The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1922-02-22
ALABAMA FOLKS
CHEER MIR. FORD
DENOUNCE POWER COM
PANY FOR OFFER MADE
TO DELAY GAME
FOR DETROIT MAN
Former Governor O'Neal Says
Seventeen, State Senators
Are On Pay Roll OF Ala
bama Power Company.

Birmingham, Ala, Feb. 19-Henry
Ford's offer for Muscle Shoals was
favored and the bid of the Alabama
Power Company was criticized at a
meeting attended by approximately
1000 persons at the Jefferson Thea
ter here this afternoon.
The auditorium ana two balconies
of the Jefferson Theater were filled
and about 200 persons were forced to
stand. The mention of Ford's name
was cheered time after time.
Ex-Gov. O'Neal of Florence, in an
eloquent address, enumerated the adj
vantages that Alabama would enjoy
if the Ford proposal was accepted by
Congress. A resolution presented by
George Lewis Bales, post commander
of the American Legion, was unani-
mously passed, calling upon Congress
to disregard the Alabama Power Com
pany bid and accept the offer of the
Detroit manufacturer.
Judge B. M. Allen presided. In ad-
dition to ex-Gov. O'Neal, Charles L..
Harold, secretary-manager Of the Bir-
mingham Civic. Association, spoke in
favor of the Ford bid. A telegram
was read from Congressman George
Huddleston in which he gave assur-
ance of his full accord with the pur-
pose of the meeting.
IN 70
said, SIS merely a sidewipe at Ford.
No patriotic Albanian should hest
tate to put strength behind the ac-
ceptance of the Ford offer"
Ex-Gov. O'Neal received a long-dis-
lance telephone message from Kirk
man O'Neal, which was read before
the meeting. 1t stated that a mass
was to be held at Florence
tomorrow urging Gov. Kiiby to call
an extra session Of the Legislature to
repeal the laws granting to the Ala
bama Power Company freedom from
taxation. Under the terms of a
statute passed by the Legislature the
is exempt 10 years after |
the beginning of plant from taxa
ton except on land. kilograms were
also read from Frank N. Julian, pres
dent of the Chamber of Commerce at |
and from Bill Black, chair
man of the Chamber of Commerce Of
"The response shown by the pep-
pie of Alabama indicates" said ex-
Gov. ONeal, "that they have not re-
,ired since the Alabama Power Com
1any submitted a bid, and that they
are not willing to turn over the
Muscle Shoals property to a gigantic
water power trust"
He traced the development of the
Muscle Shoals project and told of the
Uses that can be made Of nitrogen.
Henry Ford" he said, els seeking
o become benefactor by giving en-
'loyment and increasing the wages of
he nation and not by increasing his
'wn wealth"
"The dream of the Alabama Power {
company has been for years to get K
ontrol of Muscle Shoals" according '
o the speaker.
"In their DESIRE" he added, "they l
ound a wiling ally in Secretary of S
Var Weeks" whom he critized for Z
is cold treatment of Henry Ford and 5
or his dilly dallying tactics.
"The only purpose of the Alabama t
'ower Company" continued the for S
Ter governor, Gin submitting the bid c
Tas to increase the wealth Of its 7
,nglish and Canadian stockholders. 4
Where did the Alabama Power Com c
any get the money to develop the d
hoals? They admitted that they did !
OF have it. Why, they found willing t
lilies in the gun powder trust, the n
ertilizer trusts and other Wall Street 5
il
The former governor said he would h
Ike to see the act of the Legislature b
the power company from Ii
lxation repealed. But, he added, n
lat it was his information that II 4
embers of the state Senate are on IN
lie payrolls of that company He k
lid that the pockets of the power h
,mpany are :bulging with spoils v
ken from the taxpayers" q
In the Ace of the overwhelming
in Alabama favoring the "
ord offer, ex-Goy. O'Neal said he Il
fought the power company ought to "a
ithdraw its offer. 81
God help any congressman or any n
irty that opposes the offer Of Henry r
ord" concluded the speaker. Eve t.
e for Ford first, last and all the 81
me, and we are not cutters, and we Il
ant the Alabama Power Company d.
know it" LIZ
Judge B. VI. Allen said that the d
lrpose in calling the meeting was Ii
give expression TO "this industrial al
ction." He quoted Edison as saying Of
at 100000 horsepower could be
at Muscle Shoals and that
cry horsepower meant work for one hi
an. He said he had no quarrel to tf
ck with Secretary Weeks or the
.abama Power Company. but that
" their fruits you shall know OF