The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-17
FORMER GOVERNOR OPPOSES POWER CO.
 OFFER FOR SHOALS

The Secretary of War and the Ala bama Power comp~ny are doing everything in their power to prevent Henry Ford obtaining control of Muscle Shoals, in the opinion of former Governor Emmet o'Neal in an open letter criticizing the eleventh hour bid of the power company for the government properties.
 The action of the Alabama Power company in making bid at the last surprise to those who are familiar with the devious and sinister meth ods which this company has always pursued" Mir. O'Neal charges. "fo secure control of the Muscle Shoals to exploit it. not in the interest of the farmer or the public, but solely to swell the dividends of it's Cana dian and English stockholders, has, from the beginning always been the secret but cherished plan of this corporation, even when the force of public opinion compelled it to pub hely announce that it would not be a competitor of Henry Ford.
 The former governor in his state- ment said that at the time public opinionS forced the announcement from the corporation that it would not oppose Ford's offer. 'the power company announced that 1t was financially unable to undertake so mammoth an enterprise"
 Attacks Secretary of War.
 Taking the age-old maxim, all things come to him who waits, and hkening the action of the power company in this respect to the physi- cological moment for blocking the offer, the former chief executive charges that then recognizing the Alabama Power company could not openly enter the list against the wizard of Detroit, behind whom was gathered the most united and DOW ertul public sentiment" instituted a propaganda of misrepresentation" through delay, as weapon by which Ford was to be undone. And the Alabama Power company seems 10 have found a willing and powerful ally in the Secretary of War"
 In assailing the Secretary of War. Mir O'Neal declares that in response to the governments offer for bids on Muscle Shoals, to which the automo- bile manufacturer bid, these papers
 remained untouched in the files of the war office for nearly six months. It mattered not that it's acceptance would have resulted in almost imme- @iate business revival in the south giving employment to thousands and creating an industrial renaissance without parallel"
 Acceptance of the bid of the Ala bama Power company would mean the establishment in Alabama and the south of the most powerful, sell hsh and most unconceivable monopoly that has ever menaced the liberty of our people. The Alabama Power com pany would fix the price of power arbitrarily and would therefore have the right to decide without appeal what corporation should exist or per- ish."
 All competitive organizations and all corporations unfriendly to the company would be unable to secure power from the successful bidder if the offer of the power company is ac- cepted, the former governor pointed out.
 "The generosity of the company is shown by the fact chat they rented the Gorgas plant at a price less than l F per cent on money invested by the government"
 Mir. O'Neal spoke of the future pos- sibilities of the power industry not only in Alabama but in the universal application to all steam power. "The day of hydro electric power is here, with it's coming the day of steam power passes and it is of the utmost importance to the people that they stop and consider before aiding in the creation of a monopoly which will follow should the Alabama corpora tion get control of the Shoals"
 The death knell was also sounded for coal operators should they con hive in such methods as indicated by the action of the officers of the power company in seeking control of the project now engaging the attention ot the entire nation. Let coal opera tors also stop and take notice that without the aid of the Westinghouse and General Electric corporations their products would lose their value.
 Under the Ford plan as outlined and submitted to the government, Mir. O Neal declared that Alabama and ad- joining states would become the rich est in the south.