The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-11-01
Dead Sea Apples


Because the spotlight OF publicit
is upon him, the things General Hugl
Johnson says are news.
Only President Roosevelt has beel
more in the headlines in recen
months and the MIRA administrato
is easily close second.
But when johnson engages in
quarrel, the spotlight encompass
the other party to the contest, also
Thus it is that the recent statemen
Of the Ford Motor company, answer
ing burst from johnson, attract
attention.
The background Of the battle, I
will Be remembered, is Johnson's ex
pressed antipathy to Ford because o
that firms failure to sign the code
The thing which brought it to a hea.
was presentation OF a bid by For
dealer on a government contract.
johnson, backed by Presiden
ruled it out on the groun,
hat the Ford company did not hav'
he blue eagle; said it could not hid
behind dealer, even though TIN
after were a member of the MIRA.
Here's what the Ford company ha<
% say about the whole business:
The Ford Motor company has
not made any government bids.
II bids have been made by Ford
dealers it Is because government
departments insist on its being
done. They have used our prod
uct before. their specifications fit
it and besides, the prices usually
are very easy on the depart
ment's budget. There is no money
in government bids unless some
form Of favoritism Is practiced,
such as is now possible under the
MIRA.
The situation at Washington
which has so greatly excited Mr..
johnson is simple one. A Ford
dealer, who is a citizen Of Wash
ington, entered his bid at the re-
quest of government men. His
bid was something like 100000
lower than the others.
johnson now proposes to
charge the American taxpayer q
higher price in order to give gov
eminent business to q concern
that pays lower wages than the.
Ford Motor company does. More
money out Of the taxpayers poo
ket, less money in the working
mans pocket-that Is the way 1t
will work.
ITO cover his action johnson
makes the false charge that the
Ford Motor company has not
complied with the law. We have
done SO in every respect. Sign
ing code is not in the law. Fly
ing the Blue Eagle Is not in the
law. Johnson's daily expression
Of opinion is not law.
A4AC IO4A MOtO4 GOvIlk1d4ly OOe
serves the law and exceeds It in
all its real recovery features. Our
product is composed of materials
produced by industry that OBJ
serves the law. Johnson now
says that product which $500
NRA industries help to fabricate
out of material produced under
NRA conditions shall not be sold
in this country because it car
1'ies the name Ford, a name which
stands for better conditions than
MIRA has dared to stand for.
Johnson is not boycotting us.
He is boycotting $500 American
manufacturers who cooperate
with Johnson.
1T would make no difference
If the Ford Motor company signed
a code. This company would be
under attack by the enemies Of
independent business just the
same.
Not only has johnson attempt
ed q grave injustice upon law
abiding American industry, he
has also assumed to talk like a
dictator and the supreme court
combined.
Failing to induce the Ameri-
can people to demean themselves
by boycotting decent industry. he
seems to have hopes Of better
success with the government.
Naturally, we are willing to let
him 60 as far as he can.
"As to Johnson's statement con-
corning our attitude toward COL
lective bargaining, we have rec
ord Of 80 years on the wage
question and fair conditions.
I'VE have not had to bargain
against our men In all that time.
We have always bargained for
them. We doubt that johnson
will be able to change that situa-
ton. It Is too profitable for our
men. They have always been
paid more than any professional
bargainer would ever have the
nerve to ask"
On this basis the real question or
pears to be whether Johnson viii cor
tinue to lay more stress on form tina
On substance.
II, Is Ford contends. II Is con
plying with the law and Is going tx
MIRA one better with respect to wage
It should not be penalised because
refuses 70 bow the knee before Johr
sons throne.
i viii not take much Of that 20
q thing 70 make johnson and Il
MA look suspiciously like 4 pair |
Dad 80 apples.
= .a65a 5