity and
golf.
They issued a warning that Pres
ident Harding must look out for
the cars"
Depends on Harding.
The enemies of disarmament, they
said, already are busy.
The conclusion was that the sue
cess of the conference depends upon
the foresight, courage and determi'
nation of the President.
Six cars and two trucks OF Amer
ica's most famous camping party
were stretched down a country lane
At the improvised camp stove, Fish
er. the cook, was putting a per-
manent wave in another batch OF
bacon and the aromatic smoke OF
the campfire drifted over the heads
of the party as they talked
Edison leaned against the side OF
his car; Firestone sat upon the run
ning-board; Ford, as vital and as
eager as a boy Of 10. his coat and
hat on, his mop Of fine white hail
thrown back from his well-turnet
forehead. moved restlessly about
sometimes reclining upon the ground
picking at the grass or, IL stirred
by, the talk. springing to his feet
making his point and then dropping
to the ground again.
Edison Gives His Views
DO you think that Harding car
put his disarmament program over?'
Ford asked Of Edison.
Il don't like to answer that of
hand" replied Edison. He was the
only man in the group who wa:
smoking and as he spoke SLOWLY
shook his head slightly.
ia rather hear you say IL on
hand" retorted Ford.
The man who first envisaged tn,
electric light was silent for a mo
ment Then he spoke.
II think it will depend upor
money" he said.
IF the money can be found q
keep on maintaining armies and ma,
ries, l think the conference will
fail. Only the absolute lack oi
money and the inability to see where
they can get any more funds tC
pay for the expense of war prepar'
edness will force the military ele,
ment to accept a real disarmament
II Harding can keep them from get
ting the money. he'll succeed witt
his program. 1t pretty largely resti
on him."
Sick of Paying for Warn.
THE common people around thu
wall will back himup on that" in
jected Ford, swiftly. They are sick
and tired of spending money on ole
wars and new ones. They are tired
of the claptrap talk IF the Dex
waf.' Why. I have received as many
Assoc letters in a single day abou
il Letters from everywhere.
sPeople rarely object to taxes Il
they feel they are getting some
tSfng back for their money. Bu
tEey know now that military ex
peRditure means waste. The esti
rSated military expenditures of tn,
United States for the next year,
am told. is over $1,000, 5000 L
1 could have one-halt of the ex
penditure of the United States gov
ernment for a single year in prep
aration for wars to come alone, II
be- able to put a power plant oil
every waterpower site in the coun
try and provide the nation will
enough electric power to move th'
trains, light the homes, public build
ings and the schools"
Has Faith In President.
Firestone hadn't Joined in the tall
until now.
Its Americas great opportunity,
he said 'Tt all depends upon thu
quality of American leadership
There's all the difference in tn
world between the man who say
Come on. boys, follow me- anC
the man who says, I'm with you
where shall we go?'
Il believe that Harding has th'
c6trage to map a program and say
Come on, boys If he does, he'll
win. II he doesn't. he'll lose. He'I
going to have subtle opposition. L
won't come out in the open. Blu
they will be right on their toe
to wreck their conference IL the!
can see the slightest indication o.
indecision."
sThe motives OF men," said Edi
son, slowly, "are unfathomable."
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