Imperial Valley press., 1935-11-25
WOULD HENRY FORD
MAKE A GOOD PRESIDENT?

Gov. Alex J. Groesbeck, in an interview
published in the Detroit News, describes
Henry Ford, the automobile manu-
facturer, as 'the best possible candidate
for the 1886 Republican presidential
nomination"
Would Henry Ford make a good presi-
dent?
His chance for election would be better
than that of many politicians. His name
is a household word. His business
methods are admired throughout the ma
tion. His consideration of the men who
work for him is we'll known. His success
is one of the outstanding successes of the
modern world. As a business men, he is
the equal of any other individual More
important to politics, none of these things
have been hidden under blanket of
secrecy.
There is one objection to Henry Ford
as Republican choice for the presidential
nomination. He is business man, purely
and simply
Unfortunate as it may be, business and
politics do not follow the same paths 1t
might be better for taxpayers in the
United States if they did, but one man
even though that one man is president
cannot bring about the change. The
senate and the house of representatives
are to be considered, as we'll as the cabinet
and all the other branches of federal gov
ernment Until politicians are swept
from all of them, politics will not follow
paths set down for business
A man accustomed to dealing in busi-
ness would find it difficult to follow the
maneuverings of politics. Imagine Henry
Ford, whose considerations have been
profit and loss, attempting to influence
a group of senators and representatives,
who consider votes and patronagei A
wide gulf is between the two camps.
The ideal presidential candidate is the
man who, knowing the maneuvering of
politics and how to combat it, still aims
for an administration along business
lines. A man trained strictly in the polit-
ical school cannot reach such a goal, nor
can one trained entirely in the school of
business. The politician is swayed by
other considerations than those of profit
and loss. The business man becomes
helplessly enmeshed in a tangle of in
trigue about which he knows nothing.
His program may be one which would
work incalculable benefit for the nation,
vet his lack of political experience would
serve to block the working out of that
program.
There are business men who combine
idealistic principles with administration
of their business. Such a one would be
necessary to fill the position of president,
because his cares must be for the welfare
of his people. 1t would do no good, how
ever, for such a man to be elected presi-
dent unless he possessed the ability to
bring about the things he desired to bring
about. Much more than business acumen
is necessary to this ability.
Henry Ford is one of the most ad-
mirable figures of the present day. His
accomplishments are household knowl-
edge. Only-could Henry Ford hurdle
the barriers of politics to put into effect
any program he might have?
Conduct of the federal government is
the biggest business in the United States
today, but it is a business entirely foreign
to any other. Its chief must have special
knowledge and special training, unless he
is to become mere puppet for backstage
politicians. No president should do that.