Death in Dearborn

Eight years ago motor-maker Henry Ford bought a magazine. Mr. Ford, like many another national figure, wanted an organ which would distribute his own distillate of the world-wide torrent of printed talk about him. The sheet was called The Dearborn Independent. It contained articles of opinion, ethical, political, factual: also Mr. Ford's page. These bits of philosophy (collected in a volume called Ford Ideals) were reported as prompted, if not actually penned, by Mr. Ford. Latterly The Dearborn Independent suggested one idea to many a U. S. mind--anti-Semitism. Its columns carried Jewish articles which culminated in Aaron Sapiro's suit on Mr. Ford for $1,000,000. Immense publicity was thrust on the magazine. The vigor of its warcries caused its banishment from public libraries in Portland, Me., Paterson, N. J., St. Louis, Detroit, Toledo, Cincinnati. Chicago and Columbus, 0., forbid its newsboys to cry The Dearborn Independent.

Circulation was stimulated by Ford dealers throughout the country; 458,623 copies were sold each week in June, 1926. But soon after Mr. Ford's international apology to the Jews, death was decreed for The Dearborn Independent. Renewal blanks were not mailed with expiring subscriptions. The last copy peeled from its presses will be that of Dec. 26.