Responding to a letter of inquiry by The Detroit Jewish Chronicle for his reason in supporting Henry Ford for President, Edward Frensdorf of Hudson, Mich,, a Jew, former acting warden of the Michigan State Prison at Jackson and former Food and Drug Commissioner for Michigan, states that while, in his opinion, Mr. Ford has not been justified in assailing the Jews as a race, he quite agrees that “we have Jews in league with some Gentiles who are exacting undue profits and who are guilty of promoting that which will bring disaster to our nation.”
Mr. Frensdorf is the man who is responsible, as a member of the Michigan Democratic Committee, for circulating petitions in the state favoring Mr. Ford for the Presidency.
The telegraphic message of The Chronicle, inquiring of Mr. Frensdorf his reasons for favoring Mr. Ford, follows:
“We understand you are a Jew. If so will you write an article for our publication telling our readers why you are for Ford for President?”
Mr. Frensdorf’s statement, dated December 10, follows, in part:
“Your message requesting that I give my reason for favoring the nomination of Henry Ford for President of the United States, duly received. Responding wish to say its my opinion that Mr. Ford has not been justified in assailing Jews as a Race, but I quite agree that we have Jews in league with some gentiles who are exacting undue profits and who are guilty of promoting that which will bring disaster to our nation.
“Besides this, I am well convinced that some of Mr. Ford’s quoted sayings go beyond his real feelings. He not only employs thousands of Hebrews at good wages and without discrimination as compared with workers of other races, but also he uses the skilled services of Jewish professional men of highest abilities. These facts satisfy me that his real antagonism is directed against individuals who indulge in disgraceful and of ten times criminal practices and not against the Jewish religion or people as a whole.
“He is the one xx man who has demonstrated that a great and colossal fortune can be accumulated without a monopoly or being favored by special legislation, and without robbing or taking undue advantage of labor or any citizen. He has shown himself to be the greatest industrial and business genius of the age. Why not avail ourselves as citizens of his abilities in running the business affairs of our Country?
“In the name of humanity, those who call themselves Jews, have no clearer duty to perform than to come to the rescue of those who are and will suffer to appease the selfish desired of a fow.”
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
