Salt Lake Tribune | 1919-05-27 | Page 11 | Ford's Withnesses Called in Trial

FORD'S WITNESSES CALLED IN TRIAL MO I.' XT CLKMEXS, Mich., May 26. Witnesses for Henry Ford, who is suing the Chicago Daily Tribune for Jl.OOO.fXiO damages on a charge of libel, gave glimpses of the routine of the Ford plant today. Opening testimony was along th lines of refutation of the assertion in tho Tribune's alleged libelous editorial that. at. the time the national guard was called out for MeNienn border service, Mr. Ford would not hold his employees' jobs open for them while absent. The witnesses were John J, Henk head i;f the employment department; Harry Snminers, his assistant, and Norman Nor-man M. Baker, a foreman. linker said he served with the national guard during the copper strike In tipper-Michigan tipper-Michigan in l!l.'l; answered tho call for Mexican service in ITHt! and had attended the annual MirhiLuin guard encampments. He testified during his military service he was always reinstated and never discriminated dis-criminated auainst. The substance of the testimony of the witnesses was that for years it baa been the Ford pnliey to reinstate men who ceased employment for reasons bevond their control, su.-h as sickness or military service, and t lint this policy was In operation opera-tion when the national guard was called out in !Hii.