Evening star., 1922-08-30
Ford's Planned Invasion of Mexico
Seen as Good Thing.

henry cOTU pan 10 iuSdoc IueA-
leo" and turn the members of the
Bandits and ex-Bandits' Associa-
ton" into producers of "fivvers"
has very generally been approved
throughout the country. II work
will act as a reform agency. as Ford
seems convinced. then the movement
has the best wishes of everybody.
Naturally there has been source Of
amusement in the idea for some of
the writer's, because they assert that
should 1t become necessary for the
United States actually to intervene
to protect Ford interests south of the
Rio Grande it would be a generally
popular action, but there also Is
note of genuine Endorsement voiced
by those who have watched the
growth Of the Ford properties in this
country.
1.-THE Ford car has had a civilizing
effect in its own country" suggests
the New York World, land that it
may help in civilizing Mexico is not
irrational. At least. invading Mex
leo with American flivver factories
Is an improvement on invading 1t
with American armies. All philan-
thropists, not excluding those who
see the redemption of Mexico through
oil industries and mining concessions.
will applaud Mr.. Ford's mission. May
his benevolent hopes lose none OF
their roseate hues and, most of all,
may they never pale to point where
Intervention will be demanded to
protect Ford automobile interests"
of the Decatur Herald. the idea Of
the Detroiter is excellent because
quantity production and minute sub
division Of work leave the worker
little time for personalities. Social
investigators pronounce dehumaniz,
against machines, and point to the
fact that the monotonous repetition
of motions dulls the mind and re-
suits in a restless activity in leisure
hours. If the automobile poems
leisure is employed with the hoe and
rife and bowie knife. a good deal Of
good will have been accomplished
While 1t is true that peace and good
order are largely the result of habit
civilization being still in its In,
fancy-it is equally true. as VIII
serve the leisure of the masses so do
you rivet the girders Of society"
There is no doubt that commerce
has a civilizing influence" the Ap-
pleton Post-Crescent points out. as
'ft keeps people out OF mischief by
giving work to them and making
them prosperous and respectable.
Ford assembling plants in the Aztec
republic would help tho people to
helm themselves. Mexico's mistake
was in neglecting the people. Pow
erful groups and men made spoiis
Of the lands riches and slaves OF
Mr., Ford's idea is right. Lift the
people and the nation will! have
neace and prosperity" 1t is well
recognised that Mr. Ford always has
had sympathy and faith In the Mex
lean people tn the now HTana syissntfy aaps wants
to play instructor to his men and
godfather to the children. He thinks
the people of Mexico have been ex-
plotted in the past and that for the
future they need Systematic develop
ment. This Mr.. Ford can supply, as
mana4ement There have been in
stances where Mr.. Ford was q bit
rnmbunctious in his efforts to de-
velop his pet ideas, and, on the other
hand, he has shown himself to be
genius Of business management
Mexico-or the Mexicans to .himvit
is difacult to determine" He GER
family has the power to carry out
his plans, the Paterson Press-Guar-
dian points out, ana valuable re-
sults can be counted certain to be
achieyed X he II given freedom to
sct according to his plan. But he
is sure to encounter determined op.
nosifion from influential elements Of
the, population. Tho Ford plan would
ke s monaco 70 controi by the classes
fsr moro enlightened and public
1offfted than there 10 reason to boz
fieye they are, they would be VIC
ientiy hostile to an alteration Of
present conditions. s -. &
rather sarcastfcally inquiries. -Is 1t
! nnt corce iya oIs thSt - incsss; sia,.