Evening star., 1938-04-21
FORD WILL CONFER
AT WHITE HOUSE
NEXT WEDNESDAY
Will Discuss Trade With
Roosevelt, but Won't
Offer Advice.
DECLARES THAT FARM
WILL SAVE COUNTRY
Warns Against Overconfdence in
Voicing Belief That U. S. Is
Heading for Normalcy.
~ the Associated Press.

,
Ford of Detroit today revealed plan'
for discussion of business condi.
tions' with President Roosevelt ir
Washington for next Wednesday, bu
asserted he would enter this confer
ence with no axe to grind
Standing in the warm spring sun.
shine on the extensive Wayside I'M
estate, which he has rehabilitated a,
an early American hotel propert,
here, the multi Millionaire automo
bile maker said he did not intend tt
give any advice" At the same time
however, he left no doubt of his owr
views.
His solution to present-day prob
lens, Mr. Ford said in rapid-fire fash
ION, would be an expansion of tht
'back-to-the-farm" movement
If people do not raise their owr
food" he asserted, they will have tt
have a dictator to tell them to do it.
He declared that IN his opinion the
farm is the thing that will save the
country" and added:
In no other way can we raise the
money. The farms today must pro-
vide for industry
Work His Panacea.
''As an example, I am going te
cultivate every foot of the whole acre.
age here right away"
Pausing only to brush away tiny
black flies that buzzed around him
as he stood near an old. but now re-
stored, grist mill on the estate, Mr.
Ford added that his "panacea" fol-
anything was work
This entire land is just yearnine
for young men to go to work in it
That's all young fellow needs today
the habit of work. Once he gets the
habit, he'll find his own work"
Mr.. Ford voiced the belief that
America was on the road back to nor
malcy, but warned against overconfi-
dence and predicted that commodity
prices would be established at a lower
level
Asked if an increase in farm prod
ucts, such as he proposed, would not
result in a lowering OF farm prices, he
replied:
The price of farm products gener-
ally can never be too cheap, because
when the prices of farm products 60
down, new uses will be found for the
products"
He said in this connection that in
dustry was using more plastics and was
looking to agriculture to supply mate
rials. Cellulose could be found in most
farm products, he said, adding that 'in
the future the fuel for automobiles will
come from farms"
Asked near the end of the interview
If he had in mind any new moves to
cement international peace at this
time, he replied
1T will come when we are ready
for it."
On still another subject, he ad-
vanced the opinion that a time of
very simple Housekeeping is coming
He based this view. he said. on the
theory that very little heat will be
required to prepare food which has
been scientifically raised"
Answering one more question be-
tore he stepped into an automobile
that had been waiting for him. the
tall manufacturer said he had known
Mr. Roosevelt for 80 years. Smiling,
he added;
When he was Assistant Secretary
OF the Navy We built ships, boilers and
engines together"
Won't Give Advice.
Mr.. Ford said, smiling as he chatted.
that he wanted to shake hands with
the President "as an old friend and
have chat with him. He said:
Il want to give the President a
chance to look at somebody who
doesn't want anything"
Asked whether he would express any
views about the New Deal during his
"chat" with Mr.. Roosevelt, he replied
Il shall not give him any advice
The automobile manufacturer re-
ceived a telegram from the White
House last night, confirming an ap-
pointment with the President for April
~. Throughout the day yesterday he
avoided all queries as to whether he
Ing his stop in Washington.
Asked further today about his
Forthcoming conference, he said that
'of course" he would discuss "busi-
ness conditions" He stressed. how.
ever, that he was emphatic" in his
statement that he did not intend te
give any advice.
Mrs. Ford, who will accompany him
said she would play host tomorrow
with her husband to the Women's Ma.
tional Farm and Garden Association.
Edsel Ford Also Invited.
Stephen Early, presidential secre.
tary, said today the invitation SEN
TO Henry Ford last night to attend al
informal luncheon with the Presiden
also said If the elder Ford desired h,
might bring along his son, Edse
Ford, president of the Ford Moto
Co., and w. j. Cameron, public re-
lations adviser
The meal probably will be served b,
q single waiter in the privacy of tn
Presidents oval-shaped Office.
It will be Henry Ford's first visit tt
the White House since Presiden
Roosevelt took Office. He has differed
with many New Deal measures ant
principles, especially the Industria
Recovery Act and the Wagner labo
relations law. He refused to sigl
N. r. AS Blue Eagle declaration o
compliance.
A high administration official sale
earlier that President Roosevelts ef
forts to promote Federally financed
expansion In the utilities industr!
were aimed at eventual stimulation O
a huge utilities building program.