Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 July 1919 — ANARCHY EXPERT DISCUSSES FORD [ARTICLE]

ANARCHY EXPERT DISCUSSES FORD

UNIVERSITY PROFEBBOR CALLED TO POINT OUT “RED** DOCTRINES. WHEN IS MAN AN ANARCHIST? PlalntlfTa Views Are Shown to Be Those of Best Loved American Thinkers and Writers.

Mt. Clemens, Mich.—Who Is an anarchist —and what is anarchy? The Chicago Tribune, which called Henry Ford an anarchist, and was promptly sued for >1,000,000 as a result, Introduced an expert witness on anarchy in the trial now going on in Mt. Clemens, Mich, in an effort to establish definitions of anarchy and anarchists which would convince the jury that there was no libel in the newspaper attack on the manufacturer. Prof. Jesse B. Reeves, head of the department of Political Economy of the University of Michigan, was engaged by The Tribune to support Its contentions by his testimony. Under direct examination by counsei for the Tribune, Professor Reeves declared that the views credited to Mr. Ford by journalists who had interviewed him were Identical with the views held by such well known anarchists as Emma Goldman, Tucker, Proudhon and Tolstoi. The Tribune Introduced as evidence of Henry Ford’s anarchy the following quotations, attributed to him in articles which have appeared in newspapers and magazines:

Fundamentals of Anarchy. "To my mind Humanity may make mistakes, but cannot do anything worse. I think that everything tends toward good. Even this great and bloody war is help- . Ing toward permanent peace." "I think war is largely the result of greed on the part of those who profit by IL” "The moment we get people not to acquiesce in war, refuse to go to war, there will be more war.” These views, Prof. Reeves testified, were found in the works of every anarchist of international reputation and were, in fact, fundamental principles of anarchy. Thereupon counsel for Mr. Ford took the witness. “Professor Reeves”, said counsel, “was Benjamin Franklin an anarchist r "No." "He said, ‘There never was a good war, or a bad peace.’ Was he an anarchist because he said that?” “Certainly not” “Professor, is the idea that Humanity is on the upgrade, as Mr. Ford believes, a fundamental of anarchy?” "Yes, anarchism holds that Humanity is all right, it only needs to be lot alone and it will work out its own salvation-” Were They Anarchists? "Yet this idea was held by Emerson, Whittier, Bnonson, Abbott, William James, John Fiske, Oliver Wendall Holmes and James Russell Lowell. Were they anarchists because they believed this?” . “No.” “Isn’t it true that many wars in the past, not all but a majority, were brought on by the quarrels, greed and avarice of rulers?” “I think many wars have been brought on, I think this war was.” "Do you agree that it is very foolish for the people of the countries involved to allow themselves to be slaughtered in such wars?” “As we look back on it now, yes, we would say thaL” “Well, that is precisely the sentiment you call anarchy in Mr. Ford.” Much testimony having been offered to show that Mr. Ford held jobs open for employees who were called into the armed forces of the nation and that he also provided aid for their dependents where the latter were in need, The Tribune, which originally charged that Mr. Ford would not do any of these things, is now attempting to prove that the assistance which he gave was late and was a result of the Tribune’s attack. Checks Produced. Counsel for Mr. Ford has produced stacks of cancelled checks showing that regular monthly allowances were sent out to soldiers’ dependents who applied for aid, beginning as soon as the case could be investigated and the records made, and continuing until the husband returned to work.