MTFCA Forum

In 1915 it was announced that Henry Ford had developed influenza. Don't know if this was covered in the United States at the time? The during the epidemic in 1918, The virus could be use in selling Ford Cars...

A news dispatch from Christiana...

A geographical reference lists half a dozen Christianas in the United States and five in other countries. Wonder where Henry was.

On December 4th, 1915, Henry Ford and members of the peace voyage boarded Oscar II, also known as the Peace Ship, in Hoboken, New Jersey for the expedition. The delegates for the peace expedition traveled first to Christiania (present day Oslo), Norway, and later met with fellow pacifists in Sweden and Holland. In February, 1916, members of the neutral nations from Europe met with the Ford party in Stockholm, Sweden, to form the Neutral Conference for Continuous Mediation.
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/archiva ... d_4078773/

Interesting history that’s not widely known probably.
Ford didn’t seem like a pacifist to me going by his personality and later life. I wonder why they used the word “expedition “ in the article instead of conference. Conference sounds more fitting for what they did. I was thinking Ford did contribute to the war effort.

"" I wonder why they used the word “expedition “ in the article instead of conference.""

May be a check of word use in 1915 may be a start as to why use the word “expedition “ in the article instead of conference.

From a 1913 Websters Dictionary that is on line: (https://www.websters1913.com/words/Expedition)

"Expedition

Ex`pe*di"tion (?), n. [L. expeditio: cf.F. expédition.] 1. The quality of being expedite; efficient promptness; haste; dispatch; speed; quickness; as to carry the mail with expedition.

With winged expedition

Swift as the lightning glance. ?

2. A sending forth or setting forth the execution of some object of consequence; progress.

Putting it straight in expedition. ?

3. An important enterprise, implying a change of place; especially, a warlike enterprise; a march or a voyage with martial intentions; an excursion by a body of persons for a valuable end; as, a military, naval, exploring, or scientific expedition; also, the body of persons making such excursion.

The expedition miserably failed.

Prescott.

Narrative of the exploring expedition to the Rocky Mountains.

J. C. Fremont.


It could be that in 1915 definition "3" is the reason. Was Ford etal looking for an answer to Peace? in a world that was beginning a very long war, where all sides would not be home by Christmas until after 1918?

((
Conference

Con"fer*ence (?), n. [F. conférence. See Confer.] 1. The act of comparing two or more things together; comparison. [Obs.]

Helps and furtherances which . . . the mutual conference of all men's collections and observations may afford.
Hocker.

2. The act of consulting together formally; serious conversation or discussion; interchange of views.

Nor with such free and friendly conference
As he hath used of old.
Shak.

3. A meeting for consultation, discussion, or an interchange of opinions.

4. A meeting of the two branches of a legislature, by their committees, to adjust between them.

5. (Methodist Church) A stated meeting of preachers and others, invested with authority to take cognizance of ecclesiastical matters.

6. A voluntary association of Congregational churches of a district; the district in which such churches are.

Conference meeting, a meeting for conference. Specifically, a meeting conducted (usually) by laymen, for conference and prayer. [U. S.] -- Conference room, a room for conference and prayer, and for the pastor's less formal addresses. [U. S.]))