HALTING JEW-BAITING

Evening Star, Issue 19634, 13 August 1927, Page 13

HALTING JEW-BAITING

FORD " DEEPLY MORTIFIED "

[From Our ■ Corresronmyt.] SAN FR.VNCJSCO, July M. Obviously us a sequel to the recent law suit, where a campaign against the Jewish race was alleged, Henry Ford, the automobile magnate, has ordered tile ‘Dearborn Independent’ to “discontinue permanently all articles hostile to the Jewish people.” The motor car manufacturer also has withdrawn irom publication the pamphlet in which such items were distributed, and, in a signed statement, has expressed deep regret for any injury or hurt caused by the series. Ford’s statement, according to a New York newspaper, included the announcement that “ henceforth the ‘ Dearborn Independent ’ will, be conducted under such auspices that articles rellccting upon Jews will never again appear in its columns. ’ ‘ Let me add,” this version of the statement concluded, “that this statement is made on my own initiative, and wholly in the interest of right and justice, and in accordance with what .1. regard as my solemn duty as a man and as a citizen.” Disclosing that William Randolph Hearst, publisher of the ‘New York American,’ had offered one million dollars for the ‘Dearborn Independent,’ the article quoted Ford as saying in reply: “No; I won’t sell, but I’m going to make it a house organ, and I am going to stop absolutely everything that 3 could possibly cause complaint or hurt the feelings of anybody.” The signed statement of Ford began: “In the multitude of my activities it has been impossible lor me to devote personal attention to their management or to keep informed as to their contents. It has, therefore, inevitably followed that the conduct and policies of these publications had to be delegated (o men whoih L placed in charge of them, and upon whom 1 relied implicitly. To my regret, 1 have learned that Jews generally, and particularly those of this country, not only resent those publications as promoting antiSemitism, Ijnt regard me as their enemy. “Trusted friends with whom 1 have conferred recently have assured mo in all .sincerity that', in their opinion, the character of the charges and insinuations made against the Jews, both individually and collectively, contained in mans- of'tbe articles circulated periodically in the ‘Dearborn Independent’ and reprinted in the pamphlets mentioned, justifies the righteous indignation entertained by Jews every whore toward me, because oi the mental anguish occasioned by the unprovoked reflections made upon (bom. “This lias led me to direct my personal attention to ibis subject, in order to ascertain the exact nature of these articles. As a, result of this survey I eon less that 1 am deeply mortified that this journal, which is intended to ho constructive and not destructive, has been made the medium for resurrecting exploded fictions, for giving currency to the so-called protocols of I lie wise men of Zion, which have been demonstrated, as f learn, to be gross forgeries, and for contending that the Jews have been engaged in a conspiracy to control Iho capital and industries of the world, besides laying at their door many offences against decency, public order, and good morals. OITES BLACK SHELF. “Had I. appreciated these utterances I would have forbidden their circulation without a moment’s hesitation, because lam lu, aware of flic virtues of the Jewish people as a, whole, ol what they and'their ancestors have dune lor civilisation and for mankind toward the development of commerce and industry, and their sobriety and diligence, their benevolence, and their unselfish interest in the public’welfare. “Of course, there are black sheep in every flock, as there arc among men of all races, creeds, and nationalities, who are at Limes evildoers. It is wrong, however, to judge a, people by a few individuals, and I therefore join in condemning unreservedly all wholesale denunciations and attacks. “ Those who know me can hear witness that it is not in my nature to inflict insult upon and to occasion pain lo anybody, and that it lias been my effort to free myself from prejudice. Because of that I frankly confess that 1 have been greatly shocked ns a result of my study and examination of the hies of-the ‘Dearborn Independent,’ and of the pamphlets entitled ‘The international Jew.’ 1 deem it to be my duty as an honorable man to make amends for the wrong done to the Jews as fellow-men and brothers, by asking their forgiveness for the barm 1 have unintentionally committed, by retracing so far as lies within my power the offensive charges laid nfc their door by these publications, and by giving them the unqualified assurance that henceforth they may look to me for friendship and goodwill.” ERJ.TOR SURPRISED. William J. Cameron, editor ot the ‘ Dearborn Independent-,’ and a witness in the Ford-Sapiro I,UOO,UUOdoI libel suit in Detroit this year, expressed great surprise at the announcement from New York that the Ford newspaper would “discontinue permanently all articles hostile to the Jewish people.” “This is absolutely the first time 1 have beard of any such statement or intention on the part of Henry ford.” be said. “1 most certainly will get. in touch with Ford and (ind out vnat is back of this.” Mr Cameron declared lie could not believe Ford would make public such a statement without advising him, inasmuch as ho was in control of the ‘ Dearborn .Independent,’ the Ford oigan, and would be the first to bo notified of any such intention on too pai t of the millionaire manufacturer. “ It is all news to mo,” he said, “ and I cannot believe it is true.” Asked if ho considered the announcement a preliminary move on the part of Ford to settle the Sapiro mill ion-do liar libel suit out of court, Cameron said he did not believe this was the case. “ I have heard of no negotiations ho tween ford’s attorneys and those of Sapiro,” ho said, “ and do not believe there have been aT °‘ JEWISH ATTITUDE. While Jewish rabbis were variously criticising and championing Ford, some wondering why the recantation was so belated, Louis Marshall, president of the American Jewish Committee, issued a copy of a letter sent on July 5 to Henry Ford, accepting the Detroit manufacturer’s offer of a public renunciation of “the anti-Jcwish campaign earned on in the ‘Dearborn Independent ’ since 1921).” The letter said: “i am in receipt of your letter to Air Earl J. Davis, accompanied by your statement regarding the long series of vituperative articles which since May, 1920, has appeared in the ‘Dearborn independent’ and which contains the most violent attacks upon the Jews. Yon now declare that, after an examination of those articles yon feel shocked and mortified because of the harjji which they have done, and yon ask for our fo’giveiiess. “ For 20 centuries wc Jews have been accustomed to forgive insults and injuries, persecution,’ and 'intolerance, Imping that wc might behold the day when brotherhood and goodwill would be universal. Wc had fondly hoped that in this blessed Republic, with its glorious constitution and its just laws, it would bo impossible to encounter the hatred and rancor to--which our brethren have been and still are subjected in other lands.

“ We could not at first credit the information that the ‘Dearborn Independent ‘ had permitted itself to be made the vfbieie for disseminating exploded falsehoods and the vilest concoctions of

vicious minds, invented by adventurers who had barely -found asylum here when they'attempted'to introduce the exotic growths of anti-Semitism. “ su fins RED ANGUISH.” “ Happily such excrescences could not flourish on American soil. Happily the enlightened Press ol this country treated them with contempt and as unworthy of notice. But we Jews none tho less .suffered the anguish of tortured memories, the nightmares of a horrible past, and the sorrow that, in spite ot the progress of civilisation, there were tliosc who stood ready to misunderstand us. What seemed most mysterious was tho fact that you, whom, ww have never wronged and whom we had looked upon as a kindly man, should have lent yourself to such a campaign of vilification, apparently carried on with your sanction.

“The statement which yon have sent gives ns assurance of your retraction of the offensive charges, of yonr proposed change of policies in the conduct ot the 1 Dearborn Independent ,’ of your future friendship and goodwill, of your desire to make amends, and, what is to be expected from any man of honor, you couple these assurances with a request for pardon. “So far as my influence can further that end it will be exerted, simply because there flows in my veins the blood of ancestors who were inured to suffering and nevertheless remained steadfast in their trust in God. “Referring to the of the Sermon on tho Mount, Israel Zaugwill once said that wo Jews arc, after all, tho only Christians. He might have added that it is because essentially the spirit of forgiveness is a Jewish trait. “ It is my sincere hope that never again shall such a recrudescence of ancient superstition manifest itself upon our horizon. 1 ' FORD’S INTERMEDIARIES.

From Mr Marshall, resting at Saranac Lake, New York Stale, carac the, following details of tho developments preceding the issuance of the Ford statement: —“Far! J. Davis, of Detroit, formerly Assistant AttorneyGeneral of the United Stales, and Joseph Palma, ol New York, both friends of Henry Ford, came to mo as his representatives,” Mr Marshall said, “ and stated that Ford was satisfied that those idiom he had put in charge of (ho ‘Dearborn Independent ’ _ had taken advantage of him by publishing a series of articles attacking Joavs, and as ho had been convinced that all of the charges made against them individually and collectively Avero Avithout foundation and 'unjust, he Avished to kiunv what could be done lo put an end to these conditions. “I stated very fully the gross injustice and the harm that had been done by these publications both here and abroad. I told him that the Jews had been grievously wounded.by those libels, and that mere words would not heal the injury. “ I slated Unit there were a number of things that must be done, particularly that there must be a complete rcIruction of all the false charges made, an apology, a discontinuance of attacks, and amends for the Avrong. Alter further dEmission they said they would report, to Lord Avhat had taken place in the interview. “Some days later,” Marshall continued, “they called on me again and indicated that Lord would accept these conditions. There followed further discussion o\er the telephone and otherwise, Aviih the result that on Tuesday of last week 1 Avas told that Ford avus ready lo sign the document which I received on Friday of last week wit.li a letter addressed by Ford to Darns asking him and Palma lo deliver his signed statement to me.” Since the publication of the foregoing scores of letters have appeared in the American Press chiding .Henry Ford for so long permitting the Jew-baiting in his ncAvspapor, and wondering Avhy he lias left it so late in flic day to recant. Others praise him for coming out into the open and retracting so handsomely.