The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-07-03
Henry Ford: Messiah or Menace?

rs y4enrv Ford the finest flower of the new cap
,t.I,sr, or the most complete perfection of pluto
cratic exploitation? Does he prehgure new and
chastened age OF competitive industry or IS ne the
most conspicuous industrial colossus whose collapse
Karl Marx believed would usher in Socialism. Sucn
questions have been widely debated, but most IN
teruretations of Ford have been too partisan 70 pos
sess much value.
In the July American Mercury there Is COM
prehensive assessment of Ford which inspires con-
hderlce:: 1t is written by Murray Goodwin, who ap-
pears remarkably we'll qualified for the task lie is
vre liberal, unlikely to be consttutonaly charmed
by Fords paternalism- He has worked at length Tor
Ford. has quit without quarrel and gone elsewhere
without aninus.
Goodwin presents the socio-economic balance sheet
of Henry Ford in American society with thoroughness
and fairness In Ford's favor there stand out bold
and sharp such things as: ID The SIS and 81 day
and the fve-day week, recognizing that workers are
consumers as well as producers; 20 the straight
wages system and resistance to the denoralizing
piecework methods; I'D the bucking OF Wall Street
and banker dominion In 1927 % the victorious battle
against the licensed manufacturers system which
would haze parayzed chronological progress In the
automotive industry; CD successful opposition to the
attempt Of the coal and steel barons to hold up the
automobile industry by extortionate prices (6) per-
lection. of mechanical and mass efficiency in pro-
duction; Cd achievement Of economy in sales prices
and (s) free industrial training for able and arnbi
touS workers.
The conventional indictment Of Ford-well ex-
pressed by the way. in Edmund Wilson's article In
the current ScrbnersconSsts Of the following ALE
cations: Cd His workers are reduced to desperate
and harried automata, bounded by overseers and
prevented from unionization by elaborate espionage
&c ~
ism; (2) Ford fires anybody from his ice-presiden@
TO his floor sweepers without warning or announced
cause; Cd he ignores the Detroit community and
allows 1t to support his idle without substantial
aid from Ford "a he squeezes his dealers ruthlessly
when it is necessary to raise funds to buck the
bankers; CD his peace ship indicated naive notion
Of the real Of tina World war; Co his libel suit
against the Chicago Tribune proved that he was no
eradite master Of history or literary criticism and
Cd he frequently divulges palpable drool on such
subjects as religion morals and prohibition.
Mr.. Goodwin comedies some truth in all these
charges, and admits that little can be said in de-
Tense of his irresponsible firing OF men. Much can be
said in mitigation OF the other charges according to
Goodwin Fords paternalSm is to be preferred to the
oppressive anarchy Of Judge Garys steel industry
or the paralyzing worries and exploitation Of the
piece-work system employed By some other automo-
bile manufacturers Detroit has always prodded Ford
as hard possible; so why should he care to be a
sugar-candy daddy to the Motor City7 Land monop-
oy In the form of excessive rents and prices have en-
abled Detroiters to milk Ford's men ruthlessly
Ford's peace ship proved that he held view Of
war causes fuly accurately the vast fabric OF
lies believed and passed by the greatest of Aer-
can historians Ford may not be as learned as his
opponents In the Tribune suit. but he has brought
forth a more lovely and useful product than have
some Of our newspapers. argues Goodwin.
But above ALL Goodwin says. stands the one su-
preme achievement Of Ford, namely, TO proclaim ard
demonstrate that the great industry Of today can
and should be carried for the good Of the industry
he employees and the consumers that It should never