The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-09-30

On other matters, however, he was in no respects reticent.
 q am highly pleased" he continued, ''in that the board of engineers has rec commended an Alabama site for the To- cation of the nitrate plant. l feel sure that Secretary Baker will indorse the recommendation, and that the Pres ident will coincide with the opinion or the Secretary. The experimental plant, together with the plant for the manu- facture of gunpowder, will cost approxi- mately $5,000,000.
 ''Furthermore. there is every reason to believe that after experimentation with the various processes for the filtration of nitrogen, the government will con clude that the water power at Muscle Shoals should be harnessed. As mat ter of fact. the three secretaries, mem ! bers of the interdepartmental board, have repeatedly stated to Senator Un- derwood and me that the government would develop Muscle Shoals.
 MEANS NEW ERA
 | If the $2o, 100000 plant is located | in Alabama, and I believe that it will, | if will mean a new era in the in- dustrial history of the state. In .-the l first place. we as nation will be | liberated from bondage to Chilli, on which we now depend for our supply | of saltpetre, which means gunpowder In the second place, the southern l farmer will be furnished with an l abundance of fertilizer of the highest grade at half the price he is now pay | ing. The south should and would be- | come the richest agricultural section | of the world.
 "Thereby we would solve the ques- l ton of food supply in all succeeding 1 emergencies. In the present it might l be well enough for the government to urge reduction in personal consumr- l tion But in the long run the solution | must consist in redoubling the sup
 ply. This can be achieved solely by fertilizing the fields we now till and 1 thereby increasing production many l fold. Cheap fertilizer will mean, too | the cultivation of acreage now lying in waste.
 "We will. of course labor to the end that the President authorize at once the construction of the experimental
 plant. We will also get busy to the end that the government construct the big plant, the $20000000 establish | ment, in Alabama territory
 DISCUSSES LAFOLLETTE Senator Bankhead discussed with l reticence the plight of Senator La Toilette. He emphatica11y condemned
 the course pursued and the sentiments l expressed by the Wisconsin senator.
 T notice," he said, where Senator Kellogg has presented to the Senate resolutions adopted by individuals ] calling for the expulsion of LaFol- lette. I presume these resolutions were sent him and that he introduced then
 as a matter of courtesy. doubt, how ever. that the Senate will actively and on it's own initiative engage in a de-
 bate having for it's object the expul.
 sion of the Wisconsin senator. He presents, as matter of fact, very serious problem. In the. first place
 there is danger that continued attacl will cause a revulsion of feeling. Ir the second place. unless something i | done to still the tongue of LaFollettt
 he will continue his diatribes anothe,
 six years. He has another term. as i. | known. to serve"
 Senator Bankhead expressed the con
 viction that Congress would adjourn
 October 15