The Washington times., 1922-08-04
Of
FORD OFFERF FOR
SHOALS URGED.
Seven Senators Predict Cigan.
tic Trade War II Auto King
Gets Project.
BY WILLIAM X. HUTCHINSON,
International News Service.

BY WILLIAM X. HUTCHINSON,
international News Service.
Heralding a gigantic trade war be-
tween Henry Ford and the industrial
, trusts Of America, seven members
of the Senate Agriculture Committee
today recommended absolute accept
ance by the Senate Of his offer for
development of the Governments
$500, 100000 nitrate and water power
project at Muscle Shoals, Ala.
The seven Senators, submitting a
minority report, brought Ford one
step nearer realization Of his dream
for an economic revival throughout
the South and creation of a monster
Industrial shrine at Muscle Shoals.
The report was the second submitted
by members of the committee. q
previous one having urged Govern.
ment ownership.
Linked In Aluminium War.
Hinting frequently that Ford
would launch a trade war II
he obtained a lease to the Govern.
ment's great water.power project,
the report at one place openly linked
him in battle of Industrial elimina.
ton with the Aluminium Compa ny
Of America. 1t expressly declared
Ford would compete in the manu-
facture Of electric furnace produc Is
with such concerns as the Aluminium
Company Of America" urging ac-
ceptance of his proposed l00-year
lease to give him an even fight with
his trade rivals who held unlimited
water-power locations on nonnaviga.
BILE streams.
The report also sounded a warn.
ing that Ford's development of the
Muscle Shoals water.power project
might bring a means to avoid future
paralysis Of American industry
through breakdowns in the fuel and
transportation systems. It spe-
officially declared such great hydro
electric power as is found at Muscle
Shoals Is the only certain and per.
manent relief in the future from the
present paralysis of American indus
try"
The report, written by Senator Ed.
win F. Ladd Rep) OF North Dakota,
was signed by two Republicans and
flve Democrats. 1t branded the Nor.
an "extravagant waste" and declared
Ford's offer alone, gave the Amerl.
can people an opportunity to bene-
fit from the great natural resources
at Muscle Shoals. Besides Ladd,
Senators Capper OF Kansas, Smith Of
south Carolina, Ransdell OF Louis.
lana, Harrison Of Mississippi, Hefiin
OF Alabama, and Caraway Of Arkan.
sas, signed the report.
Would Bring Great Economies.
The Ford advocates declared accept.
ance Of his proposal would result in
monster water-power DEVELOPMENT
at Muscle Shoals which would be
comparable only to Niagara Falls. +"
They contended his great mechanical
genius, manifested in plants at Mus.
Gle Shoals. would pass on direct to
the American people great industrial
economies"
The report went into detail con.
corning attempts to dispose OF the
project directly after the war. 1t
was declared every great fertilizer
company had refused to operate tho
project for the Government without
obligations and even at an offer Of
per cent profit.
Throughout the report, the Senn.
tors dealt with comparisons. In par.
alleled columns. they pointed out al.
legged defects in the Government
operation plan and the benefits dc.
rived from the Ford offer. In con.
clusion, they compared the Ford pro.
posal to the ship subsidy bill, de-
claring that to reject Ford's offer
would be to sound a death knell to a
merchant marine subsidy.
The Ford men flung a direct chal.
lenge to ship subsidy adherents to
support their stand.
"If the Ford proposal canpot be
supported as a subsidy, then how
can the American people support a
subsidy to ship operators7" was a
demand they made to the subsidy ad.
vocates.
DO Not Predict Millennium.
at the very outset we wish II
clearly understood that we do not
claim. and the warmest friends Of
the Ford offer cannot claim, that
DANCING.