The Great Depression [staff education: video: day one]

Of to help the during the revolution. And right after a revolution of the big hollows like the United States in France and in the case with a communist country Russia is on its way. So the refugees were placed with starvation and this organization was set up by in Germany to the refugees. But subsequently the Japanese earthquake right after the earthquake it helped the British workers during this strike. And in many countries including Italy they still are branches of the wor. But the people that do know is that this particular group of welfare workers consists of people like Al Gore and George Bernard Shaw Kathleen Koch who is a social order and willing to work with a member of the king over his party. But the reason they had a representative group. In that committee is going to on this group real choice. It wasn't enough to

give aid workers are people suffering from hers. All right. The company came close to medical help. No I didn't give them. Information. You got to be concerned with they go around and wait to see their problems and just take them once in a while. So every country we're also established you also have hope you establish that when you're on the account when this relief agency had the most supportive rules was the work of Black Theatre which you might have heard about. Keller the dance group there was all this group. There are yes there are writers there are filmmakers the filmmakers for the world the film. And the way the WCR and the cover up is a function that depended on the political system in this country. In Germany the Communist Party before Hitler was sort of very very

strong and they were the boat. They are. They acted accordingly in roughly what they. The nickname Meshal which is one of the larger issues of Russian hills and that in America where the Communist Party was not very strong there was not much affiliation w r and the Polish party and the fact that you know there is a feeling that cultural groups and the communist far even some of the vendors of the cultural groups were members of the Communist Party. So that explains a little bit about what our war was with workers today in Germany. Called in all our. I age. So that's sort of the east coast rather than one of which I belonged to fill in the water the culture of liberation to belong to. But let's say this year there was probably no relationship

between our culture group in other countries it was a very close relationship. In other countries there was even a close relationship between our cultural groups and the police force. The other thing I would talk about this for this afternoon there will be some more speakers about it. I don't see any penalty for Gustav. And also the last issue of war after the crash. I don't want to criticize a lot of things I can say about it but I think you know about the fact that this reading has held the fact that your opinion over or illustrates the fact that the film was not quite accurate. I really did an interesting thing incidentally as far as the show. Some people like it more people like it few people don't like including me but didn't like it and I realized that I don't know anybody who knew what this is like. Didn't like anybody that didn't know it like that. And you're my favorite. OK so. So what about it. Because all of

those were like that there were millions of people who just sort of filled with the thought that that was what the difference was like and it was absolutely true. So I was like freaking over. Telling the truth about. The thing about not enforcing this film after the crash as well as the activity that contains material about before. And in both cases I was a little puzzled by it. First place is loneliness sort of the novel that to look for a great American is the way the pego equivalent to what the wages were low in the organization this place and I fully realize the war because you know in this country to stop shop like you go to those places to get in old footage from your 30s 40s.

Henry Ford was alive he may or his outfit made great use of film to fill the gap. They knew the value of films. And they created their own socks out material. So your material as you probably know only beginning with you on the boards operation you don't go into regular stocks I'd like you go for a library but all of that material. What is it all about. So you get persecuted Henry Ford's point of view of my work in a period of about. So of course all of that material was all about it before the reading the great to this who developed the very good motorcar actually. So that was not only interested in knowing that you yeah here's an even though it is no salary paying those other salaries it is much lower than the studio. And.

Who is a real. Know good person. No the way is like a Maher says. So that's all I have to say. When you see this with people out here who were killed by Henry Ford those things didn't work. Oh. That. Was the introductory session and we're now going to have a presentation that is largely material that's going to be in the first program of our series. That. Different. People from. Again different traffic tracking down. So what I'm going to propose is that I can speak to us and take questions and that we try to keep that.

To just about 40 minutes total. And then David Lewis in Zaragoza Vargas could each do a presentation without taking questions and then we can open up to questions and then and then conclude with David Moore who of course. Lived through and was a witness to Detroit not only in the period of the past the opening program. Well we'll deal with that through all of the 1930s. And I hope this allows us to get people where we promised to get them when we when we promised to get them there. Michael. This. Is. Just too. Obviously. Obviously. A. Theory that we need now know the root of both the economic issues politically. And the cultural issues. That.

Articulate. And that's my hope you kind of know why that will help them for not only. For show. But. By. In fact some of the issues. Here. My pleasure. I've enjoyed your work. Very nice to be here. Especially appreciate your work on the depression. I'm the product of late second marriage by my father. He's. 89 years old and lives in a nursing home. In Connecticut. I was talking to him again as I have many times about America in the 20s and 30s for a came up here and I'm very much aware of. How little time there is to preserve. A popular memory of this incredible period in American life. So I applaud what you're doing. Your first. Episode. First film centers on Henry

Ford and you're going to have people who discuss Henry Ford in detail much better than I can. What I want to try to do is provide. A kind of twenty's context. For Henry Ford. Suggest some points at which Henry Ford. Fits what seemed to me to historians some of the central features of America in the 1920s the 20s has a curious reputation among historians. For a long long time. The 20th it was a predictable part of a rather predictable story of the glorious the triumphs the successes of liberal reform in America the 20th century began with a progressive period a period of earnest striving and reform in many areas of American life. And the conditions of labor the conditions of the poor improvement of politics. It was succeeded however by the 20s fallow period when efforts to improve America to make it

better to make it more democratic. Were lay fallow were defeated and then the 20s got what it deserved. The Republicans who dominated it got what they deserved. The depression of course a lot of other people got what they didn't deserve. And then you had more liberal reform. In the 30s and the New Deal and we were back with that positive story over the last generation or so. That old. Tale. From glories of reform 20s a period of failure by a society a period of dissipation succeeded by more reform. That story has slowly been transformed. Until Well I wouldn't say there is a consensus behind another story of early 20th century America. Many many historians I think have a different view. Of the 20s. It's as if what's going on is that the earliest part of the 20th century the story of reform

has been tamped down. We're not as impressed by it anymore we're aware of how ambiguous many of the effort to change America were how outright anti-democratic many of them were. And as I'm sure Alan Brinkley and then other speakers are going to be talking you about were more conscious of the limitations of the New Deal. Than ever before. What it did not achieve. What would it did not change and in between the sense of the progressive period before World War One and the 30s in-between that is this new sense of the 20s a very rich one. One of the things that's happened is that through building up. Our sense of the 20s and now it doesn't seem so different from what went before and what came after. Now there is much more a story of continuity. Rather than a cycle of boom and bust and boom of reform. People see continuities in several ways. They argue.

That. The reform Spirit didn't die out completely in the 20s. Far from it that many people continue to work for change in various ways in American society. Both inside and outside the government. That underlying structural transformation of America particularly in the economy continued. Big business continue to grow bigger organizations became an increasingly central part of American life. That was true in the progressive era it was still more true in the 1920s and it would be yet more true in the 1930s and beyond. We are aware to more and more of the importance of consumerism in American life and we have a sense of a developing consumer culture that didn't begin. In the 1920s alone but that had its origins in the 19th century and that continued to develop. Smoothly through the early 20th century. And the picture then and it's a subversive one if you want to make a

documentary about the depression. Is that what preceded it was not necessarily all that different. In purely public policy terms and obviously this is not all of what the history of these periods is about it. It's summed up best by the reputations of presidents. Franklin Roosevelt is no longer seen as the fountain head. Of modern liberal reform. We have a strong sense in part because of the work of my colleague at Indiana. Joan Hoff from whom you're going to hear. I think later in the week we understand that Herbert Hoover and his administration once seen as the epitome of evil and failure had in fact contributed a number of the techniques that liberals and the Roosevelt administration would use in the years ahead. We've moved more and more toward that story of continuity. It's a smooth story. There's less conflict. In it. There's less discontinuity. It's an easier history to take. I admit it doesn't completely

satisfy me. I'm. Kind of old fashion. I see much more discontinuity. In the early 20th century and I think that's useful to you all. Actually I think it gives us more to play off of. To me. The early 20th century is it is about a history of different. At the center is about history is a history of different designs for living different ideas of how people can live their lives. The early 20th century is a conflict over how people should live their lives how they define themselves in terms of who work in terms of pleasure and leisure how they define themselves in terms of family and family relationships. Mutualistic relationships within their own class within their own neighborhood. Classes how they define themselves in individualistic terms in terms of the individual striving moving ahead who sees him or herself is relatively independent from the rest of the

society. And I'm struck when I look at the 20th century. How in the early 20th century how there is an argument over just these questions about how you define a way of life for a person the United States I'm going to put this in a very schematic way for you that may be terminally boring that will be possibly misleading at points so I'm glad to take the questions that you have about that but. I would put it starkly like this at the turn of the 20th century in the United States at the beginning of the 20th century there were profound differences between social groups in the United States virtually as star and felt as at any point in modern American history. There was a working class A developing working class in America that lived in an intensely mutualistic family stick approach to life that rejected the notion that an individual can make his or her own way in the world succeed

because by and large in a working class it was impossible. To get by on the work of one person working class family survive because everyone not only male heads of household. But wives and children in various ways had to contribute to a household. The ethic of the working classes a mutualistic ethic and carried a sense of self and gave and contributed to your sense of self to the family more broadly working class depended on mutualistic relationships the. Fraternal associations ethnic associations unions. Farmers culture embattled was much like that though with a streak of independence that's quite striking That's quite different from workers. There is a middle class undergoing profound change in middle class in America the center of individualistic Victorian values. In America the class that had created

this image of a man going off supported by his family a nurturing domestic environment and going off individually to combat in public world succeeding on his own middle class that had lived these Victorian notions who lived these ideas to succeed individually who had to be restrained you had to control yourself you had to work hard you did not depend too much beyond yourself and the family middle class that was coming to see that these values were creating a society that was hard to live and hard to live in in part because of the rise of an industrial upper class that believed in individualism but was creating large scale organizations concentrations of power. That mocked. Individualism that mocked the possibilities of individual success or even mutualistic success in America. To put it very briefly. The period in the United States before World War One is about the gradual transformation of

ideas in the face of large scale centers of power. The movement toward the idea that people could use state power. Could use forces of government and organizations outside themselves to try to control and regulate human life comes to speak as it was very traditional. Who in World War One an incredible attempt by the government of Woodrow Wilson to control so many aspects of American life where you begin your episode as I understand it and that's one of the most dramatic and one of the most daring enterprises in American history the Wilson administration tries to control production control the economy control labor relations control thought and expression. You know. Not only by cracking down on free speech but also through a government propaganda agency the committee for public information trying to shape what people actually think. In various ways the Wilson administration was

open to controlling private life and pleasure. For most instances this is the progress of prohibition. Prohibition of sentiment during the war but it's also notable in treatment of women the extraordinary American plan by which the Wilson administration tried to wipe out prostitution and in the process gave military commanders the right to arrest any woman within two miles of a military base with no no questions asked. The drama of World War One in the United States at home is that this will phoney an enterprise even in the process of winning World War 1 failed miserably at home. Americans look at what was created looked at what was promised by a society in which things were so rigidly controlled and people were horrified because it failed. The Wilson administration had promised to take care of the economy and instead you had you had inflation running wild. Businessmen were appalled by how much

control there was over the the. Processes of production. The Wilson administration had taken over the nation's transportation system and taken over the railroads. People were appalled by that threat to the sanctity of private property. Wilson administration had promised to take over relations between labor and capital and instead as you know you had an extraordinary episode of strife and violence in the United States toward the end of World War One. Wilson's administration had promised social harmony. Instead there was disharmony. And what's. Striking to me. Is that you have one of those rare moments when in fact collectively a whole society people who disagree profoundly with each other. People who hate each other people who are at loggerheads with each other who were at war with each other collectively say no this is not how we do it. To me the story of the 20s begins with this collective effort by society. I mean it's not self-conscious people

think now we're not going we're going to do something new. But a collective move toward a society to create a new structure for people's lives not one so rigidly controlled. To some degree at self-conscience it's interesting at the end of World War One. There were people particularly intellectuals who talked about the reconstruction of America. They drew a parallel to the civil war and said after World War One after the Great War. After the Great War we will have reconstruction. And they drew up a lot of plans. There were conferences things academics like to do. No one listened really to the conference papers. But I would argue that in fact the 1920s is reconstruction the 1920s is about the reconstruction of America. The reconstruction of people's lives along a new set of one. I'll put this very crudely in ways that would embarrass me in print. I would argue that collectively the 1920s is about an effort to define

an individualistic approach to life an effort to define individualism and a period in which there is extraordinary concentration on the cell. And the individual human being on. What his or her way of getting through life. Another host of definitions of individual ism. And this is an extraordinarily broad based. Struggle. From all parts. Of society. Nancy caught in writing about feminism in this period notes the strong and emergent strains of individualism among feminists. You see this kind of preoccupation Margaret Sanger whose advocacy of birth control before World War One had been tightly bound up in her notions of socialism and socialist solidarity instead in the 20s increasingly talking about birth control in terms of individual satisfaction individual pleasure. I could go on

but I'd argue that the definition of individual is the end of how an individual life is lived that tends to win out in the 20s or that is held up in the 20s as the most powerful. Is this model of the individual pursuing his or her desires. In a capitalist society by buying things and having pleasures. Consumerism. Which. Is where Fort A comes in. To this. Ford who's at the heart of this episode. He's a good instance of this groping toward. Individualism. First of all it was a wealthy man who came from the segment of American society who had been able to believe all through the stages of industrialization all through the difficulties of early 20th century America that life was still about the individual making his way in the world which is what he thought he'd done. Wealthy people could afford to believe. In individualism.

He did and it's quite striking. Here is a man who has created a large scale organization like many other large scale organizations in this society. And he does not see himself as an organization man. He does not see himself as of the company the company is of him. He sees it as something that's HIS something that he can give away in the future to his children Edsel and his grandson. Ford presents to the American people is used for the American people is an example of the individual and individual success. Ford by his actions sets an example for the argument for individual freedom. On the one side he's an argument against regulation. Ford stands for us as the responsible upper class man the responsible capitalists to the 1920s to keep government off my back. You don't have to put

constraints on me because I'm going to act responsibly. I'll take care of my workers. I got a sociological department. I got the five dollar wage and in a few years in the middle the depression I'm starting for condition. So if you don't have to worry about controlling. Ford fits with the individual with temper of this time culturally. That's one of the striking things about 1920s mass culture is the fascination with individuals heroic individuals heroes. This is an era that you know creates movie stars create sports heroes men and women alike. The ultimate one is maybe Charles Lindbergh. Ford is much like that. And much like Lindbergh because both have a relationship to technology. Both are seen as individual men making their way Lindbergh the lone eagle. LENNEBERG of course flies in a plane not. By himself. Ford makes it on its own. But makes it with this large scale company and with the technology of the

automobile. Ford uses this. Absorption with the individual and with the Himself to sell himself as you know through the devices of his publicity department. And so on. He's probably centrally important for us though because of this bit about the five dollar. Wage. But his recognition that American economic life is not solely anymore about production it's also about consumption. That if manufacturers are going to succeed people are going to have to be able to buy their products. So the workers have to be able to buy and they have to make enough to be able to buy the cars. A crucial perception if you're going to have a math based consumer economy Ford is certainly of that. And it's certainly very modern in this way. But I think in fact. Why I think you're very smart to choose him is

that it's at this point that you see how Ford really represents the mixing together of the mingling of modernity and something older. When we talk about consumerism in the 20s we tend to think about it in terms of consumerism today we tend to take the word and think. Back to the 1920s. It's the same we tend to reason back from our own society in which human satisfaction is defined in terms of the unceasing pursuit and consumption of goods and pleasures and services with no ultimate end to no ultimate satisfaction we reasoned that back. Into the 20s. For someone like Henry Ford consumerists and the chances for his workers to buy cars is a form of discipline. It's not a form of dissipation. He's not. Trying to create a country in which people simply pursue their desires and stop working the $5 day is there. As you know and as you've talked about is a goad for people to

work consumerism originally fits with that work ethic. You're at a point in America in the 1920s when you can see an older society in values of work and self control being a lighted with and mingled with a notion of letting go individually full of pleasure in the pursuit of pleasure. And there's a kind of balance where the one is going to reinforce the other. And that's a very different sense from consumerism today. The question though and part of. Part of the drive in the drama that sets up what you're going to talk about. In this documentary series is that of course consumerism does not penetrate very far in the society the 1920s as you know. Despite increases in standard of living despite increases in the early 20th century and in the 20s themselves in average income. Most Americans still do not make enough money to live.

Consumerists lives. The reality of working class life at the turn of the century is to a great degree still in the 20s. The reality of working class life. That a head of household can't make enough money to get by. Average income the United States in the late 20s the. Stock figure is fifteen hundred dollars a year. At that point. Researchers argue that it takes eighteen hundred dollars a year to live a life of minimum standards in the United States not poverty. That doesn't mean I'm getting. But the average income in the U.S. in the late 20s in the boom of prosperity is three hundred dollars short. The reality is not. Consumerism. But I think what you can see in the 20s is the elaboration of the creed of consumption and consumerism. The idea that happiness in America individual happiness in America is going to be found less in working less and the joys of working itself

more. And what you can buy with what you earn. This is not a deeply felt belief at this time in the 20s. It's only really first being elaborated by people like Ford who have an instinctive gut level. Sense of the possibilities. And by ad agencies which in the 1920s really first take on their modern look. You know ad agencies had begun late in the 19th century. But originally what they did was basically by faith. For very simple ads in newspapers and publications around the country. By 1920 you have self-conscious ad men and some women of the sort that we know today people like Albert left or in Chicago selling Wrigley's gum. It refreshes. The whole deal. And you have ad men and ad women self-consciously in the 1920s spinning out this consumption vision. Of happiness of individual satisfaction.

And. As I say it doesn't go very deeply into society. You do have a counterpart to it. In politics. And here I think I differ somewhat from some. Political historians have tended to emphasize how much as a say 20 Republicans anticipate the New Deal. I see all that and yet I'm struck by how much the Republican Party instinctively and if you're talking about people like Warren Harding you are talking about instinct because not much else how these men create a political economy in which. You can have. Consumerist life. Republicans instinctively set boundaries in this society and there's a lot of boundaries hitting keep out immigrants keep out what you can't control maintain segregation in the south. But even as they do that they understand as they say on an instinctive level that if you're going to if you're going to

have a society that encourages people to follow their desires to buy this buy that to find happiness in terms that the desire felt and satiated through the consumption of a good or a service if you're going to have that you have to leave people relatively free. You can't regulate them as tightly. Some getting rid of some things like prohibition takes time. But. If I can give you a model of the new man it would be Warren Harding here's a guy charged with enforcing prohibition. He has of course. Continue with access to alcohol while he's president. Self-control as we all know there great Warren Harding adulteries stories which we're not going to tell. There are a couple of very distinctive moments in his life that there are quite arresting one of them that fascinated me. One of the great victims of the Wilson administration is Eugene vidette the pride of Terre Haute Indiana. Socialist. Labor organizer Labor leader

put in jail for his stance on World War One. Harding pardon. Him. Lets him go. Which doesn't make him a great man but similar incident and an amusing one and a telling one has to do with Jack Johnson. Great prize fighter. Another victim of social control arrested for violating the Mann Act in jail. There's a parting let them go the story is that he's playing poker. In the Whitehouse basement with newsmen and the reporter who's about to deal starts talking about Jack Johnson and his problems and Harding. Getting more and more antsy. Finally said Deal the god damn card or pardon him in the morning. That of course as you know the Harding administration is not big generally on on the regulation of the economy or even very interested in elevating the government to the various scandals that the Harding administration that we know so well. I could go on. I won't but the central point is this. Republicans. Wrote their way in

the 20s. I think not so much toward a stated view of society. They do do certain things that anticipate the new deal particularly during the Depression but they also croak their way toward providing that kind of public policy shell the political economic shell in which this individual list order of Henry Ford can thrive. You lead a manufacturer like Ford alone and you provide the setting that encourages people to have the freedom to pursue their desires in this way. Now the problems were very fast here for you. We're the 30 minute mark. Yes. We're bringing this one in on time I assure you. First of all. This approach to life centered on this kind of political economy this kind of individual is this kind of consumerism is simply not shared by most Americans. This is a radical approach to life even coming from people with concern in their way as a Harding or Ford.

And you have as a result the enormous social conflict as the kind that you intend to evoke in this episode. People who are troubled by this kind of modernity this kind of definition of white people who continue to be interested in prohibition. People who define their frustrations as the city the rise of the Ku Klux Klan which you're going to talk about in detail. And I wish it could. One thing I would say here parents medically though is that I would urge you. Not to see these conflicts the stark dualities this group vs that group. Country first to city wet versus dry. Or the wet city. You know the whole city versus dry. People in the country thought. This is a conflict. It's also really felt with individuals. Within families. It's a conflict that's fought out between immigrant parents and their children. Over what's owed to

family. And working class parents and their children. It's also present in some of them like Henry Ford which is why I think he's in some ways a smart choice. You know Henry Ford is at once extremely modern and at once as we tend to say you know harking back to an earlier America. I don't think that's. So quaint. But you have here you know a man who can believe in technology and the possibilities of technology the possibilities of a rationalized factory setting and who's also of course an anti-Semite. To the central tendency of this society in one person. You have someone who on the one hand and fascinates me can institute the $5 day. In part because he sees the possibility of a consumer a society in which as I say people have to be relatively free and yet at the same time here is a man who like an old style manufacturer an old style capitalist to the 19th century or even an old saw slaveholder pries into the personal lives of his workers that wants new and

old. I will support and say this is a controversial order. It's an a. Controversial approach to life. At the heart of it. It works because literally it delivers the goods. This is an approach to my life that demanded great changes in people's lives. Quite controversial quite wrenching. That involved a redefinition of how you live your life. And it only worked fundamentally if the economy worked if if if. The Fords and the others could deliver the goods and people could buy them. And of course ultimately. They could not. And you're going to have people who talk about the causes of the depression. I will try to do that and you're saying Thank God it's not going to try to do it in five minutes. I point out two things ironic about this kind of individualist creed. And the problems that it faced at the end of the 1920s. On the one side

this individual is and was insufficient. For. The Hardings. The Coolidge's even the Hoovers simply did not think enough about what the role of the state. And government would need to be in making a consumerist oriented society work. They didn't think enough about basic structural problems in the economy problems and banking. Regulation. Mistaught regulation the stock market and so on. They move too far away from. What the Wilsonian had been after. And on the other side are chronically in the end I think they really didn't have the courage of their own individualism. They wanted individualism to find in their own terms. And as I say that really meant freedom of consumer society depends on certain kind of freedom. But various groups in America earth people in America were going to be walled in one way

or another the great instance of this is cracking down on labor organization cracking down on labor in general in this period that kind of freedom was not going to be allowed. And the irony is they left. You know a mass of Americans without sufficient income to drive this economy without sufficient power to stand up and make it work. They failed because they were too individualistic as well as because of the failures of individualism itself. That's. A large design of the 20s as I say a crude one and a lot of ways and one in which to try to fit chord. And I'm glad. To talk about any part of it. You can watch me back away from. My. Position with respect to other big cats

and with respect I got big Figley scope for Scholars right behind me. But I was not sure I I I. Never mind. Resist the easy joke. For. To my mind in some ways Hark hark back to the Carnegie Rockefeller model of a responsible capitalist who's that who's. Often seen as a subversive type. Especially because he. Yeah because you argue that first of all that the wealthy in effect need to give away a certain amount of their wealth need to give away a certain amount of their advantages in order to preserve themselves. Their views are very very conservative people but it it's striking how or how bad their reputation could often be among the well-to-do. And Ford Ford also and this reminds me of Carnegie Ford is a standing reproach to a dominant upper an increasingly dominant upper class style of life centered around pleasure. You know Carnegie

and Rockefeller for that matter that were were both criticized for being poor in their pleasures for being men. Who frowned on pleasure and. And purchases. For you know to breed with steamiest evening said is home you know to the sorrow of executives who were there for dinner is a part of that. And that's that's he's he's quite old fashioned. He's also. I was going to say close to the end of line for a kind of still individual centered capitalism in the man the firm it's his name. He still has great control over it. On the other hand this is an instance of a man who does succeed in passing over the control of a large scale corporation to his own members of his own family which is. Unusual. He really loves to read them. In many ways. Yeah. Sure. He's certainly the left of the. Breed as a sort of a kind of. Tinkerer. Model of a capitalist who does

it all himself. So there's probably some Silicon Valley type who would contradict me by his or her example. Yeah. I wonder if there's sort of a chicken and egg that one might do to make a case for. Political agenda. Digitalism it was a way it was the nation's working best just as good as his economic agenda. But. You see you see do you see do you see individualism being unjustly promoted by either political or economic forces. Those goals. Yeah but I mean like most major things in society especially because they're carried on by human beings it doesn't tend to be so self-conscious or you know there's no conspiracy here. I mean I make jokes about Harding but the point is central. I mean you know fundamental truths tend to be

instinctive truths. Moments of pure thought as academics know all too well are very rare. That's how social change happens. But you know I have put this crudely and I stand by that image of how things happen. I do think you know ideas and actions have implications. I believe that push by those courses. Yeah but not necessarily. Saying they're designed for it it's a good example of this. I mean Ford is is a stunningly creative person who does not always see the implications of what he's done but instinctively feels that it's right. You know since Edison crops up in this episode to Edison is another great example of this a man who can continue to invent things and get you know influence how I put it but whose whose use he did not know is he couldn't under He didn't necessarily understand. How that's how it happened.

You know. This. Isn't. In this great land of ours which I'm proud to be a part of it's been here before you with the Bush years. And of course we're we're talking about a whole economy. You know the first woman went one way of thinking that this is that the 20th we talk about is actually quite quite short. The Decade begins with this period of rapid inflation and then a recession that really doesn't clear up to 23. And as you know farmers are already in relatively bad shape. So the farmers in effect don't have a 20s in the way we define it and you know the economy is we're beginning to understand it is hit in some ways headed downward already

with without benefit of the the stock market crash. So we got a short 20s already. So a lot of property to go around. There is. And this is tough. I'm assuming this is a tough thing to teach an undergraduate survey to get it wrong. This is an economy that in some ways is growing quite robustly in which real income does go up markedly from the end of World War 1 down to 1928. But it's also a current kind of growth isn't occurring in a society in which most people are poor or poor. And many many people remain poor. And. You know the distribution of income or are tough to follow. But by and large it looks as if the income inequality at the end of the 20s is as bad or worse. Than it has been earlier in the 20th century. Which is not to say that prosperity is an illusion. You know when people look at the performance of the American economy around the world and then I think that we're looking at nothing. They weren't reacting to nothing.

It was an evenly very evenly distributed. Capitalism always works on having people who don't do very well. It just does a better job. All right. We'll find out if you have a little light that goes on our life. You know for reification. You know it at various points it does a better job. Of maintaining inequality than others. And by the 20s by the end of the 20th it failed. Well sure. You may. And. It. Will. Be today's change in that. Yeah. This is this is one of things interest me the most. And in a way it's hard to talk about because we don't know a lot at some crucial points. We know a great deal for example about working class family life

at the turn of the century. And just when it gets to that you know about the end of World War One when you can begin to see in various studies like the Irish and Russian Jewish families in Providence that they're getting their 20s you can begin to see a real change in the behavior and the attitudes of children we begin to see something is happening that there is a kind of breakdown in this mutualistic ethic. And we don't really have good studies on this an academic pedantic thing to say it is. That. Well you're you're with the heart of the question that historians are supposed to be dealing with I would say is that it seems to me that the lives of a number of immigrant groups are a particularly good illustration of the basic reality of working

class white of you know immigrants tended to be can be put into left field jobs making the least amount of money. But by and large the working class as a whole into the 20s was still living this reality that you did not get through life on your own. You needed a family you needed a neighborhood you needed the support provided by a union. And that that was a basic truth that was dying away the proportions of a change of ways are the ways you look where you look around you changes and that's the story. I don't think historians have really dealt with fully you beginning to see glimmers of it. There is always a change going on inside the lives of certain immigrant groups and the expectations are beginning to change and it's not just a matter of first generation second generation because you can't compare it to the late 19th century and change. It's. Different. OK.

Tipis often. Have a problem to get their case of Margus out of here before and I'm wondering if what we should do is. Reverse the order of the speakers just so that we don't end up in trouble. So perhaps. So perhaps if you would like to come up now. Mr. Vargas. And and actually it's it's a wonderful transition from what from what Mecum are we speaking to us about. Because what I've just heard has been. Is. Mexican-American immigrants who come to the Detroit area in search of work and he's done wonderful. Wonderful research that we've already reading in some of his papers and that we're now looking forward to hearing about about exactly what those family's lives were like. I think he will be able to show us that indeed some of the conflicts that we thought of in the 1920s are far more

complex than a matter of polarities will turn the platform over to you. Yes. OK. OK. Thank you. It's a pleasure being here. And earlier I was thinking about what. Vincent Harding had said about this. Project. And how. The researchers the staff. Of BlackBerry are going to incorporate. The. Many Voices. Of America. The larger fabric of America. India. Is quite diverse. We know quite a bit about the African-American experience. What we know even less. About the experience of Spanish speaking Americans. That made this great country what it is today. And as I speak at the moment Latinos that is the numbers of Spanish

speaking continue to grow. And as some of us know Spanish speaking. Will surpass. Afro Americans. As the largest racial minority group within the next 10 years. So movies like the one that's being. Considered right now are indeed extremely important specifically to the individuals that hopefully are targeted and that is the youth who. The Spanish speaking youth especially who need to have signals from the larger society that indeed they. And their. Past generation are indeed a big part of this great country of ours. Now I have the extremely rare fortune of getting permission from the Ford Motor Company to look at its corporate records. And I managed to. Find over 40000 employment record cards of the Mexicans who

came to Detroit Michigan during the years 1917 to 1933. Now keep in mind that this is only one auto company in Detroit. There were something like 110 automakers in Detroit. I don't deal with the General Motors workers. I don't deal with Studebaker workers or the other main car companies like Chrysler at this time. Who was one of the three major automaker automakers during the 20s. The story of immigration to the Midwest specifically Detroit. Begins in Texas. In fact this will be it is Texas that serves as the great hub for the wheel of Mexican labor for the entire United States. Moreover in the 1930s it is the one that is the Texas Mexicans so very proud Texan who provide Interestingly enough most of the leadership for the participation of Mexican-Americans in the U.S. labor movement the packing house workers organizing committee the UAW the

Longshoreman's Union the great strike in San Francisco and San Pedro California. The great. Mining strike. And our so-called NRA strikes so far out of New Mexico. All of these individuals for the most part were. The hunt. That is Texas Mexicans. Today this afternoon I'm going to talk a little bit about the process of immigration to Detroit specifically and then focus in on the repatriation and end with with some comments with regard to the 1930s and the participation of of Mexicans in this large drama. That we know is the Great Depression. Ironically. One of the reasons that I wrote I put together a book on Mexican Detroiters and why I'm getting ready to start another project on Mexican workers during the Great Depression is that I wanted to dispel one of the stereotypes about Mexicans generally when we think of the great depression we think about the repatriation of the deportation that is the

voluntary repatriation and the deportation that is Mexicans who were coerced to leave the United States. And generally Americans only know of Mexican-American through the drama of repatriation. Indeed there was a larger story and I'll talk a little bit about it. At the end of at the end of this larger talks so let me begin at the end of World War One one of the largest regional migration of American workers. Was lost by the expansion of production in steel automobile rubber. And electrical manufacturing in the north with the exception of a growing number of Afro-Americans from the south who would remain in the north. The migration was circular with men and women returning to their places of origin. An estimated 620000 workers moved to northern industrial centers each year between 1920 and 1929. America was on the move. The migrants were traveling to Pittsburgh Chicago and Detroit and other manufacturing cities to fill unskilled factory jobs which were once held by eastern and southern European immigrants.

Recall that America had closed historic immigration from Europe right around the start of World War 1. Subsequently the Immigration Service passed several other laws that make sure that the flow of labor from Europe would no longer. Be a reality. Now the immigrants had constituted a large portion of the American workforce in book production and that production job since the late 19th century. But the changes in immigration policy of course changed all of this. The continuing shortage of unskilled workers caused by production needs and restrictions placed on immigration from Europe. Prompted northern employers to send labor agents to recruit Mexicans in Texas. Labor contacted agencies and San Antonio also recruited Mexican for employment outside the Lone Star State. Throughout the 1920s and continuing well into the post world war two years. Texas was the greatest contributor of Mexican labor to employers in other states. Indeed the sheer numbers of the Mexican labor reserve and the Lone Star

State. Made it the hub on which the wheel of the Mexican population in the United States we've all now I have to mention here the role that Mexican immigration played indirectly. In. Speeding up. The great black migration northward because it's cotton and black migrants headed east Texas and is caught with spreading. Through the state of. Texas. The Mexican from south Texas next the cotton. In East Texas. And is. Cotton. Large scale agricultural production of cotton. Relocated in Arizona and California. The Mexican labor became the worker of choice. In large scale agriculture in the southwest. And as I argue in my forthcoming book Mexican labor helps indirectly spur this great black migration northward and. Afro-Americans will continue to appear and reappear in the experiences of Mexicans in the north.

Although eclipsed by the great migration of blacks in terms of the size and magnitude the early Mexican migration to the north represented a shift from patterns which had previously confined Mexicans to the southwest region. Over 58000 Mexican settled in the cities of the Midwest during a 15 year period from the end of World War 1 to the first two years of the economic crisis ushered in by the Great Depression. At this time. Mexicans transform the sugar beet industry by planting European immigrants as the main source of labor. However the most unique case in Mexican employment patterns in the north. Took place when these workers became industrial proletarians. At the end of the founder Bill M.. Packing houses. And. Out of plan. Of the industrial north. Mexicans travel. North on trains as swell to work for the eastern railroad company. These eastern railroad companies had contracted these men in Texas to maintain and repair tracks in the Midwest and in Pennsylvania and New York. For half a century. Mexicans had built

them maintain the train out of the Southwest region. Mexicans would become the main source of labor for many Eastern rail lines. For example in Chicago and then I think 20. 25 percent. One fourth. Of the maintenance of white men there in Chicago. Were Mexicans. Now Mexicans were highly desirable not nearly as low wage labor is that because many had a strong familiarity with the work but continuously replenishing the supply of workers the recruitment the railroads help fix one more variation of Mexican migration routes to the Midwest. Thousands of Mexicans with secure jobs in the steel mills northern steel companies brought Mexicans to the Chicago area. Initially a strikebreakers during the great 1990s still strikes. However. Mexicans played a minor role. In comparison to the Afro Americans who were recruited into this very bad episode in American labor history 30000 Apple Americans were used during the great nationwide steel strike. And

more over the Southern and Eastern European immigrants suffering from historical amnesia failed to forget. As they faced these Afro-American strike strikers. Strikebreakers I should say as well as some Mexicans that they too have played a similar role at the turn of the century as scabs. Nonetheless by the mid-twenties with the adoption of the eight hour day and adjustment to the three hour shift schedule found that Mexicans were working in the fuel mills of the region some employers thought Mexican labor Interestingly enough to reduce their black workforce. Mexicans were used by the United States Steel Corporation in some of its plants to dilute its black workforce which had grown by leaps and bounds. And now by steel workhorse I'm talking about the one in the Great Lakes region. It has shifted from Pennsylvania now to the Great Lakes region that is the center of the oil production in the United States. Expanding family and friendship

networks to plan the recruitment as the basis for the movement north which became self-perpetuating. Mexicans utilize these reciprocal networks to share information about job opportunities. And to participate in the decision making process before during and after the migration to the Midwest. The search for a better life had been extended more than 1000 miles. Out of sight of Texas to the north. And the 4th driving the Mexicans to the Midwest was not a movement out of economic necessity. A lot of them could have just stayed in Texas and let the well the well do many of them were searching for economic betterment. In other words look looking to. Find. Suitable employment. That would get them. Kind of income above the minimum standard of living. As I said. They could have stayed in Texas and gotten that minimum standard of living. Dynamic. Detroit became a favorite destination to the Mexicans not venturing north. Detroit was the center of all automobile manufacturing. The nation's largest industry. Henry

Ford. Mass production of automobiles had contributed dramatically in making Detroit the worldwide symbol of modern technological progress with a promise to bring good wages. Mexicans journeyed to southeastern Michigan to seek work. In the car factory from Detroit as well as Pontiac Flint. And Saginaw Michigan. I might add that 200 well-trained highly educated Mexicans also came north to enroll in Henry Ford's trade school to become a technician and also to man the dealerships in Latin throughout Latin America. Interrupted briefly by the 19 20 21 depression a steady stream of Mexicans flowed into Michigan it discernible pattern of internal migration from city to city within the Midwest region had been developed by the migrants from Mexico that coincided with and was tied to the cycles of employment. Of the respective labor sector. Now one of the characteristics about the population of Mexicans in the north is the high transiency. Even today when we think about Mexicans well very highly. I translate that specifically for the

1920s. The Mexicans in terms of their mobility patterns are extremely high. They were just mirroring what other workers were doing the fact that workers indeed were quite on the move because job opportunities were beginning to shrink. By the by the end of the 1920s. Who. Were these migrants. Well the majority of the migrants keep without me for West Central Mexico and we're young single men from all economic backgrounds. For example farmers miners blacksmith garage mechanics and grocery clerks all came to work in the car factories of Detroit. Newspaper men college students from Boston College here and government workers also came for a small number of the migrants were educated middle class professionals. They were seeking opportunities in the Motor City which the upheaval of the Mexican Revolution had prevented them from realizing in their home country. Altogether by 1928 there were something like 15000 Mexicans in Detroit neighboring Chicago which had five. Mexican communities that had five separate Mexican

colonies had 16000. So Detroit had the second largest population of Mexicans in the Midwest. The Mexicans who settled in Detroit and accepted the work rigors of the car factories were progressively bound to a way of life dominated by the auto industry through hard work. Many became habituated to one type. Of industrial employment. Like their countrymen working another factory employment sectors Mexican Detroiters were cognisant of the hierarchy of labor they were creating in the north and the social status which accompany the different kinds of work. By the middle of the 1920s shuk divisions and employment had developed among Mexicans their social standing among their compatriots in the northern colonies was based on such factors as the wage scale. They had attained the work they performed. And the reputations of the companies which employed now not urban life was part of the larger process of industrialization that Mexicans encountered in the north. It had as much impact on the Mexican immigrants as there did it did work in the railyard packing houses steel

mills. And car plants. Their settlement in predominately ethnic working class communities. Expose them to a lifestyle determined by the work rhythms of the nearby factory. The northern colonies differed with economic social political and cultural life of each city in which Mexicans settled. Families of these workers cannot always depend on the earnings of one breadwinner so to offset living costs. Some women entered domestic clerical and factory employment. By the close of the 1920s. Mexican women were working in Detroit auto plants. Adding yet another dimension to the history of these Midwestern Mexican proletarians. Material well-being and consumerism were a central feature of 1920s working class culture. My study shows that like most workers. Mexicans would accept the conditions on the job as a tradeoff for an American standard of living with its emphasis on mass consumption. Identification with the popular culture of the period. Urban Scene from stylish dress to downtown excursions introduce changes as well in the immigrant social

structure. Some women especially the younger ones challenge values and norms stipulating conformity and proper behavior of women. Just as the work life of Mexicans change with their entrance into industrial work. The social realm was also undergoing change by exposure to the cities they encountered in the north. In short I argue that the experience of Mexicans in Detroit is indeed unique and so at the expense of Mexicans in Chicago. The industries of the respective cities that. Cuvier and particular urban culture of the city of the North of course delineated the experience of these Mexicans. In other words we're looking at a very differentiated. Urban experience of Mexicans and if you compare the experience of Mexicans in the Midwest to those of the Southwest we do see tremendous contrasts. Now let's move on to the Great Depression. Mexican workers in the Midwest lost her job as deal in automobile manufacturing shut down following the market crash of 1929. Those who survived the wave of job cuts work two and three day schedules and we definitely accepted pay

reduction for the privilege of having a job. Working class expectations which rose in proportion to wages in the 20s plummeted for Mexicans in the 1930s an undetermined number of Mexicans left Detroit on their own. At the first signs of economic downturn just as they had during the 1927 recession and that 19 20 21 depression. They joined the exodus of Mexicans leaving the Midwest which included unemployed steel workers and railroad workers from Illinois Indiana and Ohio and sugar workers from throughout the region who were released from the labor contract. As the crisis deepened and factory jobs became scarce. Many unemployed American workers in the Midwest began to blame Mexicans for the ills of the Depression. They believe that the majority of the Mexicans were unfairly receiving relief and being retained by employers so they could have a cheap and tractable source of labor. Once again as during the 19 2021 depression Mexicans were cast in their perennial role as scapegoat. For the economic hard times. Although there was hostility directed at all foreign alien

and naturalized immigrants at this time. Much of this. Hostility was aimed. At Mexicans. Moreover White Americans fail to distinguish between Mexicans who were citizens and those in the country illegally. And those who were undocumented. In short all became. Mexican. The sharp decline of the auto industry and Detroit fiscal crises precipitated Mexican repatriation. The catastrophic situation in Detroit during the Great Depression is the key to understanding the hardships Mexicans faced the city the problems with mass unemployment developed throughout the year 1930. At the beginning of 1931 nearly two hundred and fifty thousand workers were idle and unemployment rate and the unemployment rate in Detroit. Was a whole range of about thirty two point four percent. Large crowds of jobless workers who assembled expectantly expectantly excuse me at public and private employment bureaus. At the city's Department of Public Welfare relief's stationed at factory gates were on street

corners became common in the motor city. The sudden drop in total employment. The Ford Motor Company reflected the devastating effects. Of the depression upon Detroit. In mid-December of 1929. Employment at the Ford plant at about 100 thousand workers by spring of 1931. Ford Motors had 84000 men. On the payroll at the River Rouge plant. And the Highland Park plant. By late summer only 37000 autoworkers were on the job with Ford Motors. However half of these men. Were on a three day workweek. So the figures again are illusory. Circumstances in Detroit grew progressively worse. And Mexican autoworkers were resigned to the city's economy not improving. Many found it impossible to survive. Rent Payments and grocery accounts were passed due and furniture was repossessed. The few Mexicans fortunate enough to draw public assistance were struck from the welfare rolls when private and public relief efforts failed. What is going on here in Detroit like other major cities is it

is a fiscal crisis. The fact that Detroit is running out of money. And is in hock up its up to its ears to New York banks. Banks of course floating huge loans too to the Motor City. Mexicans found it difficult to qualify for relief because of discrimination and mandatory citizenship requirement. Even though the Mexicans in Detroit had the highest naturalization rates of all Mexicans in the United States at this time. They still find it difficult to get on the dole. In early 1931 Detroit officials agreed to participate in a statewide program of Mexican repatriation in an attempt to eliminate a potential relief problem. The Mexican artist Diego Rivera. And the newly formed. The League of Mexican workers and peasants of Detroit had appealed to the governor of Michigan to initiate a statewide repatriation program. The fact that these ethnic communities in this case Mexicans. They came together they coalesce. And first sought self help. In other words they approached

the governor of Michigan and asked him. To help them. Return the most needy of their countrymen. Back. To Mexico. As the repatriation program begins to. Take a life of its own. The United States government will begin to play a larger and larger role in this entire removal process. City officials however quickly grew dissatisfied with the slow pace of removing hundreds of impoverished Mexicans. Confronted with a rapid increase in the number of requests for aid. The Department of Public Welfare of Detroit began to coerce those who applied for relief to accept repatriation. And this is a pattern that you'll find throughout the Midwest. The relief agencies the caseworkers offer Mexican. Only one choice. Repatriate that is repatriate volunteer Carol-Lee or fee. Your chances of getting relief. Be diminished or almost become nonexistent. Now of course the Mexican government helped in this process as well as it did in the 1920

21 depression. Let me add something here. Again usually in terms of in terms of our knowledge of this whole process we tend to focus in on the repatriations of the 1930s. But already America and the United States government had had a dress rehearsal if you will with regard to deportations of Mexicans because in 1920 1921. There was a major nationwide repatriation program that eliminated large numbers of Mexicans from the United States. Now repatriation is extremely important. In terms of the larger history of Mexican. For example the populations of Mexicans in the Midwest these communities that were established in 1972 were destroyed in 1921 in 1923 they're rebuilt only to be destroyed once again in 1929. So the numbers of Hispanics or number of Mexicans in the Midwest and other parts of the country as well would be much greater. Had not had not been for these two of them early in the 20th century. And moreover the

continuing role of the United States government each time it finds itself in an economic crises to come into these Mexican working class communities and round up Mexican at will almost and deport them to Mexico. The tragic thing about this removal is that many of the folks that they rounded up were U.S. citizens. The Mexicans came together and they helped themselves the Workers League of Detroit made up predominantly of auto workers from the Ford Motor Company quite fortunate to have a job came together to help the less fortunate make their way back. To. Mexico. Now Diego Rivera had. Something in the removal of his countrymen from Detroit the fact that the government of Mexico was beginning to develop its Northern Territory. There in Mexico proper and what it was what it was. Essentially trying to promote was the development of workers cooperatives.

Now the Mexican government had always had its. Eye. On Mexican workers. In fact the Mexican industrial workers would be the vanguard that would ruin the country of Mexico into the 20th century. Why. Because many of these folks had factory experience had tremendous experience with the American economy. And of course. Would. Lend their hand to help bring Mexico as I say into the 20th century. So of course Mexico played very careful attention to those countrymen that were in the United States. There was a tremendous dysfunction in Detroit with regard to the repatriation. Most of the attention came from the Communist Party. In the form of the International Labor defense. Digger that I had become a special target of this radical organization protestations. In its push to organize protests and demonstrations against. The city and the auto industry the international labor defense was deeply

involved in striving to gain the interest and support of Detroit working classes including the besieged Mexican circulars were written in Spanish by the IDF which attacked the repatriation program. And criticized the work of Diego Rivera and Baliga. That is the workers League the Detroit chapter. Charge that Diego Rivera was the renegade of the Communist Party a renewal of the attack on the Mexican artists want earlier at New York City's John club by Communist Party member William Dunne editor of The Daily Worker. So what what was happening here in Detroit was that the Communist Party with can be really bad at it and just come back from New York and was now. Encamped there in Detroit. And of course the I'll be the communist party found Rivera out. Now many Detroit that is American Detroiters perceive the repatriation program as just another cost cutting measures to deal with the fiscal crisis. A money saving device. However the repatriation program was marred by uncounted civil

rights violations of Mexican Mexican repatriation became a sort of panacea if you will for the economic crisis but to believe that repatriation could solve the depression on a local level within the illusory. If the repatriation program had ever really been a humanitarian effort as well as a method of cutting relief costs. The trainloads lot. Removal of Mexicans and the cruel and arbitrary withdrawal of their rights as free individuals. Have been somewhat mitigated. Now coercion was the primary method used to convince Mexicans in Detroit and elsewhere in the Midwest that repatriation was a feasible option to relief. As the crisis deepened the level of coercion increased in each location in proportion to its joblessness and the fiscal status. Of the municipality in the industrial north. For example. In St. Paul Minnesota. The movement to deport Mexicans was underscored by efforts to remove these workers from heretofore undesirable field jobs. Labor now coveted by beleaguered unemployed white workers.

In Chicago Ind.. Mexicans left with the first signs of the downturn of the steel industry. Subtle pressure was placed on those stained to persuade them to accept repatriation. Mexican family were grudgingly given assistance but only after enduring considerable harassment by case workers in Gary Indiana Mexican families were automatically cut from welfare rolls. If they refuse to participate in the city's repatriation program. So there was a pattern. Of. Coercion. Of. Making the Mexican. Convincing them. That the best solution to their plight was to leave the region entirely altogether. About fourteen hundred and 26 Mexicans were repatriated from the city of Detroit. In addition to this there were hundreds that repatriated from other cities outside of Detroit Flint Saginaw Bay City for example. What happened here is almost all of the communities in the Midwest are cut either by two thirds or one third as I said earlier.

The Mexican community. The inroads that these individuals make. The friendship with ethnic group with Afro Americans all of that. Was destroyed was put on a standard by the repatriation program. I might add that by 1932. America reached a peak in terms of repatriation of Mexicans altogether something like 300000. Were repatriated. The figure is as high as a half million but the accurate figures 300 thousand. This is the official figure. In that year. And repatriation in 1932 However repatriation with regard to the labor movement continues all through the 1930s and well into World War II specifically. Mexican-Americans that is US citizens of Mexican extraction are hounded into the world war two years. In fact many of them are drummed out of the U.S. armed forces because of their participation in the labor movement. Earlier in the late 1930s and early 40s. So repatriation continues and deportation continues to become a

a hobgoblin of sorts. For. Mexican specifically the labor movement. You'll see the figures show that repatriation is concentrated in those areas where Mexicans are organizing. The key leaders of labor organizations are singled out or identified singled out and deported. Right which becomes an inconvenience because these are U.S. citizens but it will take you about two weeks to a month depending on the bureaucracy to get back across the U.S. border and into the southwest. So it was a nice convenient way. To slow down. The labor movement at least the participation of Mexicans in the labor movement. What. We do. OK. Let me just close here. I guess I'm in between projects. And my next project is. Mapping out the participation of Mexican-Americans in the labor movement. And what I did is basically pick strike. A major strike.

In American labor history in which there was participation. By Mexican-Americans. For example of the little steel strike in South Chicago. Many of those individuals. A good percentage of those individuals who went up to the gates of South Republic Steel were indeed Mexican-American. If you look at the LaFollette hearing. The reports that were coming out of the field said if the workers were high on marijuana. And what was happening was that these Mexicans. Largely Mexicans were chanting CIO CIO many of them carrying the American flag. The packing workers organizing committee. Had. A large number. Of Mexican-Americans. St. Paul Minnesota Omaha Nebraska specifically Kansas City where 10 percent. Of meatpackers. Were Mexican. And of course we can't forget Chicago. Mexicans of course nationwide. Launch. The major strike period of the early years of the Great Depression. The so-called NRA strikes and those that

preceded the NRA. I'm thinking specifically of the. Great agricultural strikes of the fam joaquín and imperial battle. Once the NRA was passed as the garment industry moved into the southwest because the labor was cheaper. Women once again Mexican women especially begin to play a large role especially in the Lone Star State as industrial workers. They become garment factory workers. Moreover they begin to organize themselves under the auspices of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union there in San Antonio El Paso and Los Angeles. If we look at Gallup New Mexico we see that the national miners comes in and begins to lead Mexican workers in a fight again at the local coal company. Even though the coal industry is a big industry. And the fact. That the United Mine Workers of America is somewhat weakened by this point. And of course the march inland by Harry Bridges and the CIA all. Mexicans. And Hispanics played a significant role in the march in line specifically

with the union power. Another thing that's quite prominent about the 1930s that I haven't figured out is the participation of of Mexican-American women. For example in New Mexico. We have Luth Salazar who was deported who had the Spanish speaking workers only. A Mexican-American Labor Organization numbering ten thousand. Colorado and New Mexican Spanish speaking workers. That is one third of the Spanish speaking workforce in Colorado New Mexico and in New Mexico belong to this Workers League. Guy who was a member of the national executive board of the Workers Alliance. Ran for Congress as a communist in 1939 from Texas. And also wrote a seminal article on Mexicans and the national question in the journal the communist. Of course looked at Marshall. A social worker from Chicago. Who was part of the little fieldtrip played a tremendous role in the little steel strike. And of course we saw Moreno.

Who was also deported. Who helped found the Spanish speaking Congress founded in Los Angeles by fifteen hundred Mexicans and other Spanish speaking workers from throughout the United States. Also a organizer for the CIO who jumped ship to work with Uka paua Mexican-Americans during the 1930s also participated in Labor's nonpartisan league the league against war and fashion fascism were largely involved in the Scottsboro campaign as well. So indeed the Mexicans that meet the histories that I'm trying to dig up shows that Mexican-Americans indeed were part of this great experience that we know as the Great Depression. But moreover the larger American spirit. And I believe now in what to say next. For the slide. This kind of abbreviated talk this morning. It wouldn't get someone to work with fly abroad and fly to give you a visual here to give you an idea of what

what was going on. Not only in Detroit. But. This is a map here that traces domestic migration as well as migration in the 20th century by Mexicans. So you can see the larger contours here. And of course throughout time it changes of course right by region within Mexico. Next. Here is the Mexicans in the urban centers of the Midwest. This is exclusive of the Mexicans that were out in the sugar field. And the Mexicans had created a new labor frontier in the Midwest. They had become the main source of agricultural workers here in the north. This is the kind of jobs that Mexicans have. And again most of them were machine hand. And machine Kinders. Category that really really really didn't have any value. These were artificial categories here at this

time in the fall. But give you give you an idea nonetheless of how these workers fared at the fort at the port plant next. I have a section on race class and ethnicity in my book project and I compare black Afro-American and Mexican on the shop floor. In 1928. This is at the ford River Rouge plant and you can see it's a 5 percent sample of the respective group. Out. Of the Detroit News. 1926. The number of Mexicans beginning to grow once again in three years they would tripled to 15000 the person here with a bit of a. Spectacle of the glasses here is a student at the head for a trade school. Here's the repatriation. There's a lot of news favorite specifically out of the Detroit times that ran theory not only on the repatriation but also on Diego Rivera the hullabaloo around the murals at the Detroit

Institute of Art painted of course by Ribeira. Repatriation out of Los Angeles. Los Angeles a major clearing house for the Patriots. They're funneled essentially through Los Angeles workers from as far away as Montana Idaho coming through Los Angeles. Other workers were channeled through El Paso and Laredo. To El Paso and through Laredo through Laredo. Chicago went to El Paso on March one of the first marches by packing house workers back out workers specifically. In Chicago. The great strike you can see on the radiator some one in L.A. You have the L.A. contingent of Chicanos going into the valley to organize workers. Another. Convoy. Going into the valley. Then walking. And then strategies in terms of calling out the scab telling the people to leave the field.

Are using trumpet because there's a huge landscape right. They didn't have found at least in this incident. That of course the violence that these workers confronted specifically the bloody strike farmworkers strike in California. This is a Mexican who has realized that he's shot and he's dying. This is a pixie California who will subsequently die pretty stunned by what happened Delap New Mexico. You can see two two workers shot one stabbing and strike flare up. A lot of violence there. Was a flyer that I got from the National Archives the national miners union helped organize these workers and you can see this flyer is in English. The fact that these workers spoke English as well as Spanish there were bilingual. Workers in San Antonio early 30s Mexican-American organizing against the car company in San Antonio.

Hamilton of Uka the great labor organizer from San Antonio who by the way is very much alive in San Antonio. A member of the Communist Party probably one of the more articulate Mexican-Americans of the 1930s and very theoretically astute as well. Here we have the shock from of course the infamous Littlefield's strike. And there's a shot of loop that Marshall the Chicano social worker confronting the police of all places in a magazine that I picked up. What have women done which is a pictorial FAA on women and the labor movement. And there's a nice shot of move that Marshall is well done. By what has happened. And I'm pleading with a policeman to stop. The stop the violence. Paramount Pictures by the way they filmed all this. You probably familiar with that. Mr. Seltzer's Murray Navarrete burst into Congress. Actually I believe. I should. I think that's it. Or there may be a couple of more. Congressmen Murray maverick from

San Antonio first in the Congress after you've seen the footage from Paramount Studios. I'm a little feel like he was totally aghast shocked by what he had to. In a nutshell that's essentially a. Quite a. Quite a story. Yeah. Yeah. Let's. Take a break. Well. Let's. Try to. Get. Back to what you have to get back. I don't want to borrow. In the gutter with chicken pox. I just found out. You can. And your questions. Yes. The great the great agricultural strikes in California particularly does not strike which was it was the first time the largest agricultural strike in American history involving 20000 workers. But it was largely down in the Imperial Valley strikes were largely controlled and orchestrated by the Mexican-Americans.

And then three BP members have been back for over a decade. You had chambers I've read that the movement established there the labor movement establishing the agricultural industry telephony was largely destroyed by the influx of those poor migrants and that was one of the reasons that they were able to move the Mexicans out. Right. Right. The organizing effort in the valley at least for the moment triggered to begin in 1928 like by Mexico and then the Agricultural the city the organization the agricultural workers. I can't remember the act alone so long that they come in and out. It's really remarkable the framework of so many of these individual problems some of the members of the Communist Party. Who came in. And facing tremendous obstacles. Especially that. Eminent death or at least orchestrated. Not so much work and that orchestrated the huge strikes that took place in the San Joaquin and in Imperial Valley.

As you said correctly by upwards of 20000 workers in an area spanning over a hundred miles. And the fact that you know the input from outside was very minimal. Today. And that's what happened back of all of the thousands. I'm. Proud. To be able to get to me as well as the Mexican government. None of that was realized. Many of the worker cooperatives didn't have feet and have fun with them and there was no water and word spread through the network. And the Mexicans turned around and also wrote letters back from the border saying don't come. Stop. Stay there. And Rivera and the Mexican council there in Troy also changed their tune and began. They began to encourage the Detroiters to stay there. Of course a lot of them stayed but the course that many of them many of them left the Midwest.

Why they were habituated to the cycles of industry they knew the ups and downs. This time however they got the error in terms of the duration they thought it was going to be short lived. Now based on past year we've made a deal. With. Yeah. It's quite a dramatic story. One thing was it took a life of its own. The police department would come here for example in Dearborn. And this happened in Dearborn Detroit and Chicago where either government agents or local police officials would come in and workers. Of course he says I live here. You know I belong here. I have my family. They just come out of the house and if he didn't come peacefully the entire family and I might add. There was a lot of intermarriages at the time as well as in Chicago. So many Americans that is not Mexican. Why that is on.

Follow their man to Mexico and their children of course. You were born. Of. Know personal. Involvement in the black in the current I've heard about. They all refer to patterns of industrial discrimination that you work in certain jobs. Just look at the county level shows that weren't actually that many of them. So let me say this all along. The problem for this when we found we're thinking of River Rouge over 100 1000 working in the late 20s the roof falling. Thirty thousand. Men and found this wasn't a small enterprise. There's. Reason to live. And because of. All mexicans and Afro-Americans and Polish-Americans some ethnic group as recent arrivals in the were but.

The workers manipulated the jobs. For example there were so-called battles. With line jobs and workers. Workers know that. Those with a tough job. If you worked in a foundry you had. Duration of employment. To work with. And that was the whole idea that employment. And look how long it took to fire up the last print. You just don't shut down black for something like two weeks to fire it up. So the farm remained remained open in terms of employment and everybody else on the dole the folks who still were there was going to be pushing to get laid in an area where there were strikes in terms of community. For example Chicago in Indiana harbor some of the ethnic groups expressed animosity. Detroit was essentially an open shop town. Another thing you have to

remember about the Midwest was it was actually it was an ethnic region. Cities like Detroit. Why you have any population over 30 percent. That is one third of their collar. Citizens were. African-American and black. There was let's say a mutual understanding if you will that that the system basically didn't work for them. And again black Mexican relations are different from community to community. For example in Ohio the Afro-Americans were quite upset that the Mexicans were brought in and they were brought in essentially to replace. Or could dilute the scholars say today who the f American women. Chicago another totally different story because of poor concentration exclusion the segregation of Chicago. So Mexicans didn't have that much contact

with in the community with Afro-Americans. They did. In the shop. But not in the neighborhood. So it varies. Yeah. I'm glad you asked that question going over material I don't know whether this is where any anyone has investigated attached to your question. But the early morning under President Herbert Hoover for example the Reconstruction Finance Corporation that went to the city in the Midwest a lot of this money went. To pay for the deportation of Mexicans. So I don't know. I don't know if that was legal or not. If you know because it was allocated toward the city. It's kind of a unique relation that the Mexicans have

with the United States. The Southwest the wall of Mexico. Many of these immigrants knew about the Mexican War. Many of them because of their maltreating treatment in the United States. So. Many of them didn't file papers or became citizens What for. You know it doesn't make any difference I think you got a Americans being treated just as badly. Does citizenship is not considered. And of course the Afro-American so many of them refuse to take take out we will pay them. And this would. This would haunt them especially with the WPA. Many of the WPA job also many of the birth. We're. We're with Midway. The fact that many of them didn't have the money to get a birth certificate or get the official papers from the hospital with regard to to to birth to actual birth. Another thing that happens I think there was a question with regard to the the Dust Bowl migration. In relation to the strike. In California. When we think of the Dust Bowl migration we think of oh we do not generally think of.

Picking up and moving moving to California. Interestingly enough there was also a brown Dust Bowl migration. Because we have Mexican-American because of the agricultural Adjustment Act. And the whole thing of the whole under-powered. A farming cotton. By reducing one source of family or Mexicans in Texas. They pick up and move off to California and in towns like Bakersfield to LA Fresno. All of the towns in the San Joaquin Valley for example mean you care about our original Mexican-American culture. So again that is another episode that is left out of the larger picture of the so-called migration. The fact that Mexicans were part of the great migration to California. Yes. Right.

More and more the Mexican farm worker was becoming involved in the labor movement. Brett Kirk you're correct they were not there. In fact Gregory one of the scholars that you've invited is author of the migration talks a lot about harmonious relations between white migrants and Mexican. He calls them his fans in the FSA. Down. There in California. The fact that they lived together. For. A. While. Well that's the group right now that came into play with the U.S.

Navy. The fact that Puerto Rican the major ethnic. Groups. Have no identity. They're all in the larger rubric. You are Mexican Mexican-American comprised two thirds of the Latino population. But. Back. We have to find a presenter's in this time since I don't have. A plan for leaving. People don't have to put in here.

I thought we would but let's. Let our final presenter speak to us since since their presentations will be very complimentary. And then we can address questions to both simultaneously. First is Professor David Lewis who is the author of the public image of Henry Ford and professor at Michigan University School of Business Administration. And is extremely knowledgeable about the resources that we can. Employ to tell some of my story. I was born in Detroit in this period. I trained for over two years or so my friend used to come. First. I'd like to say that I've read Steve's treatment

program one perilous journey and I like it. I agree with its premise that Henry Ford personifies the 1914 1929 era. As well as any single person can. And that the auto industry's growth during this period. Is there a magic of the promise and perils of American prosperity. I also feel that Steve's treatment captures the spirit of the era. And Ford's role in it. You're off to an excellent start. When I handed the manuscript of my first book on Henry Ford to the editor she's a cautious 60s woman. Highly intelligent no nonsense said and. I hope you have not exaggerated Henry Ford's importance. You have only to tell the truth about him. The truth will be big enough. She was quite right. And today there will be no exaggeration. May I read to you the first paragraph of

that book because I think it provides a quick summation of Henry Ford. Henry Ford It states one of the world's best known industrialist wielded an extraordinary influence on the American scene. His model T mass production methods and wage price theories revolutionized American industry and reverberated around the world. And indigenous folk hero for to field to millions of his countrymen because in their view he succeeded through his own creativeness and hard work. And by supplying the product to meet the public's desires. Rather than by manipulating money or people. He was also admired despite his great wealth for having retained the common touch. Ask asking his fifty first birthday in 1914 to cite the greatest handicap of the rich. He replied. For me it was when Mrs. Ford stopped cooking regarded as an industrial Superman

and believed by many to typify American civilization and genius. He reminded people of an earlier simpler society. End of introduction. Next a glance at various facets of Henry Ford's career. Personality and character. So that you will better understand him. Ford was a late starter for him life began at 40. Born in 1863 he was unknown outside of Detroit until 1991. When his racing exploits placed his name on the sports pages. He made two false starts as an auto manufacturer before founding the Ford Motor Company in 1983. Within a decade he had acquired will have become the auto industry's dominant figure. And had gained a measure of national prominence. In 1914 Ford became an overnight international celebrity. By more than doubling the wages of most of his workers. His prime extended

into his late 60s and perhaps would have lasted longer had it not been for the Great Depression. Even so Ford remained vigorous and continued to guide and personify his company into his 80s. Controversy and paradoxical colorful Henry Ford was an enigma. Endlessly fascinating. And idealistic pioneer in some respects. He was a cynical reactionary in others. Although it's worth noting that he was far more idealistic than cynical before 1919 and for more of a pioneer than the reactionary before 1929. Ford was ignorant narrow minded. And stubborn. Yet at times displayed remarkable insight vision. Open mindedness and flexibility. His personality was communion like. Mecurio unpredictable history he proclaimed as more or less both.

And yet he went on to Bill one of the great depositories Konna. Greenfield Village and the Henry Ford Museum. He constructed the world's biggest factory yet found delight in building water power plants that employed as few as 11 workers. Highly sympathetic toward African-Americans. He was known as a persecutor of Jews. He did not believe in organized charity and yet gave millions. To good works. The list can go on and on. How one asks himself did such a man rise to the heights. Ford had several outstanding qualities. He had named even intelligence and common sense. Even though the latter sometimes failed him. He had an intuitive mind which leaped beyond the present. He had a special engineering talent that combines creativity with practicality. He also had a remarkable memory and missionary zeal. And a lifelong

capacity for a hard work. Especially think in which he called the hardest work there is and then added. That's why there is so little of it. Ford shunned the conventional vices although there is strong circumstantial evidence that he fathered an illegitimate son in 1923. The person in question John Dillinger. In 1978 authored a book The Secret Life of Henry Ford. In which he Privett presented his views on the matter. Most of them correct in my opinion. Ford also had or made his share of good luck. His entry into auto making and the introduction of his Model T were perfect put the time and. He was teamed by accident with James Cousins spelled CEO you Zeniths. Who his business manager contributed as much as Ford to the company's early success.

Finally Ford married a woman Clara Bryant who understood and complimented him. Three years younger than her husband. She was convinced from the time they were married in 1888. That her husband would accomplish something notable. Ford called her the believer. Henry sweetheart in springtime as a nurse during the autumn years. His companion in all seasons Clairette and courage and stood by her husband for fifty nine years. Clara could not prevent her husband's frequent the harsh treatment of their only son Edsel. But she deeply resented it. A word on that. Born in 1893 Edsel grew up with the Ford Company. He was named president of the firm in 1918. But remained always in his father's shadow. Comfort and respect that he gradually gained responsibility for styling sales and advertising but never for labor relations engineering

or manufacturing. In the 1930s the company would have benefited greatly had been allowed to assume his aging father's mantle. Henry Ford's favorable public image was built on a foundation stones or achievements. Now cite them briefly and then discuss each. Number one. Selden the LDN patent suit which centered around Ford is very right to build cars. Number two the model T. Number three the moving assembly line and mass production which brought on Americas affluence and the age of mass consumption. Number for. Fords wage price policies most notably the $5 the. Number five the so-called peace ship. Number six the Dodge brothers lawsuit against Ford.

Number seven Fords 1920 one triumph over Wall Street. Number 8 8. The model a. Arguably the best car ever built. Pound for pound dollar for dollar. In addition to these basic building blocks. Ford's reputation also was enhanced by his construction of the world's largest auto plant in Highland Park Michigan and the world's largest industrial complex on the banks of Dearborn's Rouge River. Plus the fact that Ford was the nation's most innovative railroader. And great lakes shipper. And the world's leading tractor manufacturer and producer of airplanes. He also was a substantial miner of coal and iron ore. And a big timber operator. And in the 1920s built the world's first vertically integrated industrial empire. Now for the Selden patent

suit. In 1903 a powerful syndicate owned the Selden patent which generally was believed to govern the manufacture of all U.S. automobiles. The patent syndicate had issued licenses to nearly all of the country's leading automakers. But refused to issue one to fledgling Ford. Saying that the company did not have the potential to build cars. Ford made unlicensed cars anyway and was sued by the syndicate. It was a case of David and Goliath but after eight years of litigation for one true. Ever After. He was credited with liberating the auto industry and described it as a giant killer. A symbol of revolt against a monopoly and as a magnificent individual as. The model T was a breakthrough car. Just the kind of simple utilitarian

dependable vehicles Americans needed at a time of poor roads. In the Model-T Ford had an Aladdin's lamp. Which needed to be a rubber vigorously to produce a long career. Of industrial growth. Fame and prosperity. The model T's life span 19 years exceeded that of any other car until surpassed by the Volkswagen Beetle and the TTYs total sales 15 million stood until bested by the beetle in 1973. That unquestionably helped to change America's psychology manner and mores. Plus the national economy. And as I think most of you are aware there is more expansion footage. On the Model-T than any other artifact of the era that might be named. Best production automotive style was developed at Ford's Massif Highland Park plant in 1912

1913. Ford was not the first to use production methods. But he was the first to make use of them in audio production. Mass production was a manufacturing breakthrough the likes of which have not been seen before or since. Automation robots. Japan's so-called lean production notwithstanding. In this context it also may be noted that it was Ford not the Japanese which developed just in time production. As readily admitted by Toyota's founder. Which. Who was the first to apply it in Japan. Ford's $5 8 hour day was the shot heard round the world. And has been aptly described by the London Economist as they quote. The most dramatic event in the history of wages uncle. It will remain the most dramatic event until a firm of Ford size in importance in 1914.

Overnight more than doubled its wages and reduces its workday by one hour. Let's not hold our breath. Significantly the $5 day promptly made every Ford worker a potential customer. For the product. He built. Auto workers in many countries Brazil Taiwan Argentina. Korea for example still. Are not. The $5 day was one of the biggest news stories. Of the 20th century. Too many newspapers. It was an economic second coming. And of course the news redounded to the great credit of Henry Ford. To be sure a few newspapers carped about the $5 day. The Wall Street Journal warning that the scheme would lead to material financial and factory disorganisation. And the New York Times anticipating serious disturbances. To follow from a policy which was distinctly utopian and dead against all

experience. Industrial leaders also were dismayed figuring they either have to pay more or face disgruntled workers. On the other hand Ford workers in the general public wildly applauded the $5 day and the man responsible for it. Fountains of frenzy. Job applicant storm Ford's employment gates and had to be fought back with fire hoses in freezing weather. Ford workers were so proud of their employment that there some of these suits food buttons reading I worked for for. The ocean of publicity surrounding the $5 day made food the best known manufacturer in the world. By mid 1914. And this publicity produced an image of Ford as the greatest friend bar none. Of the American working man. Many Americans in fact figured that Henry Ford is. Just like me except that he has a billion dollars. At the time of the $5 day announcement. Ford was shy and modest. But

the publicity changed him. He remained shy but no longer modest. Indeed. He developed an insatiable appetite for headlines and no other executive was allowed to share. Ford's frequent price cuts also with the Talk of the country. Touring car priced at $950 and 7:41. Was reduced to $360 19:15 further reduced to $265 by 1924. To appreciate the impact of Ford's price cuts. Try to think of any other automobile which has been reduced approximately one third in price. Over the last 10 or 15 or 18 years. The ship focused the eyes of the world on Ford and it once was one of his greatest personal disasters. And one of the principal reasons for his popularity with the masses. Ford was a pacifist and was persuaded by other

pacifist to finance a peace expedition to Europe. In a vainglorious attempt to mediate and in World War One. After chartering a ship Ford filled it with peace pilgrims and crackpots then sailed for Norway in November. With the intention of getting the boys out of the trenches by Christmas. The expedition was not only a failure but for a time made for the laughing stock of the world. However public mood toward Ford shifted as people came to realize that his heart was in the right place. And the reason that he deserved respect not ridicule. Or having tried to win the war at a time when most others did nothing in this respect for Ford's idealism unquestionably contributed to his amazing strength as a senatorial candidate in 1918 and the persistent forward for president talk between 1916 and 1924. Pursuit against Henry Ford by the Dodge

brothers John and Horace also did much to brighten Ford's image. As an American folk hero the Dodge's between 1983 and 1918. Own 10 percent of Ford Motor Company. Their suit against Ford originated over Ford's plan conceived in 1915 to greatly expand greatly expand his car making capacity and to suspend all but nominal dividends until his expansion program was complete. This plan didn't sit well with the Dodge's who needed Ford dividends to push forward their own car making program. And they sued Ford asking that the Ford Company distribute as dividends. Most of the company's cash surplus rather than plant expansion. Ford's pretrial statements unprecedented in the business world astonished and delighted the American public. He declared for example that his only aim

in life was to an able. And I quote a large number of people to buy and enjoy the use of a car. And to get a large number of men employment for wages and wages. He said that his company should not make an awful profit unquote on his cars. A reasonable profit is right. He declared that not too much. So it has been my policy he added to force down the price of the car as fast as production would permit and give the benefits to users and laborers. And so this kind of philosophy was heralded very widely to stir up country. The Dodgers won the suit but Henry Ford won from a public relations standpoint. In as much as his views were in Cousy ASC-P he seen by millions of people. Many of his statements were in a sense frosty from the $5 day and the ship cakes. And they served him measurably to identify the industrialist with the best interest

of the common man. Ford also gained in popularity upon scoring a victory over Wall Street in 1921. At the time it was widely thought that Ford was in financial difficulties because of a sales slump and the fact that he needed 25 million dollars to pay off a $60 billion loan he had negotiated in 1918 to buy 100 percent ownership of this company. Wall Street thought it had Henry Ford on his knees. Though when a wall streeter came to Ford's home to extend a little. Ford literally handed him his hat. Vinny shipped to his dealer 65000 and ordered. An unwanted car. The dealers as was the practice in the industry. Had to pay for the vehicles upon arrival. They in turn borrowed from local banks who. Financed repayment of the Wall Street law. For thus compelled his dealers to borrow for them. Sales soon picked up

quickly repaid his debts and had cash on hand. The full story of how Ford had outwitted the bankers was widely publicized throughout the land with scores of editorials crediting the industrialists with the powers of a financial magic magician. People overlook that fact that Ford had shafted his dealers much though in that manner that Wall Street had hoped to put it to him. The model was designed engineered and brought into manufacture within a matter of months and by so small an engineering staff. As to make today's major automakers green with envy. Its introduction in 1927 also generated more hoopla than any other new product launch from that day to this. The car happily fulfilled all expectations and to this day probably represents greater value for the money than any car ever built. Although Ford had lost industry leadership upon discontinuing Model T production in May

1927. He quickly regained it in 1929 and 1930. That's a fact that's often overlooked it seems. But with the Model T he was able to outsell all the GM's five car lines combined in 29 and 30. As for Henry Ford. With all that had gone on prior to that time he had become a demigod to millions of people. Around the world. The Chinese government. Asked him to become its economic advisor. The letter from Sun Yat-Sen written in 1924 is in the Ford archives today Germany's finance minister said that his country would welcome him as an economic dictator and a group of Germans German businessmen suggested that he should become their nation's Kaiser. One wing of Polish monarchist wanted the court to assume their country's throne. Now. All four did when most of his battles. But he also lost some.

He foolishly filed a million dollar libel suit against the Chicago Tribune Tribune in 1916 after the Tribune described him as an enemy of the nation and as an ignorant idealist. The trip to defend itself and this lawsuit. For a million dollars. Had to prove that Henry Ford was an ignorant idealist with emphasis on the word ignorant and it easily did so. On the witness stand. Ford could not say when the United States was created. Nor did he know when the American Revolution was fought. He ventured the year 1812. Benedict Arnold he said was a writer. And so Edwin. Delighted newspaper cartoon showed Ford standing in a corner with a dunce cap on his head. Our writing on the blackboard a thousand times. Benedict Arnold was a traitor. Although many educated people were appalled by Ford's

educational deficiencies the industrialist testimony produced an opposite reaction among millions of common folk. Many Americans knew more of history than Ford. And would have agreed with Ford that history is more or less vote. And would have admitted as Ford did that it was difficult for them to read. In short plane people like Ford all the better. Because he did not have all the answers. Ford won the suit and settled in at six cents the check is something that you can show still had to do it all over. You'd not have filed suit against the Tribune. The mistake of Ford's alive. And the Ford company has had to live with it to this day. Because it is 1920 22 anti-Semitic campaign. The first organized campaign of its kind in U.S. history. Towards anti-Semitism had more of loutishness about it. Than a deep seeded bigotry or malice.

His ignorance for example made it relatively easy for him to conclude. That an international Jewish banking power had started world war one which kept it going. And that Jews were plotting to destroy Christian civilization. Consequently he blamed Jews for many of the nation's ills as he saw them. Ranging from Blue Movies and chance to stick and roll stock in. The auto kings. Views were expressed in a series of 92 articles in his national magazine the Dearborn independent. And these articles later were reprinted in a book The International Jew which was circulated and reprinted around the world. It was never copyrighted deliberately so that it could be picked up and published everywhere and it was. Towards antisemitism ultimately gave Hitler and other anti-Semites a great deal of ammunition for their ravings. Ford in fact. Is the

only American mentioned in the US edition of Hitler's autobiography. Mine come. Eventually Ford was sued by a Jewish individual and forced to settle out of court. For a substantial sum and to issue a public apology to Jews. Probably the first public apology of its kind ever made. Many people congratulated him for apologizing. Many others. In this country of 1927 harangued him for doing so. Ford's attack on Jews have cost the company billions of dollars worth of sales mostly because of boycotts by American Jews. The nations of the Arab League and also because of the legacy has prevented the company from consummate is very advantageous business deals. Although Ford just disparaged Jews he was positively benevolent toward African Americans.

His first African-American employee hired in 1914. Was an old friend with whom he had man a cross-cut saw. In the 1880s. Given that experience Ford believed and later would write. That whites and blacks should cooperate with each other in the same way as people on the ends of the cross cut saw obviously that saw can not be operated by one person. It needs to. Be employed. African Americans and white collar jobs as early as 1917 and by the 1920s had four more African-Americans. In his workforce. Than any other private employer. He put African Americans into skill and semi-skilled jobs even supervisory positions at a time when almost no one else did. He also played African-Americans the

same wages as the whites. Another unusual step. Little wonder that when Ford died the Journal of Negro history. The prestigious publication of the NAACP said that Ford was and I quote a great benefactor of the Negro race probably the greatest that ever lived on the court. As you might imagine received more publicity during the 1920s than any other American except Calvin Coolidge who occupied the presidency for two thirds of that decade. Ford still stands as history's most publicized business figure. Lee Iacocca not accepted. The New York Times for example ran an average of one hundred and forty five Henry Ford stories per year during the 1920s. In Detroit one of the daily newspapers sometimes ran a two column index on its front page entitled What the world is doing to Ford today. Ford's fame led to a spate of books about him.

Seven of them published in 1922 1923 and eight more during the remainder of the 1920s. No other American of the period received so much attention in book form. The great number of newspaper and magazine articles and books about Ford made him the most widely discussed man of his day. Ford himself generated much of his publicity and he had several formulas for doing so. The New York Times as early as 1914 cited two of them. One of them said that times is to do things nobody else does. Which makes news that must be printed. And the other is to do familiar things in unfamiliar ways. And that also makes news of the same sort. Both of these fears the times that he has a real talent. Why not be generous and say a real genius. The newspaper was quite right for again and again. Ford did or said the unexpected are dressed up the commonplace.

The $5 day. The dramatic price cuts. The peace ship the statements made during the dogs suit the maneuvering to meet financial obligations during the post World War One recession. All the fight convention. Sorted bords introduction in 1926 of a five day week for six days paid. His announcement of the $7 wage minimum. After the stock market collapsed in nineteen twenty nine. No it didn't stand against the National Industrial Recovery Act in 1933 and 1934. And the acceptance of a metal from Adolf Hitler in 19 38. Ford also received a great deal of publicity from his personal activities ranging from camping trips with Thomas citizen Harvey Firestone and John Burroughs to his creation and dedication. Of Greenfield Village in the Henry Ford Museum to his promotion of old fashioned dancing and fiddling. He also

was widely publicized because of his interest in Muscle Shoals on the Tennessee River. His employment of the physically disabled convicts and his strongly held views on diet health. Longevity reincarnation and support of full Bishan. As for reincarnation if we may restrain ourselves to this one topic at this time. Ford has cited chicken's behavior when the automobile was new and one of them came down the road he said. A chicken usually with a chicken would run straight for home and usually be killed. But today when a car comes along a chicken will run from the nearest side of the road. That Chicken said Ford has been hit in the ass in a previous life. Ford also was much discussed because of his wealth. Almost every commentator said Ford had more current income than anybody else. There were

however varying opinions as to whether Ford and John D. Rockefeller are an occasional outsider such as Andrew Milham the Nuzum of Hyderabad or the Aga Khan have the greatest fortunes. On other occasions writers occupied themselves with list of what Ford could do with all of his money. He could for example acquire the wheat oats potatoe and tobacco crops of the United States for 19:25. He could pay for candidates imports in 1926 he could buy control of General Motors United States Steel and the New York Central Railroad combined. He could purchase Guatemala Honduras and he put together he could buy up 17 of Great Britain's 17 wealthiest men and so. Many of the articles spoke in very complimentary terms about Ford how Ford acquired his wealth and congratulating him on making so much money in so short a time. So a letter so

far from resenting Ford's Well writers and the public felt that it was about the reward of a poor man. With vision and determination who pay good wages. That lowered his price instead of cheapening his product. Who fought and defeated Wall Street etc.. Inevitably Ford was top ranked and greatest man pools in selections. In 1924 he was ranked by the president of the University of Michigan with Theodore Roosevelt. Orville Wright and Edison as one of the four greatest men of the 20th century. The 1926 Ford play second to Benito Mussolini in a world wide YMCA pool to determine the greatest living man in the world. During the same year America's police chiefs voted for the head of Mussolini as the world's greatest living man. Mussolini made the trains run on time of course in 1927 Ford was ranked second to Edison as the greatest living man by 25 professors at

CCNY. In 1928 Bill Hill New Jersey school boys when asked who would you like to be. If you are not yourself placed only Charles Lindbergh and President Coolidge the head of Ford. During the same year a group of 12 prominent Americans when asked to select 12 living in Markels placed fifth behind Edison. Here's my lady again Albert Einstein and George Bernard Shaw. Abroad. Ford was more highly regarded than any other American. It's almost impossible to overestimate his reputation among foreign businessmen as the apostle of mass production and the common people in all civilized countries look with great favor upon his labor and pricing policies as well as upon the Model T. As for the Great Depression Ford for all of his magic wands had no solution. He did his best. Introducing a $7 day wage minimum on December 1st 1929

while cutting prices on his motley and announcing a program of plant expansion. Each of these acts flew in the face of the conventional wisdom and the actions of others at that time. Meanwhile Ford Perhaps because the model he and his company were doing well during the first year of a depression made a number of statements which will hurt and shock those who saw all around them the full impact of economic stress. We are better off today than we have been for three or four years past Ford declared in August 1930. It was a mighty good thing for the nation that the condition which we misname prosperity could not last. In October 1930 Ford announced that the depression is a good thing. And in March 1931 he added that the average man won't really do a day's work unless he's caught and can't get out of it. And that these are really good times. But only a few people know about it. Ford also endeavored to advise his

countrymen in a series of three open letters published as advertisements and daily newspapers and visit 1932. In the first of these letters he advocated the cultivation of family garden in the second he described the self-help rehabilitation program he had launched in Inkster Michigan a community with many unemployed black Rouge workers. In the third. He endorsed his village industries theory and the idea that with one foot on the land and one foot in industry America is safe. A number of newspapers read in the ads a confession of Ford's failure to meet the depression's problems. Declared the new york times. The fact that he's. The greatest industrialist of the age cannot care for his own employees. But must put them to work cleaning up backyards and roads of the town and working garden indicates all too clearly that the manufacturer has no magic formula for the depths of unemployment nor does the America which he represents. This observation was perceptive.

Far as the depression closed in on the Ford Motor Company in 1931 32 Henry Ford silence was notable especially for a man who normally had hair trigger opinions on any subject. A journalist remarked to Ford's chief press aide that Ford had thought. That he had the answer to depression. Now ask the reporter how does he take it. The aide replied I don't know. He doesn't talk about it much. It's so terrible that I believe he doesn't dare let himself think about it. So Henry Ford here to for a congenital optimist clearly was depressed by the depression. After 1932 Ford's career was anti-climactic. The break in his forward momentum can be attributed to at least two facts. One was his age in 1933 he was 17 albeit a very active 17 of more importance was the depression itself which decimated his company sales

created huge losses. And ruled out any opportunities to expand for an organization. At this point Ford should have retired and devoted himself to Greenfield Village hydro plant soybeans plastics etc. and left running the Ford Motor Company to his son Edsel. But he hung on to the detriment of his reputation. There with the occasional flashes of inspiration but his glory days were over. So were the glory days of the Ford Motor Company. Before concluding I've been asked to name the most important happenings in Ford's life during the Depression. I'll do so now without elaboration because of the time factor. We can further discuss these matters during the question answer period or after our meeting or in future. Among these events are the following number one. Board's key role in Detroit's 1933 banking crisis. Which foreshadowed the national

banking holiday of that year. Number two the hunger march on the River Rouge plant 1932. The march was bloody as we have heard before. Four people killed 20 wounded by German police. Number three Fords refusal to cooperate with the National Recovery Administration. The stubbornness led to a boycott of his products by the Roosevelt administration. And several state governments. Number four Fords fight against organized labor from 1933 until 1941. The highlights being the battle of the overpass at the Rouge plant in 1936 and a strike and National Labor Relations Board elections in 1941. Ford stubbornly refused to accept his workers vote. For the UAW CIO. Even surprisingly gave his workers the most generous labor contract in auto history. Number five Ford's acceptance of a medal from Adolf Hitler already mentioned. And Jews subsequent

boycott of Ford products. Number six Henry Ford's isolationism and initial reluctance to assist in the defense effort which angered a new Roosevelt administration. Number seven the rhetorician of Greenfield Village and Henry Ford Museum and Ford's experiments with soybeans and plastics culminating in the first use plastics in cars and the first plastic body Body car. Nineteen forty one. Number eight. Ford's exhibits at the big World's Fairs and expositions. All major means of escape for Americans from the Great Depression. Ford was the nation's leading exhibitor thanks to Ford's hope that his pavilions might Kindle Fire in young minds and in so doing contracted to repay a debt contracted when he visited the Chicago World's Fair in 1893 number nine Ford's sponsorship of

radio programs during the decade that radio came into its own. Ford also was the first sponsor of World Series broadcast. And also sponsored Fred Waring and his Pennsylvanians earned the fourth Sunday evening hour. And a variety of other programs. Number 10 the establishment of the Ford Foundation in 1936 to minimize. The Ford's inheritance taxes. So much for this city except. To say that I have kept my promise not to exaggerate. Henry Ford's importance. The truth is big enough as I think you will agree. You've got a great ride ahead of him and a corking good vehicle. The film series. To speed you along and best of luck to you as you hit the open road. The old. People just want to stand up and claim not one

thing. Comes. Up. There are. That you take the knowledge to do it. David Moore is currently the director of the senior citizens department city

in Detroit. And before that he was part of George Crockett Congressman George Takei and administrative staff where he worked for 10 years in ministry to the system. And those are just two most recent high points of a career that would be television series that in and of itself. Mr. Bush family Detroit and South Carolina. Correct. Correct. The late 1920s. We witnessed the onset of the depression became a member of the CCC return to Detroit 1935 when he became the point another company was acting near Union activities for more than one. That just gives you a clue how much he can tell. So I will start stop talking and let can begin.

Number one I chose to sit down because I feel as though there's a great future and bandage and sitting down. I go back to the sit down strikes by those black women and white men in Detroit in 1937 in the five and ten cent stores on Woodward Avenue. When I go back to the sit down strikes up in Flint Michigan in 1937 and I go back to the sit down a bold brave young black man in North Carolina read the ending of the civil rights movement. And I go back to the sit down of Mrs. Rosa Parks and that bus down in Alabama. So I'd say that's a great virtue as an advantage. That being said I know that some of you say well stand up and be counted. I'd rather sit down and be mouthy. I have a very I want to bring you greetings from former

Congressman George W. Crockett to the congressman for 10 years and the 13th for the 18th district of the city of Detroit as the individual told me I've worked for him for 10 years up until he retired. This past November. I also bring you greetings from the man in the city of Detroit the honorable cold Monday young both of whom happen to see your prior documentary on the oppression and name much. They all feel much interested in it. First and foremost I want to tell you the true history of the 1930s. I've never been told and I doubt whether that will be. But I believe that your organization black slide is making an attempt to do that. The reason it has not been told that people in high places in the government and in the news media. Do not want this generation and past generations and future and future generations to know

what the average American had to go through in those years and that the government were part of that brutality. It prevented them from quote pursuing life liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The so called Constitution that we have and mentioned that so-called I'll tell you why later I happened to dwell on several points. Number one my personal experience in Detroit from 1920 to 1940 and number two why my family left South Carolina to come to Detroit and number three How did I experience the onset of depression. And I skipped number four and number five. Why did I work with you on the farm Council. And since when did I join the U.S. CCC and my experience in that organization. And last but not least the people in

Detroit have different ideas and with the and the. Animosity between the ethnic groups. Number one my personal experience in Detroit from 1928 1940 was a brief period of. Happiness. That my family moved to either I go back a little bit I was born in the state of South Carolina in 1912. My family moved to Columbus Ohio in 1923 because my uncle who was living in Detroit had served in World War number one. And he refused to come back to South Carolina and he had a job in Columbus and he told my dad who had been a fireman on the train and saw a lot of working out of a bus to Georgia going up to Charlotte North Carolina and South Carolina a white man would not accept the job of a fireman that was

below his dignity. Only black people like man five trains passenger freight trains at that time. My uncle in Columbus told my dad if you come to Columbus Ohio and get a job as a fireman on a train you could make more money. And finally he convinced my mother that we should move to Columbus Ohio just the opposite happened to my father when we got into Columbus Ohio. The high lights his violin in Columbus and. He had the get a job. And in fact Ohio mouth line on fire. And later on my brother my father had a brother living here and not a brother cousin living in the city of Detroit. And they used to run expression's from Detroit from Columbus Ohio to try it on the weekend. Detroit was a jumping town.

Prohibition was in at that time. And as you know around the country with alcoholic beverages you've got you've had to make it yourself. Call it moonshine and white light and. Fridays and Saturdays that would happen all over the country. I don't know whether you young people know about this or not but there's a look around the table I can see the gentleman over there who showed the film and I can see some more gray hair sitting around here this gentleman here who he and I have talked a little while ago. He's out of Ohio also and Georgia and he knows what corn whisky and white lightning here. My father and mother came over to Detroit one weekend on an excursion. Father's cousin convinced him to come to Detroit to buy a box of dates. My mother had a fit but in that way she finally agreed. My dad came up from work one month came back to Columbus Ohio and said we're

moving I'm sending the truck to pick up all the furniture next week I got a place for space. There were nine of us seven boys and two girls all go into this big city called The Big deal. This was 1928 latter part of 27 early thought of 20. Say that at that time Detroit was a town that had opened shops was a town where you had speakeasy and half hour joints. It was a town where liquor was being sold imported from Canada. The plants were booming. People were living pretty nicely on the wages they'd made. And there was much happiness. I would say in Detroit the big bands were flourishing the ball room and dances were being given on the weekends and everybody was doing the Charleston the Chevy and all of that. I

know you see some smiles around here but I guess you heard about the Charleston and the shimmy. Well that goes also OK. But anyway something happened in October 1929. They call it the Great Depression started by. Clothes factories began to shut down unemployment became rampant. People who had had some life savings banks lost it. There were foreclosures on homes. There were people who wanted to pay rent. There was food but people did have the money to buy. Things begin to happen in Detroit. People began to take to the street corners on the step ladder. People would meet in vacant lots. And playgrounds. And together they discuss it. Out of all of this in my opinion they could call down employment councils and.

Those things sprang up over the city like wildfire. I mean each community in Detroit you've had unemployment Council spokesman for the people began to be evicted and some of the roles that the unemployment council members played were once you was evicted your unemployment count will set you back in. I've seen whites living in one on one side of the street being evicted and blacks living on the other side street being evicted and no somebody in the bailiffs left the whole neighborhood. And to put that black family and white families back in the house the people who had. Got the eviction from the court were the owners of the house had been victim of the depression himself. These were people property owners who had read I guess

you call it the middle class today who had their cell been affected by the depression they had lost their bank accounts and even the judge who was sitting in judgment position those eviction notices he had in effect the money he put it back in. The city of Detroit. County. Rally. And. In 1930. There was a demonstration in. Front of the city hall on Woodward Avenue gone and so to Troy. We had a man time by the name of Boll's Pitt promised the leadership of the former county long as they did not do anything to disturb the peace. He would grant them a permit to hold this rally. They did hold the rally and all hell broke loose and police took

advantage of it by using it. This was a communist organization. This was a communist rally to get people excited to join the Communist cause in the city of Detroit. A lot of people would be a lot of people were jailed. But that did not. In any way diminish the courage and the spirit of the people who had organized it that demonstration. In fact it intensified it. The council began to get more active. And at that time I became a member of the former council in my neighborhood and in my neighborhood you had Jews had blacks and they had submitted they work as an appliance somewhere for somewhere. Did General Motors somewhere at Chrysler. And you must understand at least three organizations that I just named General

Motors while still the US the biggest corporate giants in the world. You had the other two Ford and Chrysler. And you could imagine the combination of these three of them as nations whole and the power that they had. Not only in the city of Detroit but throughout the country as well. And having that power and the control that they had at that time made individuals just complete towns of them who worked with them in the shop. But there were people who were determined that something had to be done. And. Two different neighborhood meetings and people speaking up about what they had to do and what they had not done. What they found how they families were suffering it was decided in

1932 that there would be a march on the Ford Motor Company that won. Now look upon it the hunger mind and the city of Detroit the city of how far city of Melwyn Dale all sit there on the set of a set of rules in the city of Hamtramck all the servers of the city of Detroit. Had been affected by this depression and the march on Ford began. And I have repeated in your program before what has happened most of your seeing but be a little more specific. That's where the Slovic to wait. For people will feel one way injured many were hospitalized. And this all took place. By. The permission of the man whose name is Henry. I was in that wire and I saw some things that they did that made me

cry. I'm going to say a radical for the rest of my life. I saw people shot down. I saw people walk the halls on March 2nd six below zero weather. I saw blood flowing from both black and white on a road in front of the apartment office and to this day that blood flowed that convinced me that a bond of friendship existed between black and white people in the city of Detroit. It has never been diminished to this day to a certain extent and certainly most certainly set the stage later on for the union to get into the Ford Motor Company and know where in organized labor. And they know where the a local union and the United States could find the bonds and friendship that exists between black and white workers that you do in the Rouge plant and local state. Some of it to a certain

degree that bong and friendships still exist today. Many things happen that to me was the beginning a good many things to set the stage for the union to get into the Ford plant. You remember General Motors and Chrysler had been organized. Ford was the last of the big three to be organized. He had made a statement quote all hell would freeze over before he would permit a union to get into his plant. I've heard some things said here about the goodness and badness. Of. Food. But to me it was totally a bastard who had no kind of potion for life for liberty or for the enjoyment of the working conditions of those who labor for him and made the property. Did. You have never worked in a plant. I don't think any of you have seen

people die on the job and they take them out just as evil as a peace on that fell off the machine. You've never seen people suffering from exhaustion from heat exposure. You've never seen individuals who have been literally burned from the iron ore. And the founders that melted into water or and due to an accident when he held that little up to get that iron from and from the big chair that some piece of water got in and exploded. I have witness up that ladder Fort Worth of some of the old timers have. And these were the things that brought on the possibility that the union would get in to Ford. He was a man that had no respect for human being. All he wanted was profits he was a man that did not care

about what conditions that individual had to work on. He was a man that didn't care about that family but man's family. He was a man that didn't want. I did not give to hospitalization. He was a man that did not. Consider. The human aspect of individual life and he was a man that would permit people to be killed by his own orders and he was a man who said well if they hadn't been out on a cold day like this they would have been alive today. That with the attitude of one hundred forty And yes there were still are some things said the body but those of you who never had experienced these kind of situations may have some difference of opinion about it but I would ask you to go back in history some time

and talk or so on. Other than me who had been around at that time and I'm pretty sure they were tell you the same thing on that day when we marched on the Ford Motor Company in Denver. It was a peaceful march. I don't know whether you had the experience waterhole being drawn on you just being by that and tear gas being thrown at you and seen some of your friends die in the arms of another individual. What can anyone say about whether war is good or bad. When he wouldn't when he or she witnessed that kind of situation when he directly gave the order that Harriet Bennett and builds on these goons go out from these kind of acts. But to get you to be more familiar with this you know Henry Ford was a man who would determine if he were going to have his own say so without any

one telling him whatsoever how to run his plant or what he can but the conditions that plant should be the people who work for him. He recruited people from the most notorious prison in the state of Michigan. We had in Michigan at that time a place called Market state prison which was equal to output traps the hardest of the hardest within the market. And Henry Ford recruited Brooten those who had been bank robbers murderers and whatnot from that prison on probation to work for him as a Secret Service man. So naturally they would not have any compassion for anyone. These just a few of the things I wanted to mention to you about my experience from 1928 to 1940 and 19 35.

I was hired by the president. I was hired by the Ford Motor Company rather pride in 1935 1933. I went to CCC. Can't. Get your memo rather that Roosevelt was elected in 1932 he was inaugurated on March 4th nineteen thirty three and in May of 1933 he asked it to be what is called the work of progress ministration that was outfit call the United States civilian conservation corps. I was inducted into that corps and made it twenty nine 1933 and I stayed there from 1933 up until 9 in late 1934. We work for $30 a month. Twenty five dollars. I didn't see it went back home for my pants I got $5 of my

planting trees taking care of Rojan. We were in World War One. Uniforms we were subjected to most of the time military formations and we were supervised by officers from the regular army. We were set up in northern Michigan from the taught about 300 miles from Detroit up in northern Michigan to a place called ball and the citizens roundball in Michigan at that time did not want us dead. You say you got this riff raff from Detroit coming up here blah blah blah but they had been affected by the depression also. And lo and behold when I first Patey took place and the officers went and bought whatever groceries they had. The whole city they bought the whole city ball went out to call. They were three hundred eighty five of us in this camp. The supplies growth was had on hand and the cedar ball in Michigan was

taken up that made that town Boone. From then on we will welcome him in a suit or a ball. I came back to say 1935 and I got hired. January 17th 1935 at the Ford Motor Company and I immediately advertised individual approached me about joining the UAW. That individual was named Bill Makai and Hijau and a couple of weeks later and one of my responsibilities to help smuggle ladies into the fight. I was fired three times by the Ford Motor Company but when we finally Roosevelt finally initiated it now I'll be the last of National Labor Relations Board. Myself and about 25 others got put back to work and I was selected as a union representative and I held that

position up till I retired from the UAW back in 1979. After putting in 44 years. Union positions. What. Why did I work with the unemployment Council. I think I went over that before but I want to conclude by saying that the question has been raised here. Time to time. There were statements made by communists did this Congress did it. Yes there were communists who were participating in and gave leadership to the unemployment councils organizing of the industrial plants in the city of Detroit. In my opinion some of them gave everything they had. And that is life itself the core among the people that Phil Miller wrote

in that hung the March there were some young individuals 19 and 18 and 20 of them all who belong to the Communist Party made no bones about it. And when an individual can be so determined that he see wrongness and want to do something and correct that wrong he says he's willing to give his life for it. I think that is enough for anyone to be convinced that indeed there was a true individual who wanted to see life of mankind be a better one. All of these things which you hear. About. The role and participation of the communists and whatnot that would none at that time in any form and councils and the marches on Ford Motor Company no questions were ever asked about. What is your political alliance. What is your religious alliance.

What is your ethnicity or who are you. Are you black white brown and yellow. That was never mentioned. They had one common objective and their common objective was to better their conditions. And I think they knew that by having this kind of an objective it was one way of reaching your objective through a complete unity of all forces involved. Mr. Hampton mentioned showing the film by this gentleman back here that he noticed there was much integration that took place during those time during the 30s of black and white in the demonstrations and these fights to better their condition. Yes. What we should be asking again why was all this conflict between blacks and whites when there was an

economic issue that the private individuals obeyed job. Why would they competing. Why wouldn't they be fighting each other. In fact that was tried at that time you had to put up plan in Detroit. You had the Black Legion you had Father Coughlin who was on radio. But the white people of the city of course and the black people they had some I believe sense not to be misled and to get involved and to who should and who should not. Have the job because it affected everybody. And I think Detroit was one of the few cities could survive without any ethnic or racial fights at all. This to happen at that time during the 1930s you did not have any race riots in Detroit. Up until. World War Two and. Those were by the police department not because of what had

happened between the two groups. I think you ask a good question when you ask the individual about why it was any animosity between the groups and there was you seem to say there were more integration at the time. I want to conclude by saying that black light should continue to have these documentaries because it will bring to the attention of our present generation. And I hope generations in the future to see what they hope their. Had to go through during the 1930s and it is amazing to me that there are some form of a socialist government that can take over and the United States and I believe it would have taken over. Roosevelt had not been elected in 1932 because the people at that time were determine. One way or the other that they were not going to continue to live under the conditions

that was existing in the 30s. And I think it is the fact that Roosevelt had that in life didn't 32 and begin to put forward the social programs. And they he not only gave work to people who were in the shops but he gave work to Argives the great work the educators He worked for. He worked with engineers and that. Was something that had never been never happened in the country before. I never forget one remark that Roosevelt made to Bob. He made me wonder if I work in the shop. One of the first things I would do would join the union and I think that had a bearing on Senator Wagner from for me and putting forward the way that the other remark was that he made it when times

get hard among the people the people themselves should do something to eliminate those hard times. Those were remarks made by Roosevelt and that to me that one of the beginnings of the foundation of ending in some form the economic situation that existed throughout the country. Finally I want to say that again to blacks like that. I hope that you continue these documentaries and go educate some of our younger generations to come about. What individuals like me and others we has around this table had to go through and to give the true history of relive what happened with America. Until that time comes. I think part of the history of the United States is going to be not where people can know

about it and it would be a disadvantage. This is real it becomes a fact. This part of the history of the United States has not been put forward. It's getting late. I know you had portions passed through. No questions. Good. We all go home. You. Are. Going to make it possible right now before you start asking Corsten I have an earpiece and this left there that caused by working in the Ford Motor Company owner said life isn't fair at all motor engines. So speak up loud. OK. But. It. Certainly is

true. Whoa whoa. Whoa. Whoa. Whoa whoa. Whoa whoa. Whoa. Whoa.

Whoa. Whoa whoa whoa from. His attitude toward blacks in the shop with no definitive word General Motors and Chrysler in my opinion he did say this gave African Americans some advantages that they did not have in General Motors and Chrysler that by letting them work in the same department with white and kept the same wages. I agree with that but with that just like the Qype workers he had no compunction about them whatsoever. Only wrong if they made him some profit. They would be treated just like any other worker. I'll give you something that happened to me that if I had a supervisor come up to me and tell me nigga you can't keep up with this but I got some

pull up out there on Miller Road who can't he would go to that same polish shell and tell him Look if you can't keep up I have some Hungarians out here who can do this work. So and So and that will fit with the permission of the Ford Motor. Oh man for permission to do that and trying to. Get one race against the other. But I think somebody mentioned in the presentation that the worker couldn't afford it. I don't know whether it was a on the head or something about it. They did not let this come between the race issue or second step. And my answer to your question is yeah ok. I work in the department ever 428 whites and 50 blacks and the of the founder workers go. Right. And people from Eastern

Europe and some from Mexico and all over plan for kind of system you'd do what for your to do you do but the stuff people are the people who get your car stop me. I could give you some incidentals some ladies in this room I will tell you. But what happened when you had to go to the bathroom. But your answer to your question is some people have the conception that by giving some blacks this kind of treatment it was much different from General Motors and Chrysler not people not that much you get. Paid. To be. Here. There were plenty. So they were the IS THAT WAS THE SAME FOR MORE

THAN 2 2 6 4 5 4 for the other six dollars. Now I'm back with the industry and the industry in 2014 with $2. 41 cents from the average when inflation has no impact on it. So Ford was instead actually with other companies from the World War. But the rest of the sales of the unions. Detroit is an open shop and there was no threat of unionism in Detroit with the auto industry or elsewhere. And I think that I mean one of the main thrust of the $5 day was to reduce high absenteeism that.

Everybody wanted to work toward. By the way let me say that my mistake here was to talk about Henry Ford during the 90s for 29 years. If I had been asked to talk about Henry Ford during the Great Depression I would have said much the same as my colleague my colleague said because what they say is cool Detroit Ford it no better nor worse than the other automobile companies spying in sweatshops speedups the situation was awful what people experienced of course was what people were experiencing within the auto industry in terms of Henry Ford White during the team's attractive figure during most of the 20s and in many ways a very unattractive figure during the 1930s life. But his great reputation lingered on. Except that the closer you were to Detroit the more you realized how it really was.

Dave and his colleagues knew people around the rest of the country they still remember the $5 day for. But then over. And over again he just did 10 minutes after each book. Mr. Lewis he goes public. He says. Where did these workers union a project from say wanted to meet me ask me questions just when I'm looking for a plan to try. Out. Well that was a plan existed and they had tried to in fact. Put a lot of people thought that they were being sponsored by the Ford Motor Company. They brought up the race issue. The Black Legion played on the race issue. And your head which you call Father Coughlin he was a

preacher. And he was openly asking people to. Stand with the Ford Motor Company and to do not join the unions. And you had put in black the black Legion was in my opinion controlled completely by the Ford Motor Company. They had agents in the shop and they were but some of the supervisor was at work to go around and ask you to join the Black Legion. And these were the three groups at that time that was opposed to the unions in the city of Detroit. In a brief answer to your question what workers for. Chronicles by a number of people from 1940 to 1941 1941 you had a situation where 83 percent of the workers fled for the WC. I hope the reason you.

You just said no so it didn't change tremendously through the years. The reasons are so broad strokes is safe to say. What. Would. It be. On. He's going to leave you and of the. Well you know we've removed me. Let me give an example at the time that was organized in the Ford plant. It was in doubt whether we was going to win or not but we had read that we were on hand because as he indicated Ford had tried to penetrate the black churches in the city of Detroit to prevent Ford workers from joining the union. Give you one example we had one minister read the

late Reverend child old pastor Hopoate Avenue Baptist Church. They sent spies around for some places and they thought the UAW could not have been the place to be. Reverend Hill-Wood opened his church for meetings for the UAW people to meet in his church. Ford Motor Company sent a letter to Reverend Hill stating that any food worker would come to his church knowing they'd be there too and problem solving union meeting would be immediately fired. Reverend he'll refuse to accept the latter two. Are. Not to let people meet and they had spies. They would take the cake pictures of people going into the church and a list of names and some people who said Well look I belong. I worked before but I belong to Hartford Avenue Baptist Church. And the question you asked are the ties between other people around me. Are you talking about other organizations around the country. Or in doubt whether we were

going to be able to organize it because he'd put up such a little fight but it became necessary to bring in some black individuals of stature a group of us were to Bill Murray who was that time president of the stego workers and asked him to bring in Paul robes to Detroit. And they brought Paul ropes at the end and he and Phil Murray. And George Attis I believe was spoken but recall Cadillac's quite was a gathering of Ford workers and their families and the Detroit times a Hearst newspaper come out with front page coverage after it was over and said yeah the Ford workers. Were. To be organized it will be to this beaking singing of Paul Robeson and Phil Murray. That was the tie we had with the artist Paul ropes and as you know was a great artist.

We had ties with the Steelworkers Union and Phil Murray we had ties with John L. Lewis the mine workers union and John L. Lewis kept us quite a bit. You remember back in the French fry he told Governor Burford not Governor Murphy was a real progressive guy. He refused to call out the National Guard. In 1937 up in Flint when people sit down John Lewis told Governor Murray Murphy one morning about four o'clock in the morning if you call a lot of National Guards the governor the blood of these people going to be on your hand you know we call it shag it right down there. And those were people we had ties with. But in the main it was the workers in the Ford plant and the workers and the General Motors financing the work of the Chrysler plant around there. That set. It made their own destiny. In the world so

because you know they were active all the way during the uninformed it counts of me. They were active in organizing be on the informal council. They were active in speaking to crowds and people knew who they were. They didn't do. And I think it was. I think that they've made one great contribution to communist state and help organizing the auto industry around the city of Detroit. This. Is a mother nature. And in fact that the writers. Were also the first U.S. citizen nurse. And they love to go. As far as your

life which is why we get to see the day to day as many blacks and whites. And women and get the job brought together under consideration at that time in the 1930s the understanding and the relationship. While some of the white leaders had not taken a position that they had taken today had some of their flight leaders in Ohio definitely in the auto industry. You've got now you've got what you call race relations department you've got community relations experts all black. Now we didn't have them at that time. And you got whites who are now coming out. Well we are going to say that blacks got to be moved up. You know if you didn't have it at that time. There's nothing

to delivery. This is why so. Oh yeah. Oh really. Time for June 30. They say that. There were some blacks were. Officers are you blind to what. They do. I'd be glad to we had some blacks who were put out there for a certain reason you had some blacks who had been put in those positions. To be speaking with us tomorrow in New York LaGuardia and so pleased that. America.

Was. The same way with everybody. No other way. So. My. Guess. Whoa whoa. Whoa. Whoa. Whoa.

Whoa. They were just friends who were still here. And the producer Phil