St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1947-04-18

| NtOulluutu Oh rage -
pointing to an old-fashioned clothes
horse where Mrs. Daniels had been
ironing, said: That's the best thing
you have in the house."
Although Ford never made
contribution TO the church, he was
always friendly with the Daniels.
Negro Had Chance to Invest With
Ford
Long before he quickened com
munication and transportation with
his development of the gasoline
engine, Ford met Henry Gregory.
Gregory was employed as an
engineer at the J. l.. Hudson Co.,
large department store, and Ford
was doing similar work for the Ed
son Co. Both were later students
at an electrical school, attending
night classes.
When Ford launched his company
to manufacture the Ford car, he
offered Gregory a chance to invest
some money in the company, but
like hundreds of other DetrOiters,
Gregory believed it was a fantastic
idea. An investment Of a hundred
dollars would have made Gregory
millionaire today.
Negroes Comment on FOrd's Death
at was a great shock to the
community" said John C. Dancy, |
executive secretary Of the Detroit
Urban League. Ford was a great
man, man who chartered the !
course in automobile development |
that changed the system into a
master enterprise that astonished
the world"
He pointed out that Ford had
never made any direct contribu-
ton to Negro schools, but the Ford |
Foundation, one Of the wealthiest
in the world, contributed $1,000 to
the National Urban League in 1945.
Dancy met Ford in the early
l920's and one Of the most interest
ing talks he ever had was with the
industrial giant on a train. Both
men were returning from New
York.
Two years ago Dancy was speak
ing at the River Rouge plant for
the American Red Cross Blood
Bank, and one Of the Ford officials
took him over to introduce Ford,
but the automobile tycoon said:
We're old friends"
Carver and Ford Friendship
When the National on the Farm
Chemurgic Council was organized
ut Dearborn in 1885, the late DR..
George Washington Carver was one
Of the famed scientists attending.
1t was at this meeting that a
strong friendship was formed be
tween Ford and Carver. a friend
ship that continued until Carver's .
death.
Ford had rooms built for DR..
Carver at the Ford Estate in
Georgia, and also named the school
for colored children in honor Of the
noted scientist. Ford often stopped
at Tuskegee to visit with Carver.
In 1912 Carver and his assistant,
Austin Curtis, were invited by the
automobile magnate to Detroit to
dedicate a guest cabin memorial at
Ford's project, Greenfield Village.
He also presented Carver with a
cup and saucer from a set his
mother had brought to the United
States.
Curtis, now president Of the Cur
It's Laboratories in Detroit, said:
I'm the passing Of Henry Ford, the
world loses a great genius who CON
tributcd much to mankind. Mr..
Ford, like DIR. Carver, was very
religious man.
81 cherish a great deal the auto
graphed Bible that l received from
Mr.. Ford. During the conversation
with him at the time he gave it
to me | recall a statement he made:
The trouble with the world is there
is too much greed, creed and selfish
ness"
Edward Swan, executive secre-
tary of the Detroit Branch NAACP,
said: I'VE deeply regret the pass
ing of a great industrial leader .
who, through training facilities Of
his plant, provided the sole source ,
through which Negro youth might
be trained in industrial skills in
Detroit. These men will be a living
to his vision. II is hoped
that in his memory other industries
and trades will open their training
facilities to Negro youth as he did" ,
Henry Ford was the first great
industrialist to see that /
American industry must employ
people on the basis Of democracy"
said the Rev. Horace A. White, pas
tor Of Plymouth Congregational :
church. "He started the trend !
toward training Negroes for higher '
skills in industry when others L