Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-19
AIRING OF FORD'S
OPINIONS BLOCKED.
Embarrassing Answers to
Sapiro CounSel'S Questions
STAYED Off by Defense.

By inc AsNOtiAtfu tItSs
DETROIT, March Henry tord's
opinions are vet to be uncovered in
the 81 900 900 libel suit brought in
Federal court here by Aaron Sapiro.
A battery of lawyers, on their feet
at every attempt to lift the lid for
peep into the brain of the automobile
manufacturer. have successfully block
ed virtually all questions which might
prove embarrassing.
Two facts about Ford were learned.
however. In the few minutes his
editor, William J. Cameron, was on
the stand yesterday. He regards
Soviet Russia with a lenient eye. while
his weekly, the Dearborn Independ-
ent. is opposed to bolshevism.
DO you ever hold any conferences
with Mr.. Ford?" asked William Henry
Gallagher. attorney for Sapiro. And
if so. were the policies of the paper
discussed?'
Fails to Pin Him Down.
only in a most general way, re-
piled Mr. Cameron, land j can't re-
call any discussions except when we
have differed with him. For instance.
Mr.. Ford is against war and the paper
is for preparedness. Ford also looks
on the Russian people with lenient
eye and the Independent is opposed to
bolshevism.
Gallagher picked him up eagerly.
"You mean Mr.. Ford is pro-Soviet?'
II didn't say that" Cameron cor
rected II said he was more lenient.
Whenever Gallagher attempted 10
pin the editor down as to details of
conferences with Ford defense counsel
became vociferous.
ITS the very core Of the case,
protested Sapiro's attorney, but he
was consistently overruled.
Prior to 1924 were the Dearborn
Independent and Mr.. Ford in full ac-
cord with reference to the interna-
tional ring of banks?" asked plaintiff
counsel. To which the defense object
ed and was sustained.
Attorney Gallagher then said it
would be necessary for the records of
the publishing company to be brought
into court before he could proceed
and the case was adjourned until
Monday.
Crowd Breaks Record.
The crowds that attempted TO get
into the courtroom yesterday broke
all records All semblance of order
was lost in the pushing, pulling and
jam. Not wishing to admit more than
could be accommodated with seats,
the marshals braced themselves in
the doorways and resorted to shout
ing warnings.
LAWYERS, the jury and newspaper
men slid. or rather were smashed,
through first, and then the crowd in
twos and threes were permitted to
look for seats. No injuries were re-
ported, but damaged clothing was
greatly in evidence.
Cameron was placed on the stand
Immediately after Senator Reed com
pleted his opening statement. 1t was
expected Ford would take the stand
himself Monday. but the trial has
moved so slowly he probably will not
be called before the latter part of the
week After Mr.. Cameron, r. ID.
Black, business manager of the In
dependent; two witnesses who have
not been named, and Sapiro Will
testify.
The veteran Senator from Missouri
took the jury from State to State in
his plea, describing the activities of
Aaron Sapiro, as he professed to see
them, in organizing cooperative as
sociations among the potato growers
of Idaho, Colorado, Maine and Min
nesota, the fruit growers of California
ana oregon, the CODdCCO TdlSeTS OI
Kentucky and Tennessee and the pea
nut growers.
Cites Alleged Failures.
In reply to the plaintiffs claim that
his organizations always prospered.
Mr.. Reed told of numerous failures,
and what he regarded as the causes.
Sapiro and his co-workers drew enor-
nous salaries and fees. outrageous
prices were paid for warehouses and
equipment by the associations under
Sapiro's advice, Reed said, and ineffi-
cient or unprincipled managers, the
Senator said, sold products at a loss
and refused to let the members of
the associations go TO the open mar
kets with their products.
Money was often borrowed on crops
held by the association. paid on the
loans, and when the crops were sold
the interest money was deducted from
the amount paid the farmer" said
Reed.
HE was unprofessional in his work
as an attorney. and we will ask you
to find that Aaron Sapiro was an ex-
ploiter of the American farmer" Reed
concluded.
EnDn IN CnNrEDENrrr