Fighting Men of Israel's Navy Pass in Review

'The Legend: of Henry Ford'

Sward's Story of Era of Bigotry
And New Genera tion's Fair Play

"The Legend of Henry Ford" by
Keith Sward, published June 10
by Rinehart & Co., is a sensa-
tional book. It is the story of a
dynasty's evolution, the changes
that have been effected, in it in
the past 'decade, tae. transforma-
tion of a great organization from
the influence of bigotry-inspiring
advisers to a sound and fair-play-
seeking dil•ectOrship.
Out of hiS interest in social
psychOlogy, Mr. Sward devoted 10
years to the study of the subject
under discussion in his interest-
ing book in which he analyzes the
Tate Henry Ford as an individual,
as a member of the society he tried
to influence and as an industrial-
ist. What he does in this book is
to present all the facts, and it is
inevitable that "The Legend of
Henry Ford" should include the
complete story of Ford's attitudes
on Jews and his anti-Semitic cam-
paign. The story of the Peace
Ship started by the late Rosika
Schwimmer, his dealings with
labor and his political aspirations
emerge as very interesting read-
ing matter even for those who
know the entire Ford story, but
the Jewish theme remains the
most sensational of all.
Mr. . Sward, reviewing the
story of Ford's friendship with
the late Dr. Leo M. Franklin,
expresses the view that the
automobile magnate "expected
to have his crusade endorsed
by all the 'good Jews' of the
country." As a token of friend-
ship, Ford made it a practice to
send Rabbi Franklin a Ford car
every year. When the Dearborn
Independent articles began to
appear, Dr. Franklixi declined
the gift. "In all innocence,"
Ford called . Dr. Franklin and
asked: "What's wrong, Dr.
Franklin? Has anything come
between -us?"
Later, we are told of the famous
Ford-Bennett -Franklin- Coughlin
incident, when Rabbi Franklin
made known Ford's intention to
help refugees from Nazism and
when the story was denied by
Coughlin, Bennett failing to up-
hold the original Ford "gracious
gesture" and forcing the Rabbi
of Temple Beth El into a sad posi-
tion of having been duped by
Ford's right hand man. It will be
recalled that the Detroit Free
Press defended Dr. Franklin and
later was sued for libel by Cough-
lin. The case was suppressed.
These are mere details which
are well known, but they are told
so well in "The Legend of Henry
Ford" that Mr. Sward's book un-

......

•,

. , ...

doubtedly will remain as the ma-
jor record of the Ford story.
Who actually are the villains in
the story? Mr. Swart paints Mr.
Ford as a Haan whose mind was
full of wheels, who was a great
industrialist and mechanic bUt
who was misled on social issues
by Harry Herbert Bennett, former
pugilist, sanctimonious William
J. Cameron and Ernest. Liebold.
Edsel Ford disapproved of his
father's anti-Semitism and of the
advisers who were responsible for
it. It fell to the lot of his widow
and his sons to put an end to the
destructive influences in the great
Ford organization. Bennett was
released and an able former FBI
man, John S. Bugas, took his
place. A true human relations
program was introduced in deal-
ing with labor and the young
Fords refused to tolerate any man-
ifestation of bigotry, whether
4z;4142,
against Jews or any one else.
—International News Photo
This is the story of the Ford
legend—the sad chapters and the
Marching irifo the Tel-Aviv Sports Stadium, Israeli sailors fake part in the big ''Nation Day"
new human era in which the parade held on the 44th anniversary of the death of Theodor Herzl Smartly-dressed representatives of
younger Fords are certain to -the land, sea and air forces participated in the colorful celebration and pageant.
emerge as humanitarians who al-
ready have atoned in great meas-
Wittenberg has held important
ure for the sins of an older gen- 'Dangerous Words': Great Book on Libel
judicial posts and has acted as
eration. Mr. Sward has written a
attorney for many newspaper
most fascinating story around
groups. He is the author of other
these events which had influenced
important bodks on legal sub-
political and social thinking
jects. He is a native of Brooklyn,
throughout the world.
N. Y.
Philip Wittenberg's "Dangerous for anti-Semites to carry on their
Rosika Schwimmer Dies Words: A Guide to the Law of activities — as long as they do
Jewish Social Services
Libel" . (Columbia University not libel individuals.
NEW YORK, (JTA) Rosika Press, New York) is the best and
Former Rep. Martin L. Sween- Show Upward Trends
Schwimmer, the internationally the most informative book this ey's libel suits against Drew
known pacifist, women's suffrage reviewer has handled in many Pearson and Robert Allen and
UpWard trends in most areas
leader, diplomat and an early ad- years.
the newspapers which published of Jewish social service were re-
vocate of world government, died
While the central theme in the the story about . the Ohio Con- corded in -1947, according to a
book may be said to be Lord igressman's opposition to the ap- Preliminary report by the social
here at the age of 70. •
Born in Budapest, Mrs. Schwim- Mansfield's statement: "When a pointment of a,..tew to the Fed- planning department of the.
mer achieved national and inter- man publishes, he publishes at eral judiciary forms the topic for Council of Jewish Federations
national fame first as a leader his peril," — which has been discussion of anti-Semitism as and Welfare Funds.
and organizer of Hungarian wom- quoted in many court opinions— a basis for libel in Mr. Witten-
The report is based on an
en's labor-and voting movements. the subject has become so ex- berg's book.
analy'sis of . 1947 statistical _fig-
tensive
that
it
embraces
an
even
"From
all
of
the
decisions
it
During the first World War, Mrs.
may be safely assumed that a ures- from nearly two-thirds of
Schwimmer persuaded Henry vaster field.
The particular point to remem- charge of anti-Semitism made in all Jewish family agencies, child
Ford to back the famous Peace
care agencies, homes for the aged
Ship plan which was aimed at ber, as we are admonished by good faith, and without malice, and hospitals under Jewish
Mr.
Wittenberg,
is
that
"the
is
not
libelous
per
se,"
is
the
bringing about an armistice be-
auspices. The complete statistics
tween the belligerents by the in- truth is an absolute defense to a author's conclusion after review- and summary of service will ap-
civil
action
for
libel."
There
yet
ing
conflicting
court
opinions
in
tervention of the neutral coun-
pear shortly in the CJFWF Year-
are decisions to be reached on several states.
tries, led by the United States.
It is clear that "today the book of Jewish Social Work for
After leaving Hungary, where libel as it emanates or affects
1947.
she served as a member of the radio, but in the publishing field- `whipping boy' is the Com-
Jewish family service agencies
the subject is so well covered by munist." Also, "it has been held
Karoly Government which re-
•the author of "Dangerous Words" that to call anyone 'Nazi' or as a group . reported an increase
placed the Austro-Hungary mon- that this reviewer does not hesi- `Fascist' is a libel upon an of over one-third in the total
archy at the end of the war, Mr's. tate to call his book the most American."
amount of assistance being given
Schwimmer settled in the U.S. authoritative on he subject.
Mr. Wittenberg quotes Mich- to clients. This reflected the in-
While the Karoly Government
While three sates (Massachus- igan laws and there are refer- crease in the cost of living as
was still in power, Mrs. Schwim- etts, New York, New Jersey) ences .in his book to the Ford well as increased service to im-
mer was appointed Hungarian have passed laws making it a and Coughlin incidents.
migrants.
Minister to Switzerland,_ becom- crime to libel a religious or raci-
The author of "Dangerous
ing the first woman diplomat in al group, group libel is non-ex- Words" is an outstanding author-
THE JEWISH NEWS-13
modern history.
istent — thus making it possible ity on the law of libel. Philip
Friday, August 13, 1948

Wittenberg's Book Shows How Lack of
Group Libel Laws Helps Anti-Semites

`picture Sto*lies
front the Sibta
k

JOSIAH WAS A BOY OF EIGHT YEARS WHEN
HE BECAME THE I/ I= KING OF THE JEWISH
NATION CALLED JUDAH .*

Poieze---die.ate y

MY SON, YOU
ARE. CALLED '
TO RULE IN
TROUBLESOME

JOSIAH

TIMES

FOLLOW 'mug.
MOTHER'S ADVICE
AND KEEP CLOSE
TO GOD, AND
YOU WILL BE A.
GOOD /4..10 WK,E
KING!

THE YOUNG- KOG OF THE JEWS

BY DON CAMEWON AND

se-

moNroomEFEY Mtn•FoRD

p443 BY M.0 GA1NE

SPELLED JOS/AS

THE DOLiAy PEPS,O.Y

00 THAT WHICH
55 RICH'' AND

RULE Q5. KING

DAVID RULED /
• BEFORE YOU! 1 r'/,' -I

FROM 2ND KINGS, CHAPTERS
22 AND 23 AND 2ND CHRONICLES.

CHAPTERS Z4 THROUGH 36
IN THE KING JAMES AND
.I.PS A. VERSIONS OF THE 8%8LE

FROM 4TH KINGS AND
2ND PARAUPOMENON

IN THE DOVAY VERSION.

WOOL ATRY• MAO TAKEN HOLD

OF THE PEOPLE EVEN AMONG
MEN OF RANK AND INFLUENCE—

IDOLATRY HAS

BECOME

A NATIONAL EVIL

LET US GET
RIO or IT!

-

UNDER JOSIAH'S DECREE AND
PERSONAL SUPERVISION, IDOLS,
IDOL TEMPLES AND ALTARS
WERE DESTROYED.--

LET US maKE
A COMPLETE
JOB OF IT,
50 OUR PEOPLE
WILL RETURN TO
VNORSHIP OF
OUR TRUE
GOD

TOO LONG
HAVE WE
BEEN
MISLED!

WHEN THE LAND HAO BEEN
PURIFIED FROM IDOLATRY, JO-
NOW A YOUNG MAN OF 26.
INBGEAU-
, DETCIFy
IDET
D,ITEOTREEm
Pp
ALIRE AL

I

••••

NEGLECTED ” ■ •

GO, FAITHFUL SHAPHAN, TO KLKIAH
THE HIGH PRIEST. GIVE HIM THE
TEMPLE MONEY AND HAVE HIM
GET WORK-
MEN TO
REPAIR.
THE
HOUSE OF
■ ,>. GOD!

)

L

ONG, AGO,

FOR FEAR.
OF ENEMIES,
A

SACRED

BOOK WAS

IODEN
IN
JEIZUSALEMS
TEMPLE
AND
FORGOTTEN.
OUT
ONE
DAY..

THIS Is THE
500K OF
OEUT ERONOMV
LONG LOST ! I WILL
HAVE SHAPH A 14
TAKE IT TO KING
JOSIAH )

I

I MUST READ
FIRST- IT I' ASTONISHING.
THE OLD LAWS OF ISRAEL
rourslo!. JOSIAH WILL BE.
SURPRISED-THE KINGDOM'S
LAWS HAVE BEEN MISCONSTRUE°

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