New-York tribune., 1922-03-03
Ford's Return
Of War Profits
Denied by U. S.
Book Entitled "Thc Truth
About Henry Ford'' Said
Auto Manufacturer Had
Given Back SS29, 600. 900
Treasury Never Saw 1t
Dealings With Government
Liberal, but No Cash Re-
fund, Officials Assert
Speciol Dispnlch 10 7Ac Irlbu.c

DETROIT, March "A dispatch
from Washington to "Thc Detroit
Journal' to-day says:
Under Secretary of the Treasury S.
Parker Gilbert denies Henry Ford has
returned war profits amounting to s29,-
100000 to the United States Treasury.
A book called "The Truth About
Henry Ford" was placed on sale
Wednesday and in it appears the fol
lowing statements
Henry Ford gave all his war profits
OF $29,o00,O00 to the government with
no hampcrlng restrictions. This vast
sum was turned back to the Treasury
TO be used as the government saw fit.
MS was the oct of a pracifist. If all
the war advocates had ~/nc the same
the country's war debts would not be
so staggering to-day and there would
nave been less talk of war protitecrs." >"
Story News to Mellon
he book is supposed to have been
written with the approval of Mr.. Ford
and to be based upon facts furnished bv
Mr. rord's organization. Secretary Of
the treasury Mellon said he had heard
nothing of such Il handsome gift to the
Federal Treasury, but deferred in
quirles to Under Secretary Gilbert.
After an investigation Mr.. Gilbert dc
med that Henry Ford had at any time
returned S29 600, 900 or any other lumn
sum to the Government.
they say there is possibility that
IN certain cases the motor car king
may have accepted less money in pav-
ment OF certain claims than he might
nave cNactcd from the government t.
IN fact, they declare that Mr.. Ford's
dealings with the government, so far
as they know, have been marked by
fairness and liberaity on Mr.. Ford's
part. lhey are positive, however, that
no cash refund of war profits has ever
been made by Mr.. Ford
1t has been variously estimated that
thc + ord company received from S75,-
100000 to S125 900, 900 for war work.
but the items are scattered throuph
many departments and bureaus and il
would take days to assemble them. The
ford ompany produced many differ
cnt kinds of war material, including
Eagle boats, Liberty motor castings.
tanks, tractors. automobiles, trucks.
nowltzers, cslssons, helmets and Shell
csstlngs. The Ford company's con
tract for the production of Eagle boats
lone called for sixty boats at a cost
o. approximately $l00O,00O each.
Denied He Would Keep Profits
When large war contracts began to
pour in upon the Ford company soon
after America entered the war Mr..
Ford announced he did not expect to
take penny of profit. Later it was
gwen out that the Ford company would
be compelled to char1e 4 profit because
Mr.. Ford owned but 50 per cent of the
stock of the company and the minority
stockholders would not be willing to
forego their legitimate profits. 1t vas
announced, however. that Mr.. Ford
personally would not consent to re-
celve cent Of profit for his share.
and 1T was taken for granted that at
some time following the settlement up
OF contracts the motor car manufac-
turer would return his war profits TO
the United States Treasury
The records Of the War Department
show that the Ford Motor Company
and Henry Ford & Son have received
under the law a total Of S2l,13,O3S.3O.
Or this Sl1,O19, ,099.o5 was in payment
for articles actually delivered to the
government and S9,994 1875 was in
adjustment of contracts. under which
no finished articles were delivered, but
where the Ford company claimed re
Endorsements for expenditures made
IN preparation for production.