The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-09-03
FORD WILL INJURE
 PRESIDENTIAL BOOM BY CLOSING PLANT.
Ulterior Reason For Shutdown Sought Ford Is Still Ready to Fight For Muscle
 Shoals Dam
By HUGH ". ROBERTS Washington Bureau, The Age Herald.
 800 Davidson Building.

800 Davidson Building.
 Washington. September 2.-(Spe- 4cial.)--It Is the consensus of op.nio-, that Henry Ford, in preparing to shut down his plants. has injured hiI chances for the presidency.
 The reasons described by those who speculate) for the purpose of Ford to add to the chaotic iituation by releasing from work 100000 men are many. Some declare that he is actuated by desire to draw up the slack' in the automobile indus try; others that he would add to the embarrassment of the Harding ad- ministration.
 Others declare (and these seem to be in a majority that h.s design Is the result of anotl.-r quixotic in- stinct that forces him to believe that . he Is called upon, single handed. 0 solve the evaxatious problems of the universe.
 None # these reasons appeal .1 Washington observers as statesman like. The President has called upon everybody to help. Secretary Hoover declares that Ford could continue operation at a cost of only $1.50 per ton in excess of his Iresent coal charges.
 It is declared {chiefly by repub- lican politicians) that this additional expense should have very little weight with an individual whose annual income is half billion dol- lars; or with one obsessed with an ar,,N n 11n1fff ufa a manity.
 As to whether or not Ford will be a candidate for the presidency, there is doubt. It is declared to be true. however. that he wants to be Pres- ident. It Is said that he has con- cluded to be q democrat, and if he enters any primaries, they will be democratic. When he aspired to a senatorial toga. he entered both the democratic and republican pri- maries in Michigan.
 Ford and Muscle Shoals
 There is speculation in Washing ton as to how and to what extent Muscle Shoals would figure in Ford campaign for the presidency On the one hand, 1t is claimed by the American Farm Bureau federation that if Congress does not give Muscle Shoals to Ford the people. because of that congressional failure, will make him President of the United States.
 On the other hand, some days ago, an afternoon newspaper In Washing 5 ton published what appeared to be an Inspired statement that political friends of Ford, interested in electing him President, had advised him to withdraw his ofer for Muscle Shoals on the ground that no man, possess ing or about to possess contractual relations of lich magnitude with the government, could hope to be Presi- dent.
 It Is a safe proposition. however it is said, that Ford will not retire from the fight for Muscle Shoals.
 The Muscle Shoals situation, inci- dentally, seems to be:
 The republicans, at the proper time will inform the democrats that they will seriously take up. in the House. 2 the Ford and other offers for Muscle Shoals.
 Ford will not further amend his of fer unless 1t is made plain that as 1t stands he cannot put it through; and he will not then amend unless he Is assured that by amending the con- tract will be given to him.
 In the Senate the situation Is en- tirely chaotic with the outlook less 1 propitious for Ford than it is in the House.
 This fact is made apparent to all observers: Southern democrats who are actively fighting for the Ford offer for Muscle Shoals will not fol- low him if he becomes an avowed candidate for the presidency