The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-03-15


 The action of the league was opp Richard Johnston. In her position S
 Mrs. Mac Drennen declared that she was not satisfied, as did several oth- CTS.
 Immediately following the con clave, Mrs. Richard Johnston vacated the chair to put her strenuous objec- tion, before the body. She said:
 T an absolutely opposed to the passage of this resolution for the req son that I feel we should have a clearer understanding of both bids l feel we do not understand the Ford bid any more clearly than before this meeting began. The reason is that Representative Oliver did not give us an interpretation of the Ford bid a all, but simply spent his time at tacking the other bid"
 Says Speech Disappointing
 Miss Marjorie Adler, publicity sec- retary, took the floor and said that she was very much disappointed in Nr Divers speech. especially and declared:
 'If the League of Women Voters fndorses the Ford bid. it will look like Representative Oliver convinced Us. And 1 feel that he gave us ab- SplulSlg HO TtdSOH pn WHICH 10 DdED our opinion for Ford We announced that we wanted to hear both sides of the question. We did not hear both sides. Representative Oliver took not more than four minutes to explain the Ford bid. The Alabama Power company, through Logan Martin, did show why they thought they should have Muscle Shoals"
 While large number of the league a Al. a number of the women were silent and did not vote at all.
 Wants Power Contract Carried Out
 Not only did the league indorse Ford's bid, but in It's following reso- 1ution asked that MT. Ford's bid be amended so as to enable the govern ment to carry out its contract with the Alabama Power company.
 The following Is the resolution passed:
 Whereas. it is a matter cf great importance to Alabama. the south and the nation. that the latent water lwer at Muscle Shoals be exten- sively developed for all purposes, but chiefly for the manufacture of cheap fertilizers and,
 Whereas. in our opinion Henry Ford has thus far submitted to the government the best bid for the de- NSlOpHlGAb run tue SLanupOlnI or the common people, insuring the pro- tection of their interest and the man ufacture of fertilizer at reasonable profit therefore,
 Be 1t resolved that the League of Women Voters endorse the Ford bid and urge our representatives in Congress to support it in every way.
 Be it resolved further that We be- lieve the government as we'll as an t.r&A .oI it's valid contracts and If the gov ernment has a valid contract with the Alabama Power company, regarding the Gorgas steam plant, we believe MT. Ford's bid should be so amended as to enable the government to carry out it's contract.
 Argument Lasts Some Time
 The resolution was passed, but this did not stop argument, which kept on even when the women had passed out into the lobby of the Hlllman.
 Mrs. A. J. Bowron said: 'I was in favor of Ford getting Muscle Shoals because the Alabama Power company will put everything under water pow CT and that will hurt our coal inter est"
 Mrs solon Jacobs spoke favorably for the Ford bid.
 Following the meeting the women fired questions at the two speakers. One of them elicited great applause when she asked Mir. Oliver if he was sure that MT. Ford would get Muscle Shoals"
 MT. Oliver responded: 'I will an swer you with this question: T am sure that the Alabama Power com pany won't get it."
 Some of the women said Mir. Oliver seemed to imply that the whole Con- eress of the United States was against the Alabama Power company. which they did not believe, and in favor of the Ford bid. They did not see how this could be if Congress was still discussing all cases impar- tially. Mrs. Johnston said that the government must feel there are some drawbacks and some advantages in all bids.
 One woman asked why Ford want ed the Gorgas plant. MT. Oliver re- sponded that it would save Mir. Ford transportation on 1.500 tons of coal a day from the coal fields to Shelf field, where the government plant is"
 Should Hear Kiiby
 Other sentiment was that before putting the league on record in favor of the Ford bid the organization should hear it's own governor, Thomas E. Kilby, discuss all bids, since he was supposed. as governor, to be the leader for the state and to have it's interest, unbiasedly, at heart.
 Following the meeting the League of Women Voters asked Representa- tive Oliver to concur in certain Sem ate amendments for the benefit of the wpu1an's bureau He promised to take the matter under consideration.
 Charging that the Alabama Power company took advantage of the gov ernment in time of peril in the con tract executed for construction of ad-
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