The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-05
HARDING CO[LIDES
 WITH B|G PROBLEM
 IN MUSCLE SHOALS
He Must Yield to Trust and Republican Anti-South and Anti-Wilson Spleen or
 Waste Millions
By HUGH W. ROBERTS
 Washington sursau The Age -Hsrs


 Washington, March 4.-(Special )--Prac- tically every member of Congress asks himself the question: What will Presi- dent Harding and John w. Weeks, Secre- tsry of War, do with Muscle shoals2
 There is grave doubt. While members Of the Senate, Harding and Weeks were very conservative and judicious men. This would lead to belief that they will favor the continued development of the Tennessee river water power. But on the other hand both were strictly party men. This would indicate that they will do what the party in Congress advises them to do
 There is no question but that the ad- ministration is confronted with prob lem in Muscle Shoals If it advises that the construction mould be completed, 8 break with the partisan republicans in Congress would immediately ensue IT it determined to discontinue work. tho dam, half way completed across the river will be washed away, and the cost of guarding and even in a measure con serving the property and equipment win cost $sooooo annually.
 If the administration permits one Of the trusts to acquire the property the armers of the country will raise howl. Tor the farmers would know that fer lizer produced by the trusts would be 1etailed at trust prices; or that the trusts, aving acquired the property, might bandon it in knowledge that their in &estment was not misplaced in that 1t l.minated danger of grave competition.
 TRUSTS ONLY BENEFIT
 To the casual observer. the tactics Of Congress have constituted a puzzle. On he banks of the Tennessee river il. North Alabama are plants capable. with he development of 6S0,000 horse power which is possible of develoDmenD of iilching nitrogen from the air, and making the government in event of war, secure with an inexhaustble source of explo- Eives and the farmers of the country profitable with an abundance source Of high-grade and cheap fertilizer.
 In constructing these properties the government has expended more than $9U,- o00,000 For the completion of the work the government has set aside 5, ,0o0,WO. which if permitted by Harding to be used as intended, would suffice until .fune 1. In order that the work might oe pushed thereafter for the remainder of the year. the administration asked for si0.0000 600. Congress declined to make the appropriation, and certain members of Congress have threatened to persuade Harding to prevent the expenditure of she available $5.000, GOO.
 There is mystery, unquestionably, in Inc attitude of Congress. It is not. how Aver, difficult of explanation. Analysis furnishes many reasons why repub- :can should oppose the completion of the Muscle Shoals project ln the first place, t was initiated by democrats during democratic administration Its early suc- cess were scored when democrats con- srciled both branches of Congress-
 SOUTH AND WILSON
 In the second place, the plants are To- csited in the south. Tn the third place. the great dam, in course of construction, and which, if ever completed, will be one of the wonders of the world as far as this country is concerned. bears the name of Wilson. It would be an everlasting monument to the man whom the profess Ficnal republican hates with an undying hate.
 In the fourth place the plants at Muscle Shoals would handicap the Chilean ni- trate interests which are represented in this country by very astute business men