MILD SENSATION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 April 1938, Page 7

MILD SENSATION

AN ALLEGED STATEMENT BY MR FORD LEADER PUTTING SOMETHING OVER PEOPLE PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT'S PLANS By Telegraph.—Press Association. Copyright. NEW YORK, April 28. Something of a sensation has been caused by a statement attributed to MiHenry Ford during the course of an interview granted here today after his conference with President Roosevelt yesterday. Mr Ford said the people had a leader “who is putting something over them.”

Declining further to elaborate his statement and stressing later that he had never said anything against President Roosevelt, the manufacturer declared: “There are a lot of people who are looking for a leader and they have one who is putting something over them, and they deserve it. The people ought to be their own leaders.” Mr Henry Ford, addressing the American Newspaper Publishers’ Association, made a two-sentence speech. “We are all on the spot,” he said. “Stick to your guns and I will help you all I can with the assistance of my son.”

The Washington correspondent of the “New York Times” says: “Frustrated in its attempts to enlist the goodwill of Mr Ford behind the Administration’s recovery drive, White House is turning its attention to the business men’s co-operative manifesto, and it is understood a conference of those who signed it will be called.

“The President further intends to send a message to Congress asking for anti-monopolistic legislation which, while not expected to be as drastic as at first contemplated, nevertheless will be in the nature of a warning to recalcitrant business groups.” A message from Washington published on Thursday stated that on the eve of the conference between - President Roosevelt and Mr Henry Ford, a group of 16 prominent 'business men, including Mr Owen D. Young, sent President Roosevelt a written pledge assuring him of their fullest co-operation in the Government’s efforts toward recovery. The group represents more than 130 companies. Their action increased the importance that observers were attaching to Mr Ford’s visit to White House.