The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-20

Ex-Governor 0'Neal, formerly O enumerated the advantages that Al posal is accepted by Congress. A r Bailes, post commander of the Amer calling upon Congress to disregard t accept the offer of the Detroit man
 Judge B. M Allen presided in addition to sx-Governor ONeal, Charles L. Harold, secretary manager of the Birmingham Civic association. spoke in favor of the Ford bid A telegram was read from Congress man George Huddleston in which he gave assurance of his full accord with the purpose of the meeting. SThe power company's offer" he said, 'is merely a sideswipe at Ford. No patriotic Alabamian should hes itate to put strength behind the ac- eeptance of the Ford offer"
 Ex-Governor oNeal received a long distance telephone message from Kirkman ONeal which was read be- fore the meeting. It stated that a mass meeting will be held at Florence urging Governor Kilby 10 call an extra session of the legisla ture to repeal the laws granting to the Alabama Power company free dom from taxation. Under the terms , of a statue passed by the legisla- ture the company is exempt 10 yeaes after the beginning of plant. from taxation except on land, Telegrams were also read from Frank N. Julian, president of the chamber of com merce at Sheffield and From Bill Black, chairman of the chamber of commerce of Montgomery.
 Development of Shoals Traced
 The response shown by the people of Alabama indicates, said ex-Gover- nor O'Eeai, that they have not re- tired since the Alabama Power com pany 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 ean be made of nitrogen.
 Henry Ford,' he said, "is seeking to become a benefactor by giving enn- ployment and increasing the wages of the nation and not by increasing his own wealth"
 The dream of the Alabama Power company has been for years to get control of Muscle Shoais, according to the speaker. Tn their desire. he added, they found a willing ally in Secretary of War Weeks. whom he criticised for his cold treatment of Henry Ford and for his dily- dalying tactics.
 The only purpose of the Alabama , Power company continued the for tpmer governor, 'in submitting the bid was to increase the wealth of it's English and Canadian stockholders. Where did the Alabama Power com pany get the money to develop the II. 1~1 4. A~A NA~t did not have 1t. Why, they found willing allies in the sunpowder trust. the fertilizer trusts and other Wall street monopolie2"
 The former governor said he would like to see the act of the legislature eNempting the power company from taxation repealed. But he added that it was his information that IT mem bers of the state senate are on the payrolls of that company. He said that the pockets of the power com pany are ''bulging with spells talsSn from the taxpayers"
 In face of the overwhe eiming sem timent in Alabama favoring the Ford offer, ex-Governor O'NeaI said he thought the power company ought 10 withdraw it's offer. God help any congressman or any party that op- poses the offer of Henry Ford" con cluded the speaker. we are eor Ford first, last and all the time, and we are not quitters and we want the Alabama Power company to know it."
 Edison Quoted
 Judge R. NJ Allen said that the pur- pose in calling the meeting was 10 give expression to this industrial section." He quoted Edison as say Nng that 1000, 900 horsepower could be developed at Muscle Shoals and that every horsepower meant work for one man. He said he had no quarrel to pick with Secretary Weeks or the Alabama Power company, but that ''by their fruits you shall know them"
 Charles L. Harold questioned the fertilizer provisions of the power company offer He said that the company offers to turn over to the government or any designated agency the second 100, 900 horsepower pro duced but that during three months of the year owing to low water the secondary 100, 900 horsepower can not be produced
 Secretary Harold said that there was some hesitation as to calling Ford meeting on Sunday but that now was the time to apply religion to practical affairs when thousands are Tout of work.
 | The auditorium and two balconies fof the Jefferson theatre were filled tand about 200 persons were forced to stand. The mention of Ford's name was cheered time after time.