Ford Counsel Gives Reason for Refusing Arbitration

(Jewish Daily Bulletin)

Stewart Hanley, attorney for Henry Ford in the manufacturer’s defense against the libel suit of Aaron Sapiro, made public yesterday the correspondence in which he declined to accept the suggestion of the Detroit Board of Commerce that Mr. Ford and Mr. Sapiro arbitrate their dispute.

Mr. Sapiro agreed to the recommendation of the board on condition that the board open the hearings to the public.

Mr. Hanley’s letter of refusal says that counsel for Mr. Ford never took the Board of Commerce’s proposal seriously. It added:

“I say this because I cannot imagine one reason why this controversy should be transferred from an historical tribunal constituted to settle such disputes, where the settled rules of law are administered by experienced Judges, and turn the decision of the matter over to inexperienced arbitrators who are not supported by the bench of long tradition nor who bear the responsibility that attends the taking of the judicial oath of office. I say administrators inexperienced in matters of this kind because I notice that your Arbitration Committee and Council is composed largely of laymen, with a sprinkling of Judges and lawyers in private practice.”