The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-12
FORD IS NON-COMMITAL ON PRESIDENCY, BUT HE
 WOULD BE REAL BOSS
Unique Figure In Politics Has Become Spokesman Of Silent Masses Unable To Do Their Own Talking.
 Publicity Ford Gets Considered Very Remarkable

est of appropriations as vote makers for congressman would be abolished d as far as ne mad the power to abol- ish such practices.
 O. o O
 Engineer Vs. Politicians.
 Iempera,nentally, Ford is of the engineering type of mind. The engi- neer stauJS outside tho machine and is ever leady with solutions for new problems growing out of emergen- cIes.
 For it is Tn the midst of a great organization without being d part of it. lie operates largely from the side lines by approving what his as sociates propose, or by suggesting something different. Others may do much o1 the thinking. but he makes the decisions which determine the policy. He would function in about the same way as Iresident.
 There is q tradition in Dearborn that he cVinccd engineering ability at d very early age, as is shown by one incident. When he was an in fant lis mother put him in an old fashioned crib to sleep. but the little fellow had other ideas. lie wanted to get out, put the sides were too high for nim to climb over. There upon ne pulled up one end of the mattress and Wiggled out through the bottom of the crib.
 In the Ford factories the indus trial policy is lower costs, better quality and steady production. In the government the program would be economy and public service. ' Party Ieldefs' winh An eye on the spoils of office would be out of q job. Henry would take care of the appointments according lo nis own idea about such matters.
 As President Ford W ould be boss, just us he is boss now in his indus try. He is d genial amiable man, but independent and self reliant. lie borrowed money to buy out the mi nority stock hold ITS of the Ford Mo tor company so ne could develop hls ideas without interference. Thls money, amounting to many millions, was part of the debt he had to pay two years ago when a lot of people expected nim to go t. smash. But he repaid all thas he had borrowed and is now able to operate without fl tieht with d board or directors.
 His inde pendent nature was further illustrated when he founded the Ford hospital. All undertaking was under way to erect the hospital by popular subscription. and Ford was asked to subscribe. He gave a very substantial sum. Later he did not like the way things were going ana offered to take over the entire enter prise. His lffer was accepted, ana he even went so far IS to refund all the money that had been paid In by other contributors. so that he Woulu have absolute freedom to develop ms ideas on hospit Il management. The fact that medical men from all over the world visit the Henry Ford nos pital IS proof oI it's Guallty.
 O C o
 Ford as q Lcuucr of Men.
 Ford is considerate and tolerant with men about him who make ms takes, but he has no time Tor those who are lazy, lack initiative or are insuoordInlte. On one occasion some of his lneu caused u loss of $3OO,- 900. but nobody was discharged or disciplined Tor the mistake. How ever l'ord was careful that the men responsible profited by the eNperl- ence lie mas a singular notion that the ,,iI thing about mistake is to find lne lesson in it, so the same mistaxe will not be made a second time.
 His determination to get at the facts is illustrated by an incident | that occurred jn the Ford hospital. Two nurses became involved ill d 1 controversy at Christmas time. The | supe rint.n .ndei.t called them in and | told them that they should observe the spirit of the season and not quar- rel. Thus the matter was patched l LID until Il personal representative oi l MT. told investigated. He dug down until he foud that the trouble | had started over the use of lockers. | When the real nature of the dispute l had ueen Iscertuined, q change was | quickly made which brought peace. | This method prevails throughout the orEanizutton and Is aR lnoeA to the | character of the man lie does not reach conclusions hastily. N hen a | difference If any kind arlses he has | the matter sifted to the bottom. He is constantly urging hi- men to mix around" so they will be in a position to know what is taking place. Ford himself IS ;l lsrcao mixer! When he | bought the D. I, & l. railr oad, he inspected much of the road bed and roliinS stock personally. On another occa sion he cruWled back into d coa! mine U see Tor himself the condl- tions under which tho men worked. He toul.d things so bad that he closed the mine until improN ements could be made. Just recently he had employees on his railroad polish the side rods on locomotives so they would look better. Then the dis cov.ry was made that it paid, be- cause in polishing the rods flaw were discovered which would eyentu- ally cause break and greatly injure the engine. sometimes in develop ing draw ings, Ford will have two sets oI dsaftslnen work on the same thing / ne can check one against tS< z.4eI, and thus eliminate all CT TOTS.
 The Ford organization is always