"Biggest News"

At Detroit, Henry Ford issued a brief and homely statement. It was not an announcement that he would be a candidate for President. Yet it aroused many commentators to agree with Arthur Brisbane, who characteristically exclaimed: "It's the biggest political news you have read in a year or two."

Mr. Ford, in effect, said: "Coolidge is safe. He means to do right. Why change? Hold to a good man; don't disturb business. Get behind the President so that he won't have to waste his time fighting for reelection."

The simple manner in which Mr. Ford disposed of the great question, Who should be our next President? was typified in one paragraph: "I believe it is the wise and natural thing for the people to agree on the nomination and election of Mr. Coolidge. I am satisfied that 90% of the people feel perfectly safe with Coolidge and I feel, too, that the country is perfectly safe with him. And if this is the feeling of the country, why change?"

With this single stroke the automobile manufacturer decapitated whatever chance he may have had of being President in 1925. On the same day, petitions were filed placing Calvin Coolidge on the Republican ticket and Henry Ford on the Democratic ticket in the Michigan primaries next Spring. Any possibility that Mr. Ford might be a Presidential candidate he disposed of in answer to a question: "No man has a right to say he never will consider public office nor accept public office. No man can predict his own acts and feelings so strongly as that. But this I will say, that I would never for a moment think of running against Calvin Coolidge for President, on any ticket whatever. In this present situation I am for Coolidge."

For these kind words Mr. Coolidge and C. Bascom Slemp each sent Mr. Ford a telegram of thanks. The telegrams were not made public.

Political opinions:

The Rev. William Dawe, President of the original Ford-for-President Club at Dearborn: "I do not hesitate to say that in my own judgment I thought the whole matter would come out as it has."

Robert R. Porter, who organized the Ford conference at Dearborn a fort- night ago (TIME, Dec. 24) : "Mr. Ford will live to change his mind."

Senator Lodge (Rep.) of Massachusetts: "Good news. It shows how the tide is setting."

Senator Weller (Rep.) of Maryland: "This will strengthen the President."

Senator Brandegee (Rep.) of Connecticut : "This shows that our candidate is an adaptable, all-around man."

Senator Hiram W. Johnson (Rep.) of California: "Not surprised. It has been known in Washington for some time."

Senator Pittman (Dem.) of Nevada: "I expected it. I never thought that Ford was a Democrat."

Senator King (Dem.) of Utah: "I don't think it will affect 10,000 votes. He is a political crank and an ignoramus."

Senator Glass (Dem.) of Virginia: "I never thought that he would be a candidate."

Representative Cordell Hull of Tennessee (Chairman of the Democratic National Committee) : "He is a free American citizen, and is entitled to his personal preference the same as any one else."

William J. Bryan: "Mr. Ford, as the millionaire champion of the poor people of the country, would make an inspiring spectacle, but Mr. Ford loses his prominence when he joins with the rest of the big business men in support of a reactionary candidate."