Evening star., 1923-06-14
FORD IS BELIEVED
| ACTIVE CANDIDATE
Advisers Are Playing ShreWd
! Political Game, Trained
! Observer Declares.
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

Henry Ford is a receptive and all
but an avowed candidate for the
presidency. That is the judgment
of a highly trained and experienced
political observer. who has just re-
turned from a visit to Detroit. The
object of his trip was to meet Ford
and his chief counselors and to note
their reaction to the wave of Ford
talk" that has recently swept over
the country.
The observer is convinced that
Ford is out for the presidency and
that his most trusted lieutenants are
conducting a subtle but none the less
systematic campaign to capture it for
him. They are successfully conceal
ing whether Ford wants to run as
republican. a democrat or an inde-
pendent. But their transparent atti-
tude is that, like BarkiS of fame, he
is Willin'.
Holding Back Strategy.
The present hour strategy of Ford's
people is to lean back in an attitude of
nonchalence and view with diSinter-
eSted satisfaction a movement which
they concede is formidable. They
claim that, as far as the Ford high
command is concerned the movement
Is utterly spontaneous. They point
TO the Straw-vote of Golfers Weekly,
with its amazing exhibition of Ford S
popularity as a presidential prefer
ence, as evidence of the "unorGan-
lied ground swell" in his favor.
1t is impossible to inveigle Ford
himself into talking of the presi-
dency. His pose when it is mentioned
is one of amused indifference. amount
ing to diSdain. He affects to pooh
pooh" the whole idea. 1t is difficult
FOR tnterviewers of any kind to reach
Ford, and altogether impossible. If
their known object is to talk politics
with him. Visitors virtually must
pledge themselves to keep eff that
grass.
Sees Mystery Policy.
The observer in question gathered
the distinct impression that the Ford
headquarters staff has decided upon
mystery and silence as the wiseSt tao
tics. The evident purpose is to max e
a nomination run after Ford instead
of having him run after il. Detroit
and Dearborn look upon the wide,
popular, non-partisan and bi-parti-
san demand" for Ford as the bone
and sineW OF the movement on his
behalf
1t apparently has been determined
to do nothing and to say nothing that
would jeopardize this state Of affairs.
"HlCH Is tOnSiueEeu SIr2IeStS In inc
highest degree. The observer rather
thinks the Ford people are husging
the theory that both tn" republicans
and the democrats are so bent on win
ming in 1924 that sooner Or later they
will be looking for the motor mag
nate.
OF Ford's ability to have his name
presented officially to either the
democratic or republican national
convention. the expert investigator
says there is no doubt. To secure the
Endorsement of Michigan. repu bllcans,
1T appears that he has only to lift
finger" To become the favorite son
of Michigan democrats. he will have
to lift only half a finger" Whether
eventually anything will be done
even to this moderate extent, no one
visiting Detroit or Dearborn can find
out.
Ford ShrewdIy Advised.
That Ford is shrewdly advised is
plainly apparent. Visitors CLEAN
promptly that the men closest to him
are his general secretary. Ernest G.
Liebold, and his personal attorney
Alfred LuCking. Neither Liebold nor
Lucking talks Ford for President"
blatantly or assertively. They'll tell
you Uncle Henry" has never men
toned the subject to them.
Yet both convey the impression