Evening star., 1928-12-25
Believers in Old Thrift Maxims
Think FOrd's Advice Dangerous

Remarks by Henry Ford which have
been interpreted as advice to youth to
avoid the accumulation of money bring
sharp criticism from those who feel that
such a suggestion Is likely to be mis-
understood and harmful even though 1t
Is pointed out that the manufacturer
was far from advising wasteful expen-
ditureS. Some observers however, think
Mr.. Ford has done his generation a
service by with refreshing candor," as
it appears to the Columbus Evening
Dispatch. deprecating "the old, moth
eaten advice of the successful to the
rising generation-'work hard and
save" This" says the Dispatch, "al-
ways has been more or less flimsy ad-
vice by which comfortable men who
have made their pile impress upon the
public that they have been imbued with
an irresistible force before which all
obstacles have had to give way, plow-
ing their way to success by dint of
superior virtues, among which are
sobriety of outlook, strength of purpose
and unusual intelligence. The
contribution of useful and valuable
service to humanity is the true option"
of success"
"He summed up the whole recipe for
the boys success in life" asserts the
Charlotte Observer. He tells the boys
that they will never get anywhere
without work. He never knew a young
man worth cents who would not
work" The Butte, Mont, Standard
holds that "he does not belittle the
he glorifies it," and that "he was thrifty
fOr hnf6 E0rd ~
Edison, who was mentioned by the
former, the Standard remarks: ''They
did not save their money but they made
1t serve them"
Less favorable Is the comment of the
New York Sun, which summarizes Its
views with the statement: 1T is pretty
hard to imagine even a clever young
man being able to copy Henry Ford
in either word or deed. The truth is
that he is one of a limited company
licensed to speak nonsense without pen
atty" The Sun also warns: ''The i'm
provident will not notice what he added
that money not saved should be spent
on things that improve a boy. Even
with this qualification the remark
sounds more like Ford the historian
than Ford the manufacturer"
** **
"It looks as though Mr.. Ford, in the
light of past homilies from him, had
thrown into reverse gear" remarks the
Tulsa World. and the Salina Journal
feels that "the statement is unfortu-
nate" offering the explanation: 1T Is
probable that Mr. Ford meant that
merely saving fraction of daily wages
would never accumulate wealth. But
he didn't say it that way. 1t Is the
money thus saved, saved by strug-
gle, that becomes the little pile that
enables one to seize opportunity when
it comes"
when Mr.. Ford cites Mr.. Edison's
case," the Milwaukee Journal thinks
''he cites the case Of a genius-one boy
in generations, driven on by force
within him that he could not have
stayed. Not many boys are so earnest
so moved by creative impulses" AS to
spending ito improve themselves" the
Journal adds, mot many boys or young
men will understand how to do that
They more easily grasp the mandate
save For the bulk of young Americas
moderate saving and the old plodding
road to a competence is still the safer
course" The Kalamazoo Gazette
agress that when normal youths spend
freely they are quite likely to spend
for things which, save by the most lib
eral stretch of the imagination, cannot
be regarded as instruments of self
improvement"
X X X X
Assuming that Mr.. Ford puts work
and a disposition to learn and get on
far above saving" the Boston Tran
script states: Benjamin Franklin would
not quarrel with Mr.. Ford on this last
point, for his early career shows that
| he knew how to invest what little
money he had. But neither. we fancy
would Mr. Ford deny that the success
full and ambitious boy, in order to have