The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-26
MASS MEETING AT JASPER INDORSES
 FORD SHOALS BID
Power Company Offer Is At- tackled in ReSoIutionS--Gan- didateS Asked to Express
 Views on Proposition

Jasper, February 25.-(S (Special-)- One of the greatest mass meetings ever held in Jasper was held in the court house here today when the cit- izens met to indorse the Ford offer 10 buy Muscle Shoals plant The crowd Began to arrive early and they kept coming in droves until the meet ing assembled at 10 o'clock
 Mayor J. H. Cranford presided. called the meeting to order and stated the object briefly. He was followed by the following speakers: ". c Davis, J. Nj. Pennington. r. l.. Long and A. B. Aldrich- Mir. Aldrich stated the position that the Alabama Power company occupied in the mat ter. and did so briefly. The other speakers were very ontspoken in their indDrsement of the Ford offer.
 During the meeting telegram was received from ex-Governor O'Neal. stating that his sister was very ill, and that he could not get here. Con gressman w. B. Bankhead indorsed the meeting in a telegram and stated that he favors the acceptance of the Ford offer. The last telegram was received with much applause by the crowd.
 Resolutions Adopted
 At this time the following resolu- tions were offered and adopted unan- imously.
 L That we view with extreme dis favor, the proposition of turning the Muscle Shoals power over to the Ala bama Power company, because tine Alabama Power company is owned principally by foreign stockholders. and further because the principal streams capable of producing hydro electric power in Alabama are the Goosa, Tallapoosa and Little rivers and the Tennessee river at Muscle Shoals The Coosa- Tallapoosa and Little rivers are now owned and con trolled by the Alabama Power com pany. To turn the Muscle Shoals over to tho Alabama Power company would be to create a trust for abso- lute control of the Alabama water power under one corporation, which is against the principles of free gov ernment and has been proven by past experience to be very danger ous. The history of the Alabama Power company has been against the development and upbuilding of Ala
 
 poses and with a view to squeezing all of the profit possible out of the people to enrich its stockholders.
 Endorse Ford Rid
 | We heartily indorse tho prop osition of Henry Ford. now pending in the United States Congress. be- cause we are advised by the highest authorities In the government that the proposition is fair, that it is practical and that it carries with it absolute protection for the industries of the south. and particularly of the agricultural industries, which arc so much in need of cheap fertilizer which the proposition provides for. And we call upon our representa- tiyes and senators in the United States Congress to use every honor able means to bring about the ae- ceptance of the Ford proposition, and the completion of the contract at as early date as possible. to the end that the great benefits to be derived from the development and operation of the Muscle Shoals plant be avail able at as early date as possible
 :. Realizing that for some time to come. probably for many years. questions incident to Muscle Shoals, that Is the taxation of property con trolled or regulat tions of the corpora tions or concerns that may arise from Its development will affect particularly the people of Alabama. we caH upon all who are now or who may during this year become can didates for Congress. governor, lieu tenant governor. public service com missioners and members of Alabama Legislature, to define specifically and in no uncertain terms their position with reference to the Muscle Shoals development, which development we regard as of more importance to the people of this state and the south land than any other question now confronting them-
 {. That copies of these resolutions be furnished to the daily papers of Alabama to tho governor of the state and to each member of Con gress and each senator from this state and that copy be mailed to Henry Ford and the Alabama Power company.