Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-08-27
FORD To CLOSE
3 BIC PLANTS;
COAL PILE LOW
Action to Affect 1OO,-
900 Men in Detroit
and Other Employees.
Auto King Says Money
Chiefs to Blame for
Industrial Trouble.

Detroit, Aug. 26.-Industry the
country over must throw up its hands
in surrender" within few weeks if the
rail and coal strikes continue, Henry
Ford declared Saturday in announcing
the decision of the Ford Motor com
pany to close its plants here and in
many other cities September 16, be-
cause of the fuel situation.
Mr.. Ford held financial interests
responsible for the industrial tieup, de-
claring the money barons" were man.
ipulating the labor unions and that
public officials, state and national,
were impotent in the crisis.
The strikes would end, be continued,
when the majority of the people are
cold and hungry enough to resort to
drastic action"
Continuance of these disturbances
to the economic life of the nation is
due simply to the greed and avarice
of Wall Street." Mr.. Ford asserted,
adding that these interests dominated
the coal mines and public utilities of
the country"
The deadlock in strike negotiations
indicated, he declared, the existence of
"a plot to unload the demoralized and
rundown railroads onto the govern
ment at their own price and to mulct
the people through excessive coal
prices"
One hundred and five thousand EN-
ployes of the Ford Motor company
throughout the country will be with
out jobs after September 16 and in
addition, several hundred thousand
other workers employed in industries
plants will be affected.
Three Plants TO Close
Mr.. Ford said that his three big
motor plants located in Detroit suburbs
and his assembling plants throughout
the country would be closed on that
date.
The announcement was the most Sc
we're blow that industrial Detroit has
since the industrial depres-
sion of two years ago. 1t means, ac
cording to Mr.. Ford, that $4,000 men
employed in the Highland Park, River
Rouge and Dearborn plants oe the
company here will be without work
Thirty thousand others now working
in the various assembling plants scat
tered throughout the entire country
will be thrown out of employment.
How long the machinery in the Ford |
,lants is to be stilled will depend en-
ire1y upon the coal supply of the fu-
ure. the Detroit manufacturer said. |
The statement issued by Mr.. Ford |
the proposed shutdown was /
he story of his losing fight during the /
asst few months to insure a fuel sup |
'ly sufficient to keep his workers at t
heir machines.
Mr.. Ford declared he "had not the |
emotest idea" when the plant could |
e re-opened. 1t was announced that |
he normal daily consumption of coal |
n the Ford industries was $500 tons
nd although declining to state the
mount on hand at this time, officials
aid it would be impossible to do more
than keep the furnaces and ovens
arm"
To Keep Few Employees
A comparatively small number of
mployes of the Ford plants will be
etained in service during the shut
own. Forces sufficient to keep the
urnaces warm, will be held.
Effect of the Ford shutdown will be
cit on industry in every part of the
ountry. according to officials of the
ompany. The number of workers
mployed by firms supplying the Ford !,
ompany with various parts and raw
laterials. including iron and steel, was
ariously estimated at from several
undred thousands to three million" /,
Announcement of the closing came as
distinct shock to the people of De
roit. Il