Israel to Pursue Peace, Says Dayan
Anti-Semitism Figures in Recollections
of Henry Ford in Conot Volume on !Detroit
Detroit under scrutiny by
a master researcher emerges
in all its fascinations in a
study conducted by Robert
Conot.
He concerned himself with
the subject of cities in
America, the complexity of
industrialization, the many
factors that have developed
and the conflicts that have
recently arisen. On the racial
issues that have affected
every large American com-
munity, he used Detroit as
a prototype. As a result,
Conot's "American Odyssey:
A Unique History of America
Told Through the Life of a
Great City," the volume just
issued by William Morrow &
Co.. emerges as a classic
story.
_ All the aspects of Detroit's
experiences, the race riots,
the changing neighborhoods,
the crimes, the role of the
Fords, the anti-Semitism, are
part of the resulting analyses.
The many Jewish elements
discussed by Conot alone
could form a volume, with
its positive approaches and
the negations that stemmed
from bigotries.
It is natural that Conot
should have dealt at length
with Henry Ford, his motor
company, his family, Harry
Bennett, the Dearborn Inde-
pendent and the ensuing anti-
Semitism that brought forth
the auto magnate's apology.
Incidentally, the thorough-
=ness with which Conot dealt
with the rise of the automo-
bile industry led him to
acknowledge the Jewish pio-
neer who developed the first
- automobile. Conot referred to
a young engineer, Charles B.
King, five years Henry
Ford's junior.
A footnote on the subject
of the pioneering work of
"Siegfried Marcus, a Ger-
man Jew, (who) had begun
experimenting in Vienna with
carriages propelled by gas-
combustion engine s," 25-
years prior to the Ford
product, reads:
"Marcus had exhibited a
vehicle at the exposition of
1873, and road-tested an im-
proved version in 1875. But
he lacked capital to develop
the machine. The authorities
opposed its operation on the
roads. Discouraged, he con-
signed it to a museum."
(An article by Philip Slom-
ovitz- in The Detroit Jewish
News, April 12, 1946, exten-
sively reviewed the Siegfried
Marcus pioneering accom-
plishments).
The Ford prejudice, the
publication of the notorious
forgeries, the so-called Pro-
tocols of the Elders of Zion,
the libel suit of Aaron Sha-
piro which compelled Ford
to apologize to Louis Mar-
shall — these facts are pre-
sented in some detail. Quot-
ing Conot, crediting the his-
torian Alan Nevins: "The
signature read 'Henry Ford';
by the signer was Bennett."
One surmises from it that
Ford's apology was not a
sincere one.
This creates a wish that
Conot had gone a bit deeper
into the subject. He might
have drawn upon the experi-
ences with Ford of David
Willkie, who was the automo-
NEW YORK (JTA) — For- Jewish leaders attending an
mer Israel Defense Minister Israel Bond dinner in his
Moshe Dayan declared here honor at the Waldorf-Astoria
that his country has disen- Hotel, Israel will probably
gaged itself from war and have to spend over $1,000,-
can now pursue "the con- 000,000 a year "just to renew
structive projects of peace" our armaments" should it
such as developing its econ- have to go to war again.
omy, receiving more immi-
grants from Russia and other THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
countries and 'building more 20—Friday, June 21, 1974
settlements and cities.
But, he told more than 750
bile editor for the Associated the Ford story worth recall- lation, and both Bagley Ele-
Press. As late as 1941, Ford ing. To quote Conot:
mentary School and Mum-
told Willkie that he believed
"Toward the close of 1931 ford High School were more
the Jews caused World War Ford prepared to bring out than half black. Teachers
II.
the first automobile with a became discouraged, and
The bigotry persisted, and V-8 engine as replacement white parents transferred
the elder Ford remains in for the Model A. As he be- their children out of the
the historic record as the gan rehiring, he discovered schools. (White Christian
BINGO
BETH ABRAHAM-HILLEL
vile anti-Semite. But . Conot's the agonies of Inkster. Wages parents in the Ford High 375,000 Attend NY
5075 W. MAPLE
book is about Detroit, and had been reduced to $4 a School area were upset by
BETWEEN MIDDLEBELT & INKSTER
MONDAYS 7:30 P.M.
the anti-Semitic angles are day, and were not enough the influx of Jewish children Parade for Israel
incidental. Nevertheless, this for the men to live on and from Mumford, and so trans-
NEW YORK (JTA) —
appendage may prove of ad- simultaneously make pay- ferred their children to Red- "Peace to Israel" was the
ditional value to students of ments on the debts they had ford.) The Mumford area theme of the 10th annual
the history of Detroit and the accumulated with Inkster's was the Twelfth Street of the Salute to Israel parade here
vileness of anti-Semitism mostly Jewish- merchants. 1960s. By 1969 Mumford had and an estimated 300,000
linked with Detroit's name. Ford, who believed that 'the turned as black as Central spectators and 75,000 march-
Conot does touch upon the Negro had not yet developed High School had during the ers turned up to sing, shout,
activities of Father Coughlin, a sufficient intellect to be 1950s, and there were blocks and dance up Fifth Avenue
who borrowed the Protocols able to be on his own (and) and blocks without a white
men's
from Ford and utilized them had to be guided and super- family remaining. (Nearly to express their hopes for
that peace.
for his own anti-Semitic vised, thereupon decided to all who did stay had no
clothe s
A
total
of
50
floats
and
23
campaign. Gerald L. K. save the community from the school-age children, or were
bands
took
part
in
this
Ameri-
Smith, Rev. Gerald Winrod Jewish 'exploiters.'
with
sending their children to can Zionist Youth Founda-
and - other anti-Semites are
"To keep the Jews from parochial school). In a half tion-sponsored celebration of
the
recorded in the Conot story getting the Negroes' money, century the black population
as the anti-Semitic spreaders he paid only $1 of the black had followed the Jewish in a the 26th birthday of the state
look
of Israel, joined by young
of anti-Sem-itism.
workers' daily wages in wedge up Woodward Avenue
of
There is exoneration of the cash. In lieu of the other $3 all the way from Hastings marchers from synagogues
Ford name in the activities he adopted Inkster, and Street to Mumford. The Jews and youth groups from
of Henry Ford II, who is turned it into a communal had reached the city limits, throughout the northeastern
listed by Conot together with enterprise. A public commis- and as the decade of the United States.
Max Fisher, Stanley Winkel- sary was set up to provide 1970s approached, the last .
The payoff in bluffing lies
man and others who, in the food and clothing. Ford re- two Jewish Reform congre-
more current Detroit story, opened the school. He fur- gations in the city made in knowing just when not to.
through New Detroit Inc. nished seeds and had the plans to move out and build
WITH AN
and in other ways, labored to men cultivate the fields. He new temples at 14 Mile Road,
X•CEPTIONAL STORES FOR MN
establish new standards and bought sewing m•chines for six miles beyond the city.
BINGO
AKIVA HEBREW DAY SCHOOL
to ward off racist tendencies. the women and taught them Even Strichartz lost faith in ♦
TEL-12 MALL, SOUTHFIELD
SANS SOUCI HALL
It is necessary to mention how to sew. To his great the ability ' of the Detroit
ON 9 MILE AT MIDDLEBELT
phone 358-4420
EVERY
SUNDAY
7:15
P.M.
the facts regarding the elder - satisfaction, Ford became school system to educate his
UNIVERSAL MALL, WARREN
Ford's bias because Conot the patriarch of Inkster."
children, and moved to the
phone 751-3300
devotes a special chapter to
There was an era of anti- suburbs."
"The 'International Jewish Semitism, and it spread to a
The role of Dr. Norman
Conspiracy' " in which --the neighboring community of Drachler receives merited
Protocols are defined briefly. Detroit, in the 1920s and recognition in the Conot
Let The Professionals Perform
Students of that era, and of 1930s, as indicated in this analysis of Detroit's educa-
the recurring hatreds stem- additional quote from ,Conot's tional system and its decline.
ming from the spread of the "American Odyssey."
Conot's expose of the Black
Protocols, must go deeper
Jeep Sm ith — Dick Stein
"Anti-Semitism was wide- Legion and the review of
into the subject to recognize
Shelby Lee — Patty Grant
the damage that was done spread, deep-rooted, rein- terrorism that was instigated
Mori Little — Leonard McDonald Etc.
by Ford and others through forced by Father Coughlin in 1927 represents •another
this medium. Conot concludes and often supported by the incident of significance in the
From one to any number of musicians
parish
priests.
Candidates
recollected
Detroit
history.
this chapter by stating:
Complete Party Planning on Request
The architectural achieve-
" The International Jew' commonly ran on such plat-
forms
as
'throw
the
Jews
358-2777
ments of the late Albert
made its appearance during
Kahn find extensive refer-
the depression of 1920-21, and out of Hamtramck.' "
`,`Music T he Stein Way"
Conot turned to many other ences in the Conot reviews of
when prosperity returned to
the United States people lost aspects of the Detroit story, Detroit's industrialization.
interest in the alleged eco- the race issue, the decline of
The entire story is filled
411111111110.
■ 111111111 ■
nomic and political machina- educational values, the flight with drama as well as re-
tions of the Jews. In a Ger- to the suburbs. He deals ex- vealing facts that elevate his
many wracked by turmoil, tensively with the regime of "American Odyssey" into a
the publication of the articles Mayor Jerome Cavanagh and supreme position not only as
Specializing in Weddings,
in book form had a more one of the authorities he the study of a single city but
Bar Mitzvas, Showers, Parties,
significant and long-lasting quotes is Richard Strichartz, as a great achievement in
All Occasions
impact.'
Cavanagh's former associate research. P.S.
Large
Selection
of Dried Materials
And a footnote to this com- and adviser and now an as-
Conveniently Located
sociate and adviser to Presi-
ment states:
"No American was better dent George Gullen of Wayne Israel Immigrants
31166 ORCHARD LAKE ROAD
known or a greater hero in
just south of 14 Mlle, end of Northwestern
Heavily Academics
Germany than Ford. Industry State University.
(A foot-note: "Strichartz's
was rushing to 'rationalize' and
JERUSALEM (ZINS) —In
`Taylorize' production on the grandfather had owned one
Ford model. Fond's 'My Life
1973, Israel's academic and
and Work,' which vigorously of the factories that had professional community con-
defended 'The international made Lodz — Russia — the
Now.
stituted 17 per cent of the
Jew,' was a best seller in Ger-
many. Hitler wrote in "Mein textile center of the world. over-all population. These
- • • • •
Kampf' that 'a single man, Strichartz's father, a Jewish
Ford, to their (the Jews') fury, intellectual, had fled Russia classes also accounted f or
Abe Cherow, Says
still maintains full independ-
about 43 per cent of all new
ence.' Baldur van Schirach, one to escape the hangman after
of the top 20 Nazi leaders, testi- the 1905 Revolution, and had immigrants, thereby increas- • •
ing the percentage of pro- •
fied at the Nuremberg Trial
that his first knowledge about made his living repairing fessional and ' scientific per- : YOU CAN BEAT THE
anti-Semitism had come through shirts in a New York cold-
: RUN AWAY PRICE RISE BY
reading 'The International Jew.' water flat. Dick Strichartz sonnel in the country.
•
The Nazis translated the book
A DOING BUSINESS WITH
Among
the
newcomers
into 12 languages and distrib- had obtained his college edu-
ARTISTIC UPHOLSTERERS.
were
2,500
engineers;
1,700
uted it all over the world.
cation in the United States
"One morning when Ford was
IT'S FUN TO GET EXACTLY
teachers
and
instructors;
Navy
during
World
War
II.
in Munich a 'shabbily dressed
WHAT YOU WANT AT A
fellow' knocked on his hotel After the war he had used 1,100 physicians; 1,070 tech-
door at 7 a.m. and asked for a the G. I. Bill to acquire a nicians; 1,035 nurses; 215
PRICE YOU'LL ENJOY PAYING.
contribution. When Ford, with
pharmacists; and 7,100 skilled • • CALL US OR VISIT.
Liebold acting as interpreter, law degree.")
turned him dawn, 'the fellow
Strichartz guided Conot factory workers. According
felt very much put out about
it and was rather mad when he through the experiences that to the aliya department of •
left.'
caused much havoc in De- the Jewish Agency, there are
"Four hours later Liebold re-
at least 100,000 applications •
CALL LIU 4-5900
ceived a telephone call from troit. The reference to the
Louis Lochner of the Peace educational crises and to for exit visas to Israel pend-
Ship who had become Associ-
• ARTISTIC UPHOLSTERERS INC.
ing in the Soviet Union.
ated Press correspondent in neighborhood changes gives
• •
5755 SCHAEFER RD.
Berlin. Lochner asked if it were importance to the following
•
(1 block North of Ford Rd )
true that Ford had just turned from the Conot story:
Flying
rumors
have
no
down Hitler's request for a con-
•
Dearborn - LU 4-5900
tribution."
"By 1965 Negroes made up trouble at all making a land- ,4, •
ABE CHEROW, President
Open Doily 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• •
Here is another episode in about one third of the popu- ing.
.i.-.••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• • • • • • •••••••••• • •
WAKE UP YOUR
WARDROBE ...
♦ •••••• ♦ • 1
♦
DICK STEIN Inc.
ALMAMAY'S FLORIST
626-4848
■
• •