The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-02-18
FORD HAS One
ADVOCATE IN
WASHINGTON
Secretary Of Agrlcul-
ture Wallace is Fa-
orably Disposed to
Henry Ford's Mus
Gle Shoal Proposal

Washington. Feb. 14.-llenry
G.. Wallace. secretary Of agriculture.
looks with favor" upon Hen y
Ford's offer for purchase and lease
Of the government nitrate and wa
ter projects at Muscle Shoals, Ala.
"if it's terms arc sufficiently definite
and binding TO make sure the plant
will be operated continuously for
the manufacture Of fertilizer.
DR.. Richard G.. Tolnan. director
of the fixed nitrogen research iah-
oratory Of The department. an
nounccd the sccretary's position
with regard to The Ford offer in an
authorized statement which he read
today before the house military
committee. The sccrctary's views
as expressed by the, witness were
that il the terms; were as he had
outlined, the proposal would re
suit in making available a consider
ably increased supply Of fertilizer
in time Of peace and give US as
surancc OF adequate supplies Of cX-
o!oS;ves in case Of need.
The statement was read by Dr.
Tohnan after tn" committee had
completed an examination lasting
more tnan t':c hours Of ". y. Ma
80, chief engineer and personal rep
resentativc of Henry Ford. Mr..
Mayo's testimony included repeat
ed statements that Mr.. Ford intend
cd to manufacture fertilizers in
their completed forms at the max
lmum production capacity of the
aIuscle Shoals plants and would
make every effort 20 manufacture
it at a minimum COST to the farm
crs, using every known formula and
working his chemists meanwhile
to discover improved methods.
Mr.. Mayo took issue several
times with committee members who
called attention TO the section OF the
offer regarding fertilizer manu-
facture, saying there was no pro-
vision in the offer 20 compel the
manufacture Of fertilizers, but only
Of some necessary ingredients. In
each instance. the Witness declared
that it was Mr.. F'ord's intention to
execute the contract in the event
congress accepts it in good faith and
that included the production Of fer
tiiizers.
At one point Mr.. Mayo said the
Detroit manufacturer had been in
vited by the government to make
the offer and congress could take
it or leave it at its face value
This announcement followed a
heated exchange between the Wit
ness and Representative Miller
(,epublran) Of Washington. re-
carding the financial obligations the
government would assume under
the agrcemcnt The Washington
member insisted that the financial
burden on the country would cX-
coed by several millions that as
suned by Mr.. Ford while MI. Mayo
submitted estimated expenditures
Mr.. Fo1G would make which totail-
cd more than sS.O00.0O0 in "Xc.ss
of Mr.. Miliers figures. Tie col
loouy ended without an agreement
between the two.
Chairman Kahn announced at tn"
conclusion Of the hearing TO-DAY
that J. W. WorthinSton. another OF
Mr.. Ford's advisers in the Muscle
Shoals transaction. would be asked
20 testify tomorrow. Milton Whit
ncv. soil physicist and chief Of thn
bureau Of soils Of The agricultural
department. also was requested TO
appear at tomorrows sessions.
AS the hearings progressed Nr.
Kahn said il appeared that the
committee would not be able 20
conclude its Investigations this week
and probably the meeting "ou'c
bc continued over another week.
He had hoped to terminate nc
hearings and begin executive con-
sideratiou Of the Ford offer vita
the committee next week.
Another event schedule for to-
morrow is the hearing TO be held at
tho wax department. ~ Secretary
Weeks on the offer OF Frederick Z.
I:nys,rum of Wilmington. \. {. II
was considered probable that Sec
rotary Weeks would submit that
propose! TO congress before the sen
ate and house committees lad DIS
posed OF the Ford offer.
The senate agriculture committee
took lis first action today on 'l;e
Ford proposal 1t agreed TO begin
hearings TUESDAY with Major C;e"-
crai Ecach. chief OF army cnSl-
unrrs. and mcnlbcrs OF u delegation
from Tennessee. including Govern
or Taylor. Who are waiting 20 t">-
lily l.forc the nous" "omnIttcr.