Monopoly on Wheels: Henry Ford and the Selden Automobile Patent

X. Path of Progress

X Path of Progress THE DEFEAT of the patent made Ford the dominant figure of the American automobile world. One editor termed the decision "a tremendous triumph for one man—Henry Ford," while another declared that "today the name of Ford is on the lips of everybody familiar with the motor industry and his fighting qualities are being admitted more than ever." Ford himself was reticent. "Whatever I'd say now might seem like boasting," he told Detroit reporters who pressed him for a statement. "I think the decision speaks for itself."l Twenty-four hours after the court spoke, a thousand telegrams from all parts of the country had streamed into Ford's office. Friend and foe joined in the praise. "Hurrah for Henry Ford!" wired Charles B. King, the Detroit automobile pioneer. Charles E. Duryea wrote: "It was a plucky, hard and above all, HONEST fight. I hope the great American public will awake to the result and not fail to appreciate the champion of their rights against trust methods. . . ." Frederic R. Coudert said: "Your indomitable courage and tenacity in fighting the case through when practically all other American companies had abandoned you was certainly admirable." Speaking for many licensed makers was Richard P. Joy, of the Packard Motor Car Company: "While my interests are on the other side of the fence I cannot but admire your determination to fight the matter out to the bitter end." 2 One message was freighted with special meaning. It will be recalled that Thomas B. Jeffery had steadfastly refused to join the A.L.A.M. He had died in 1910. Now his son, Charles T. Jeffery, told Ford: "Your determination and courage have surely won for you the admiration and respect of the whole automobile industry." A short time later, when the Jeffery Company contributed $10,000 to help defray the costs of the suit, the Ford directors distributed the money to the defense attorneys.3 This 255 Monopoly on Wheels unsolicited gift was the only instance of financial aid accepted by Ford in the war against the Selden patent. In his rejoicing, Ford did not forget Parker. On January 10, 1911, the day after the Noyes decision was handed down, Ford and his son Edsel journeyed to nearby Royal Oak and congratulated Parker. The attorney could rest content that he had laid the foundations of victory.4 He now went into the retirement that had been deferred since 1903. His remaining years were a long golden afternoon that ended in 1925. 1 The decision had an electric effect on the licensed manufacturers , who had converged upon Madison Square Garden for their annual automobile show. The gathering was thrown into an uproar. Yet virtually all of the Selden licensees were satisfied with the outcome; it meant they would no longer pay tribute. Their feeling was expressed by the president of a large Detroit company who hastily asked his treasurer whether the quarterly royalty payment had been dispatched. Told that it had not, the president gleefully ordered, "Then hold it back." When he learned about this incident, James Couzens tartly observed: "I guess there will be more checks of the same kind held back." 5 After briefly considering an appeal to the Supreme Court, the A.L.A.M. executive committee prudently recognized the decision as final and lost no time in demonstrating a conciliatory attitude. It invited Ford and Couzens to the annual A.L.A.M. banquet in New York. Greeted by a storm of cheers, Ford and Couzens were welcomed as the guests of honor at the Hotel Astor on January 12. Loud cries of "Ford! Ford! Ford!" resounded in the banquet hall. Ford bowed appreciatively, but refused to utter a word. He had not changed his simple ways. The plain business suit he wore was the only one in the solid front of evening wear; the austerity of the Model T was incarnated by its maker. But Ford was not completely unbending. He momentarily relaxed his disapproval of smoking to perform a symbolic act when Alfred Reeves proffered a clay peace-pipe. Ford amiably took a few puffs, sharing the pipe with Charles Clifton and other 2 34 x Path of Progress leaders of the Selden association. This was the only concession Ford ever made to the A.L.A.M. W. Benton Crisp acted as Ford's spokesman. "We struggled for what we thought...