Evening star., 1936-12-06

1nouSCrlAlly, FOro mas been referred
to as personifying "individualism"-
some unfriendly rivals called him .
lone wolf" He preferred always to
go it alone
He was alone-barring the faith of
his wife-when he expressed the be-
lief he could build 4 workable
"horseless carriage" He was alone
in his long fight against the Selder
patent; alone In his battle with orig
inal stockholders In his company VINO
wanted profits distributed rather than
turned back into expansion; alone
again In 1921 when he weathered
financial difnculty after refusing Wall
street aid.
When Ford won the Selden patent
suit in 1911 on the ground that his
car did not infringe George B. Sell
den's patent, his business rivals said
he Created his own competition. "
Ford himself said that If the patent
suit had been lost there never could
have been an automobile industry
as it exists today"
Bitterly opposing the National Re-
covery act Ford held that mo gov
ernment knows enough to run any in.
dustry."
Mass Production Pioneer.
Henry Ford is regarded in many
younger minds today as the invento:
Of the automobile. Strictly speaking
this Is incorrect, for there were many
who claimed to have been expert
menting with horseless carriages be-
fore Ford produced his first vehicle
That he was the first to envisage the
possibilities of production on a basis
that would make the motor car avail
able to persons of moderate means is
conceded
The story Of the career of Henry
Ford is one Of the most romantic In
history, but it has been embellished
with many things that are more fanci-
full than accurate. Contrary to one
generally accepted misconception, Ford
was not the son Of poor parents. His
father was an Irish immigrant who
became q justice Of the peace and SUM-
GENTLY well-to-do to be able to offer
his son farm as . wedding present.
Another erroneous impression con-
Germs Ford's early schooling. He re-
ceived the education of an average
farm youth, finishing the course before
seeking work in a Detroit machine
shop. Subsequently he became chief
engineer of the Edison Illuminating
Co. in Detroit.
It has been said the late Senator
James Couzens, an early associate OF
Ford, played a large part in the sue
cessful development of the Ford Motor
Co. Couzens did have much to dc
with the financial affairs of the COM
pany and for . time drew as large q
salary from it as did Ford himself
None ever has challenged the fact
however. that the company was found
ed and progressed upon the Ford me-
chanical genius.
Before the present company was Or
ganized Ford had established in 1902 a
with Tom Cooper. noted
bicycle racer and, also had formed the
Henry Ford Co. Both these were fail
ures in so far as they concerned Ford
himself, but with the incorporation OF
his present company in 1908 the Ford
rise was meteoric.
From a production Of 1875 cars in
1903 Ford methods ran output up to q
record Of 10000 cars in one day. AS
q matter Of fact, the Ford company
has led in production volume in only
a few years since 1927, when Chevrolet
under the leadership of William 8
Knudsen, one-time Ford production
chief, became q more active COM
petitor.
Many Facets In Career.
The Ford career has developed many
facets in the years since 1908.
There have been such things still
fresh in many minds, as his peace ship
expedition. . $4000-a-day enterprise
that failed in 1915; his tractor and
aviation interests, his suit against the
Chicago Tribune which called him an
anarchist and in which he won a g.
cent verdict; his involuntary entry
into politics as q senatorial candidate
to be defeated by a scant 1000 votes
his mass production Of submarine
chasers during the World War. de-
spite an avowed pacifism. and his
great rubber-growing program in
Brazil, now nearing the point OF pro-
duction.
While all these things were in the
making Ford found time to perfect
his industrial philosophy looking to
the control Of primary necessities by
acquiring vast coal reserves, iron prop
critics and timber lands, the establish
ment of his own steamship lines,
branch assembly plants throughout
the world, the building Of huge steel
glassmaking plants and
scores Of other related enterprises all
to function under one controlling
head.
Myriad interests are Ford's, but hav-
ing built millions Of motor cars, trac-
tors, airplanes and steamboats,. and
purchased mines, forests, railroads,
IL 1000 dCLCS "a ldllu Alld 4AuAAoi CO1
of priceless historical objects, he Is, at
73, more deeply interested in developing
his idea of an affinity between agri-
culture and industry.
Ford has just harvested what he
calls his first commercial soy bear
crop from the thousands of acres hi
owns in Southeastern Michigan. He
is enthusiastic about his plans for the
yield. At the same time, he continue,
to believe, as he did on his fathers
farm so years ago, that individually
owned transportation Is the vehicle
not only of progress, but Of civiliza.
ton itself.
THE automobile made roads, HI
said. Roads make commerce anc
commerce makes civilization"
Descent Bombard