Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-09-27
HENRY FORD'S BID
FOR MUSCLE SHOALS
ST|RS LIVELY FIGHT
Republicans, for Partisan Rea-
sons, Do Not Want Him to
Have Plant.
He HAS POPULAR SUPPORT
special Dispatch From Every Evering' 3
WashinEton Corresponden..

special Dispatch From Every Evenings
washington Corresponden.-
Washington. Sept. 27.--Henry Ford's
hid for the Muscle Shoals project, and
the negotiations incident to this offer,
are forming the background for a
spirited political battle which may in
clude both the legislative and execu-
tive branches of the government.
The farmers bloc in Congress- which
has had marked success in imposing
Its win on the new administration in
legislative matters is mobilzed to
help Ford. Its leaders have a watch
full eye on the long drawn out ne
gotiauons over the matter. They are
interested in the cheap fertilizers and
other advantages which Ford has
promised the farmers If he gains con-
troll of Muscle Shoals. Whether the
War Department does, or does not.
recommend the acceptance of the Ford
bid. there is sure TO be lively fight
I'm Congress over the question when
authorization is sought to dispose Of
the plants.
The situation is commanding ma
tional interest because of the political
and business interests involved, and
because of the advertising Muscle
Shoals received from the fight in
Congress when the work was started
during the war, and subsequently dis
continued after the government had
invested approximately 500, 100000 in
the great Wilson dam and two nitrate
plants.
After the work was stopped by fail
,tf ~. Inn
ing appropriation from Congress, in
terest in the project Jagged until the
whole question was revitalized by
Ford sending a corps Of engineers to
Muscle Shoals. and subsequently sub
uniting on July s, an offer to take
over the properties on basis that
would permit the government to re-
cover its investment and get from
under"
Interest became intense In the ter
ritory contiguous TO Muscle Shoals,
and this interest became national when
Il was rumored that fertilizer, mu-
nitous. waterpower, Chiiian nitrate
producers and other interests had
combined 10 defeat Ford in his effort
20 get this plant. where he would
offer serious competition to their re-
spective businesses. From Clifford
Pinchot. for the first time, was found
fighting alongside the waterpower
trust. alleging that Ford would pay no
taxes on this vast waterpower. Ford s
reply 10 this was that he would make
that water earn more taxes" and his
ability TO do this is not doubted by
any who are aware that he pays
something like SIS. 100000 in Federal
taxes on his present holdings. AS a
Federal taxpayer he is in the first
group OF half dozen multi-millionaires
Certain interests who had hand
In underwriting the Republican cam
naign fund are reported unalterably
opposed TO turning Muscle Shoals over
10 Ford under any conditions. Repre-
sentatives OF these interests are keep
lng in close touch with the negotia.
fions az Washington. and are said L
be confident that they have Fort
blocked.
Nearly thfae months have elapse,
since Ford Submitted his bid. Thi
War Department made public his offe
and invited others. but the bids re
ccived are not Of such a nature, ac
cording 10 those who have analyze.
them, as 10 dislodge the automobn