The Bismarck Tribune

FORD IS LIKELY TO BECOME SYMBOLIC OF AMERICAN ERA
His Succession More Fitting Tradition Than Morgan or Mellon Brothers
(Editor’s note: John D. Rockefeller, long an almost legendary symbol in American life, is dead. Who will replace him? The answers are given in series of two articles, of which this is the first).
New York, June 22.-(P)-John D. Rockefeller, Sr., long America’s wealthiest man, was a living, yet legendary symbol of success, and power in American industrial and commercial life.
The modern day insists on living legends and symbols; and it will find someone to fill the place left by Rockefeller’s death. Who will it be?
J. P. Morgan or Andrew W. Mellon? or will it be Henry Ford?
The chances are that it will be Henry Ford.
There are contrasts, sharp ones, in the careers of Rockefeller and Ford. but there are many similarities.
Morgan and Mellon were born into wealth.
Typify American Tradition
Rockefeller and Ford came from the farm and village: They typify the American tradition of the country boy who amassed wealth and power.
Ford lives as Rockefeller lived, quietly, simply, with no liking for society or the grand manner. Rockefeller was abstemious, a prohibitionist, pious. So is Ford.
Their genius carried them to positions of incalculable influence, but it was genius of a different sort. Ford, a dreamer with an inventive mind, envisioned automotive development without realizing the vastness of its financial possibilities. Rockefeller had financial bent to his mind, instead of inventive. He was the first to grasp the possibilities of great wealth in oil.
Rockefeller was a genius of mass capitalization and Ford is the genius of mass production.
Ford Is Wealthiest
Mellon and his brothers, collectively are presumably worth some hundreds of millions. But in single family holdings. Ford comes closest to the wealth of Rockefeller at its highest point. Using the balance sheet valuation of the Ford Motor company, the Ford fortune is well above $700,000,000.
Ford, as Rockefeller was, is the nation’s richest man.
If you can call it retirement, both Rockefeller and Ford "retired" at the same age—56.
Rockefeller "retired" in 1895 from active direction of the Standard Oil companies. He kept his position as president of Standard Oil of New Jersey until 1911.
Ford 'Quit' in 1919
In 1919. Ford turned over the presidency of the Ford Motor company to his son. But some of his most active work has come since that year.
After unburdening himself from active direction of the Standard Oil companies, Rockefeller’s interest was in philanthropy.
This facet of life, Ford does not possess. He is not a philanthropist. Paternalistic in his management, his theory is that it is best to turn back his profits into his company to expand and create more jobs at better wages.