Evening star., 1927-04-05
REED AND SAP|RO
HAVE ANGRY WORDS
Cross Examination Lively in
Ford Libel Suit at
Detroit.


DETROIT, April 5.-The little
marble lined district court room in
which Aaron Sapiro is suing Henry
Ford for $l.000.000 for alleged libel
was very cold and only SO spectators
were present today when Senator
James A. Reed of Missouri. chief of
Ford counsel. and Sapiro renewed
their struggle Of cross examination
begun a week ago.
Senator Reed asked very long
question concerning Sapiro efforts
prior 10 1920. whether he was trying
to promote favorable legislation and
trying to distribute information to
farmers.
NO" replied Sapiro.
Reed glanced up quickly when
Sapiro stopped with the one word and
did not go ahead with an explanation.
Reed got the desired information
by series Of questions, SapirO testi.
fying that there were two distinct
types of farmer organizations prior
TO that time. one. commercial and the
other not commercial but more or less
like secret society.
Types of Organizations.
The first controlled elevators,
creamcries etc. while the other tried
TO discuss farmer problems, said
Sapiro, naming the grange, later
federated into the National Grange,
and the State farm bureau fedora
tions, federated into the American
Farm Bureau Federation In 1919 or
1920.
Reed introduced a. evidence a letter
Sapiro wrote 10 }. r. Howard, first
president Of the A. IT, B. f., written
January 30 1920 outlining ideas for
aligning the national organization
with farmers cooperative movements,
and suggesting that Sapiro would he
the proper man for the work.
Sapiro admitted he got "S1 900
gross" for attending a cooperative
marketing conference at Chicago in
July, 1924, when he travelled three
days from San Francisco, remained
three days and spoke once. and trav-
eled three days back TO the West
coast
Senator Reed asked if an otherwise
unidentified G. II. Gustafson had not
spoken ahead of Sapiro.
Yes" replied Sapiro.
did you not later say to Mr..
Gustafson, I am going to make you
look like 80 cents?'" asked Reed.
Sapiro Is Angered.
Angered, Sapiro half arose in the
witness chair and nearly shouted;
Il never said anything like that TO
Mr. Gustafson at any time anywhere"
William Henry Gallagher, counsel
for Sapiro. demanded that the ques
ton and answer be striken as not a
proper part of ross-examination, and
over Senator Reeds objection it was
done.
Reed asked Sapiro if in q Chicago
speech July %, 1920. he had not said
that d cooperative wheat plan could
not be started unless 81 per cent Of
the wheat grown in the nine impor-
tant States was represented.
Yes. that was q part Of the gen,
eral plan" replied Sapiro.
Letter to Howard.
Sapiros letter TO Howard set forth
the conditions under which he would
become general counsel of the AIneri
can Farm Bureau Federation. They
included
A retainer Of $500 a month. begin
ming September /, 1920, fea for spe
cial work for the committee of H.,
$40 900: $4,000 payable October /, 1920,
and $4,000 January ., 1921,
Expenses OF his attendance at meet
ings and conferences or a fixed sum
of $4,000 a year.
A private Office in Chicago with the
usual stenographic and other service.
Fords Appearance Delayed.
Sapro's cooperative work in the
South, New Jersey, New York and
oregon were inquired into yesterday.
1t was revealed that since 1922 Sapiro
had collected $40 200 from the Ameri.
can Cotton Growers Exchange, of
which he is general counsel.
II was stated definitely that Ford
would not appear in court this week.
Secluded at his vast Dearborn es-
tate. the manufacturer still is splinted
back and chest, but is recuperating
rapidly from injuries received more
than a week ago when his little coupe
was bumped by a larger car and
knocked down a roadside embank-
ment.
Ford has been designated next wit
ness after completion of cross-eXami.
nation of Sapiro.