Evening star., 1939-07-30
Ford, Is Today,
Still Looks Ahead
With Optimism
MuItimiIIionuire Auto
Moenote Retoins
Common Touch
~ the Associated Press.

~ the Associated Press.
DETROIT, July 29.-Henry Ford
will observe his 18th birthday ami
versary tomorrow.
1t would not be literally correct to
say that the noted industrialist will
be 76 years "old, for he seems to have
escaped the weight of years and looks
more like 66.
Slender almost to the point of
emaciation, the mechanical genius
who took large part in changing
the habits of a people apparently
Is in the best of health of his notable
career.
His tall figure is somewhat stopped
and a fair guess at his weight today
would be not more than 125 pounds.
but his step continues as lively as
1t was decade ago and he replies
to a question almost before 1t has
been completely voiced.
Energies Turn to Tractors.
Mr.. Ford doesn't believe in diets II
Just don't eat too much" he ex-
plains, and smiles at the suggestion
that he carries raw carrots or other
vegetables in his pockets. At the
moment Mr.. Ford is as deeply en-
crossed in the volume production
of mechanized farming unit as he
ever was in the making of motor
cars. He believes this unit, small
compact tractor with accompanying
farm cultivating appliances, will
have as far reaching an effect upon
the habits of people" as has the
automobile.
TT will drive the horses from the
farm, revolutionize agriculture by
simplifying the work of the farmer
lnd-most important of abby turn
ing peoples minds to productive
pursuits it will prove an instrument
for peace" Mr.. Ford asserts.
You have to know and talk with
Henry Ford to realize that, fanci-
full as this may sound, it is his hon.
est conviction-the conviction of
man whose persistent pursuits of an
idea in little red brick barn in
1929. created, out of almost MOTH
Ing but the idea, an individual family
fortune and an industrial empire as
great or greater than any the world
ever has known.
Firm in Reincarnation Belief.
Mr.. Ford is firm believer in re-
incarnation. Most of us are" he
said, IF we'll just be honestly frank
about it
Then you believe this writer
asked, that we'll all come back at
some future time, possibly in diff
ferent form?"
Certainly" he replied; I'm con-
vinced that we are all put on earth
to gain experience"
You have only to meet Mr.. Ford to
realize that the enormous wealth
that is his has not deprived him of
the common touch" There is no
individual in the vast Ford organiza-
ton as democratic as its founder, as
easy to talk with, as good a listener
or as interesting a source of infor-
nation.
Mr.. Ford's fondnness for the
younger generation is the mott
waiting influence back of his estab-
lishment of number of boys camps
where unemployed youths from the
city and farm are engaged in culti-
waiting Ford land on partnership
basis with the manufacturer.
The quarter century that has
passed since the outbreak of the
World War has made little change
In Mr.. Fords convictions regarding
armed conflict. In the World War
days he was called IAN avowed paci-
fist" Perhaps that would not be
strictly correct today, but he has
lost none of his hatred for war nor
his conviction that without its "po-
tential profits" to some interests
there never would be a war.
Sees Futility in War.
War" he holds, "is so utterly
futile: it settles nothing"
Today he does not believe major
war is in the making.
Excepting certain international
financial interests" he says, no