The New York herald., 1921-02-20
FORD'S HALF TIME
ORDER IS REPLY
TO LOAN OFFER
Ignores Financiers and Is
Determined to Run Plant
to Suit Himself.
CRITICISM BY AGENTS
5000 of Them Join Farmers
in Attacking Policies, but
Without Effect.

Without Effect.
Special Despatch to TxS NKw YoiK HnALp
DETROIT, Mich, Feb. 15.-When the
whistle blew on Monday morning at
the Ford Motor Company's mile long
plant at Highland Park, 10000 mar
ried men who have not been working
there for the last two weeks put on
their overalls and went 10 work, and
10000 others who have manned the
works since January 81 will bide at
home until another fortnight passes.
The notion of working Ford en-
ployees in shifts did not originate with
the men themselves. 1t is Henry
Fords own notion. He has figured out
that man who works two weeks in =
month can contrive to live on what he
earns-if not luxuriously, then little
less luxuriously--and 50 he has had 4
toll taken OF the married ana single
among the $4,000 workers who were
laid of when he shut down his plant
keep the married 10000 Of them at
work two weeks in every four, il they
want it.
Fart of Ford's Method.
The scheme is typical of the way
Ford does everything to-day. He does
what he likes. And in New York, and
In Chicago, and in one or two other
places where large sums of cash capi-
tai lie concentrated, various gentlemen
possessing profound appreciation and
experience of the inexorabe laws of
finance are wondering in their various
ways about Henry and trying to get
his simple system through their heads
In an interview recently he announced
that he was not pressed for money and
did not know he wanted any until q few
loan sharks marched in upon him and in
formed him that they were sure he did.
In employing the sweeping term loan
shark he named no names: but his lam
Euage must seem either gratuitous or
humorous TO the heads OF at least two
big New York banking houses whose
cmissaries were out here a week ago.
upon the understanding that the Ford
organization needed s75,ooo.ooo OF nuid
money In order to keep It's head above
hard times or until about 800, 900 Ford
cars, manufactured but unsold, could be
converted into currency. The proposition
had been made in all gravity in New
York and the situation and needs OF the
company set forth with considerable
urgency. After considerable negotiation
two OF the best known banking firms In
the world agreed TO put up half the
money each IL conditions in the Ford
business were as they were represented
TO be. But, since banking has never
been a trade followed by idealists. nat
urally the point was made that before
any money changed hands certain ex-
perts should visit Detroit and examine
the goods.
IL Is insisted still by the financial men
that Ford himself visited New York and
made personal application for the money.
Which Ford as stoutly denies. Anyway
q week ago when representatives of the
bankers went out to Highland Park and
sent In their cards this Is what he said
to them:
Good morning. gentlemen. I'm sur
prised TO see you here. II you've come
TO talk about money I'm not In the mar
ket for money. Your houses have tele-
grams from me to that effect"
And the houses had. and that was all
there was to that Simply. by the time
he had come back from New York and
had thought things over a bit. Henry
Ford had concluded that he didn't like
bankers as a class and would not do
business with them