The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-12-03
CHAPTER IS Edsel Ford


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 CHAPTER IS
 Edsel Ford
 There Is one job In this war I do not want and will not take and that Is the job of rich mans son"
 It was Edsel Ford who made this statement to me and the circum- stances which called it forth. to- gether with tho tone of sincerity and righteous indignation in which 1t was uttered, left upon my mind an indelible impression-the impressi on that I was in the presence of a man whose character, patriotism, courage and ideals were such as to make the martyrdom which he was suffer ing at the time one of tho most un- just and barbarous crueltfes inflict- ed during the war. And 1t was a martyrdom, ~as we knew who saw . him day after day going steadily and silently about his work. facing the great problems and .shouldering the enormous responsibilities in- volved In changing over from A peace basis to a 100 per cent war basis one of the largest industries in the country.
 It was at the time that Edsel Ford was being scored by his critics for not offering himself for military ser vice that l had talk with him con corning the matter during which he made the statement above recorded. Before recording more fully what passed between us at that time, there are one or two things which ought to be stated which will go~a long
 n .al Nsr6 j action at that time.
 Edsel Ford was q mere boy in his teens when his father began to train him for the management of the busi- ness which sooner or later would devolve upon him. It was arranged that the boy would acquire by actual experience- a thorough, practical Knowledge of both office and shop. It was MT. Ford's purpose to share his responsibilities with Shis son as fast as the latter was ableNto assume them.
 Edsel Ford did not go to college. It Is my impression that he did not care to do so. I know his father was not eager for him to have university training. The son re- maGed at home and followed to tho letter his fathers plans in regard to
  hoy clean in mind and habits. and of exceptional strength of charac-i ter. Few young men have been as little Influenced by prospective mil lions as he.
 Two or three things happened dur ing the war which for time had a decided effect on Henry Fords interest in and management Of nis business In Highland Park.
 First of all. with the outbreak of the war In 1914. he became an ardent pacifist, and devoted a great deal of his time to propaganda ana measures of one kind and another which he honestly and sincerely be- lie~ed at the time would tend 10 shorten that conflict. He was 50 absorbed In his paclfist undertak- ings - the peace ship for example that his mind was more or less withdrawn from his business.
 Another matter that tended to lessen his interest in the Highland Park plant was tho development or a farm tractor at tho Dearborn shops. I think the tractor. because of its utility. appealed to him moro than the car.
 Rouge plant which ultimately fn- volyed him in litigation with some of the stockholders of his company. This litigation seemed to arouse in him at times a feeling Of antagonism toward the plant at Highland Park. sc much so that he seemed on tho point of starting the manufacture of another car-did announce, if my memory serves me rightly that he had the establishment of another plant and the building of another car in mind. At any rate. his inter- est in affairs at Highland Park. to all appearances were on the wane. He came infrequently tC his office. He was more than ordinarily diff cult to reach. The result was that to Edsel Ford the executives of the company turned more and moro for important decisions in tho shaping or approval of policies affecting tho conduct of the business. Back of the son was the father. of course. and doubtless no action of great impor- tance was taken without the fathers Knowledge and advice, but the fact remains that the approach to the father for long time was. as . rule, through the son.
 In short, the son came to be TO- garded as the active head of the business and absolutely indispensable to the conduct Of 1t under the cir cumstances. This was the situation