The vidette. (Iuka, Tishomingo County, Miss.) 1912-1967, 1922-06-01
RESOLUTIONS
ARE ADOPTED
Southern Commercial Congress Calls
on President and Congress for
Acceptance of Ford Offer.

Memorial to the President and the
Congress of the United States:
Believing that the great industrial
project, Muscle Shoals, should be sc
developed as to secure the greatest
good to the nation, and affirming our
confidence in the ability and purpose
of the members of congress and the
President, who bear the responsibility
for the future of this great national
asset, we, the authorized delegates to
the national conference on Muscle
Shoals, in session under the auspices
of the Southern Commercial Congress
at Muscle Shoals May 22-24, 1922, hav-
ing carefully considered the features
of this undertaking and after inspec-
ton of the property and serious
study of the several proposals there
for, offer the following memorial in
testimony of our unanimous convic-
ton
National progress and national ex-
istence itself depend upon the main
tenance of our soil fertility, together
with adequate provision for our ma
tional defense.
No single human endeavor in the
United States affords such promise of
advancing the national welfare in both
of these ways as does the uncompleted
Muscle Shoals project. To abandon
and scrap this project would be an
economic crime.
The real usefulness of Muscle Shoals
can be realized only by compre-
hensive development that calls for
vast capital and organizing ability of a
high order available to but few pri-
vate citizens and to the government
itself.
This country has attained fore
most place in wealth and industry not
by governmental engagement i'll busi-
ness, but by the enterprise and ability
of its private citizens, among whom
none command a greater degree of
confidence based upon achievement
than does Henry Ford.
The Ford proposal is the only offer
pending which provides;
For the full development of all tn,
power possibilities of the Tennessee
river;
For the utilizing of the great re-
sources of the Tennessee Valley;
For the adequate Improvement
navigation;
For guaranteed production of chea'
fertilizers on scale which offers sub
,tantial encouragement to millions o,
American farmers and,
For the maintenance for 100 years
of the nitrate plant, assuring at all
times a domestic supply of explosives
in time of war.
Detailed congressional Investigations
have confirmed our view of the situa
ton and have disclosed the opposi-
ton as that of selfish interests, who
disregarding the national welfare, seel
to prevent that which they themselves
when offered the opportunity, declined
to undertake.
The problem has been under con
sideration by the people of the coun-
try for more than year.
The facts are now we'll known; the
issue is clearly defined and the time
for action is at hand.
Therefore, we do earnestly urge up
on congress and the President to enc
The Improbable and wasteful delay
by early and decisive action accepting
the offer of Mr. Ford.
In pursuance of the foregoing decla-
ration to the congress of the United
States and to the American people,
Be it further resolved, that legis-
lative committee be and is hereby ap-
pointed to engage itself in every pro-
per effort to further the legislative
program adopted at this conference
and that the said committee shall con
.ist Of Clarence J. Owens, director
general of the Southern Commercial.
Congress, chairman; Hoke Smith, T.
R. Preston, with the power and au-
thority to increase this committee in
heir discretion to the number OF
eleven.
Be it further resolved, that a COM
mittee on general information be and
is hereby appointed with the authority
and duty to educate the American pub
ic on the national importance of the
Muscle Shoals project and the neces-
sity of their immediate completion
through federal legislative action, anc
the said committee shall consist oi
Col. Luke Lea, chairman; c. P. ]
Mooney Robert w. Bingham, Clarl
Howell, Josephus Daniels, Frank N
Julian and Roy Garner.