Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1922-06-17
FORD PROPAGANDA
WIDELY EMPLOYED
Senator Norris Charges That Real
Estate Sharks Will Profit
By His Offer.

Washington. June il-preSident
Harding has taken no position with
respec, to the question OF Muscle
Shoals. and feels that Congress
should have q free hand in the mat
ter. il was said authoritatively today
at the White House.
The President, it was added. neither
opposes nor supports the offer of
Henry Ford for lease and purchase
of the Muscle Shoals properties, feel
ing that in this matter, as in the
whole question, it is matter on
which Congress should pass.
Declaring he had never 'found
anything to exceed the propaganda
IN favor of Ford" Chairman Norris
Of the Senate Agriculture Committee.
during hearing today on various
proposals for development of Muscle
Shoals. asserted that he could under
stand "why the people who expect
to make millions selling real estate
and specializing at Muscle Shoals
want Mr.. Ford's proposal accepted.
The committee chairman declared
that "thcrc are people right nov run
ming for Congress on the Ford propo-
sition." and that it was impossible
Ito run for Office in Alabama unless
you are for Ford"
Criticism by Senator Norris Of
what he described as propaganda in
favor of the Ford offer was inter
jected during an examination OF ".
G.. Waldo. consulting engineer of the
Tennessee River Improvement Asso-
citation.
Great Real Estate Snap.
Mr.. Waldo told the committee that
opposition to the Ford offer had come
from the New England States. New
York. New Jersey and Pennsylvania,
but such opposition. he said. was
short-sighted, because more than b.
10000 acres of land in those States
had been abandoned in the last 40
years which could have been made
profitable farming land had fertilizer,
such a. Mr.. Ford plans to manufac-
ture at Muscle Shoals been available
at reasonable prices.
Senator Norris. breaking in to the
testimony. declared that disposition
of the nitrate and power projects
at Muscle Shoals involved the great
est real estate snap that has ever
taken place since the beginning of
time"
Part of the propaganda for Mr.t
Ford, the Senator said, was being
conducted by the farmer organiza-
tions named by the Ford offer which
he added, were sending letters to all
parts of the country urging "the
people to burn the grass behind the
fellows who won, vote for Ford"
In this connection he mentioned
Gray Silver, Washington representa-
tive of the American Farm Bureau
Federation.
Alleged Fertilizer Trust.
Senator Heflin, Democrat, of Ala
bama, called attention to the propa-
ganda carried on by the fertilizer
trust. which, he said, did not 1t
Mr.. Ford to get Muscle Shoals -
Government and other witnesses" !"
Senator Norris replied, "have testi-
fed here that there il no such thing
as a fertilizer trust and we would
have to find them not guilty if we
tried them on the evidence taken"
The Alabama Senator declared.
however, he was satisfied there was
a fertilizer trust, and Senator Norris
said he was willing to subpoena any
witness who could prove the exiS-
tence of such a trust.
Mr.. Waldo told the committee that
he had number of publications
printed by the fertilizer interests
which he would submit to the COM
mittee as evidence that it was ac-
lively engaged in opposing the Ford
offer.