New-York tribune., 1922-12-03

leans moro strongly IN that direction
than toward conservatism, and the
folk these Senators represent form
lust the hind Of soil Ford would choose
II ne did the planting himself.
The Ford boomers were not 20 sure
Of their ground before the recent elee-
tions. But the returns brought hilar'
lty into the Ford camp. In Michigan
his principal political lisutenants were
an important factor in the defeat OF
Senator Chaxles +. Townsend, Rspub-
liean, sitter twenty years service In
Congress. n this campaign u was
significant that Governor oroesbeek,
who shared with the Senator joint
responsibility at the head Of the state
ticket. played q lone hand, took oil the
help he could get fromsths Republican
state ticket and eampaiEnI rouimittss
and gave not the siigbtestrhrsp 70 the
Senator. Townsend's idsfeats2foreed
Newbsrry TO resign shd.isft - Senate
vacancy for the Governor 20 hilsby sp-
poiutment. t1s IS 2 -
Issues SIN IN Ar .'f}
Beyond the general appeal 70. po-
liticaI independents the Ford boom has
not got down to issues yst Reremoss
of those ut hand ls the Ford attitude
toward the coal crisis His most out
standing step In this, direction was
the closing Of his factories, employing
ioo, 900 men, as a protest against coal
brokers' prices He sueeseded' In get
ting coal and although his workers
were short one weeks pay his move
became the basis for favorable Ford
publicity. More recently II has been an
nouneed Ford has purchased an en-
tire coal field at q cost said 70 be t8O'-
100000, and would sell direct TO the
public In . war on the. eesal trust
The move looked speetaeuiar. got him
lots Of publicity, and II nothing else
assured him Of o dependable coal sup
tly at all times for his industries.
Certain II 10 that fsvrof his rivals
have the weslth 10 make such mover.
The Ford boomers are chiefly con
eerned now over three weak links In
their political chain. One OF these 10
his war on the jews, which, although
Il has ended, Is certain ta have left him
their bitter ensaity. TAsn there vas
his testimony during trial Of his some
what famous 100000 libel suit that
the American War Of the Revolution
was fought IN 1872 and that Benedict
Arnold was a writer. OF somewhat
more ancient vintage. but still dis
turbing factor. is the Ford peace ship.
All Of these can be overcome, they
believe, and Ford In the past has shown
himself . genius for overcoming OBJ
stAeles.
Ford's announcement Is subject to the
consideration Of at least a yesr. possibly
longer. Meanwhile. the Ford-owned
Dearborn Independent" continues 70
hammer the Harding policies, the Ford
cabinet studies the political zodiac and
organization Of Ford-for-President elubs
approaches a production basis.
There are people who think the cleo
ton Of Henry Ford to the Presidency
would be blessing to the nation. othsrs
think 1t would be . calamity, and stiil
others view his candidacy as huge joke.
Ford 10 q candidate for the Presi-
deney, and has been since 1919, when
he got the Endorsement Of the Michi-
gan Republicans for the honor and had
the Michigan delegation TO the Repub-
licsn National Convention instructed
20 vote for him. His campaign for
President 10 on right now, working
With all the thoroughness and efficiency
Of q Ford sales organization. You
don't read much about It in the pa
pers, but n more smoothly, more we'll
oiled vehicle was never invented By a
political psrty-snd II Is working
twenty-four hours every day, inelud-
Ing holidays and Sundays.
Work Is being done now that IL ex-
pected to reach q climax in February,
1924. in q way TO center public stten-
tion on Mr.. Ford, place him in the
role Of standard bearer Of govern
mental virtue and make him . political
martyr as we'll.