From the moment Henry Ford gave him his first big tire order some 30 years ago, Harvey Samuel Firestone has been one of Mr. Ford's few close friends. The friendship explains a great deal about Mr. Firestone. Mr. Ford never lifts his spear without waggling it at bankers. Mr. Firestone's particular windmill is the mailorder tire. Each has a brand of individualism all his own.
Mr. Firestone's brand has never been relished by the heads of his three potent competitors—Goodyear's Litchfield, U. S. Rubber's Davis, Goodrich's Tew. Until last fortnight when Mr. Tew assumed...