The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1922-02-15
LOOK With favor
UPON FORD'S OFFER
Secretary of Agriculture States His
Policy
ABOUT MUSCLE SHOALS
Take it or Leave it, as its Face
Value" Said TO BE
Ford's Attitude.

-, washington, Feb. 14.--Henry C.
Wallace, Secretary of Agriculture,
looks with favor "upon Henry Ford's
offer for purchase and lease of the
governments nitrate and water DOW
er projects at Muscle Shoals, Ala,
'.if its terms ar sufficiently definite
and binding to make sure the plant
Will be operated continuously for the
manufacture of fertilizer"
pr Richard C. Tolman, director
1.-THE fixed nitrogen research labora-
tory OF the department, announced the
Secretary's position with regard to
the Ford offer in an authorized state
ment which he read today before the
House military committee. The Sec
retary's views as expressed by the
witness were that if the terms were
as he had outlined the proposal would
result IN making available consd-
eraDly increased supply Of fertilizer
IN time of peace and give US assurance
OF adequate supplies Of explosives Of
1crtlllZcr III case of need"
Mayo on the Stand
The statement was read by Dr. Toll
man after the committee had COM
pleted an examination lasting more
than five hours of w. B. Mayo, chief
engineer and personal representative
OF Henry Ford, Mr.. Mayo's testimony
included repeated statements that
Mr: tord intended to manufacture
fertilizers in their completed forms
at the maximum production capacity
of the Muscle Shoals plants anG would
make every effort to manufacture
them at minimum cost of the farm
CTS, 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 manufacture, saw
ing there was no provision in the Of
Ter to compel the manufacture of fer
tlllZcr but only Of some necessary in
gradients. In each instance the wit
ness declared it was Mr. Fortl's inten-
ton to execute the contract, in the
event Congress accorded it, in good
faith and that included the production
of fertilizers
Take 1t or Leave It,"
At one point Mr.. Mayo said the
Detroit manufactures had been in
vitcd by the government to make the
ofirr and Congress could take it or
leave 1T, at its face value" This an
nounccmcnt followed heated cx-
change between the witness and Rep
rcscntativc Miller. Republican Wash
mgton, regarding the financial obliga-
tlons the government would assume
under the agreement. The Washing-
ton member insisted that the financial
burden on the country would exceed
by several millions that assumed by
MIR. Ford while Mr.. Mayo submitted
estimated expenditures Mr.. Ford
would make which totalcd more than
/ SS,00O,O00 in excess Of Mr.. MiIlcr's
figures. The colloquy ended without
an agreement between the two.
The Senate agricultural commit
tee took its first action today on
the Ford proposal. 1t agreed to be-
gin hearings Thursday with Major
Gen. Beach, chief of army engi-
nrcrS, and members Of q dclcga-
tion from Tennessee, including
! Governor Taylor, who are await.
ing to testify before the House com
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