Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1922-03-11
BIG POWERS
FIGHT HENRY FORD
Alignment of Mellon Against Him
Brings Up Treasurer's Alum
mum Interests

fight could be accurately described;
il all the interests that have had
hand in creating opposition to Henry
Ford's offer could be forced out into
the open, and if all the persons serv-
ing as catspaws for the big fellows
in this interesting game could be
ferreted out and labeled, it would be
an extremely interesting story.
Unfortunately, it is impossible to
get all the facts in the absence of
Congressional investigation that
would result in subpoenas for persons
and papers and cross-examining some
of those concerned under oath.
A Congressional inquiry is not
likely, since the control of Congress
is lodged with the very elements that
would be shown up by such a probe.
Enough has been shown by the
hearings on Ford's proposition, how
ever, and other moves here, to prove
to the satisfaction of unbiased OBJ
servers that what has been suspected
from the outset is true, namely, that
opposition of the most powerful char.
acter especially powerful because it
is working from the inside and under
cover has beset the Ford enterprise
from the time of its public announce
ment.
Mellon Against Him.
The alignment of Secretary of the
Treasury Mellon against the Ford
plan has been indicated from the be-
ginning. Mellon is the most power
full single figure in the Administra-
ton, when the qualifications of his
vast holdings are considered. He is
one of the three richest men in the
United States. Rockefeller probably
holds his old place at the head of the
list. while Ford, who is regarded by
the other members of the triumvirate
as a "scab" millionaire, is pressing
the other two hard for financial
supremacy. Income tax figures for
the present year are said to Indicate
that the Detroit manufacturer may
have gone ahead of Mellon.
The latter, like many great finan-
ciers, cares little for publicity, and he
figures little in the public prints.
Nevertheless, he is potent in Admin
istration councils, and whisper
from him goes long way.
Secretary Mellon and his brother,
r. b. Mellon, of Pittsburgh, are direc-
tors in the Aluminium Company of
America. commonly known as the
aluminium Trust" The Treasury
head is said to be the largest indivi-
ual stakeholder. This corporation,
which would be the chief beneficiary
under the acknowledgement plan on
the st. Lawrence River now being
pushed by the Administration under
the guise of canalization, owns 37OO
acres of land on the American side of
the st. Lawrence, and has about 300
acres on the Canadian side, at the
point where the first power develop
ment will be undertaken if the st.
Lawrence Canal is authorized by
Congress.
Trust" Engineer a Witness.
Colonel Hugh l.. Cooper, who so
vehemently denounced the Ford offer
for Muscle Shoals before the House
Military Affairs Committee, is the
aluminium Trusts" hydraulic engi-
neer, it develops.
A few days after Cooper was on
the stand before the House committee
he invited all the Washington cores
pondents to his room at hotel. The
actual roundup of the newspaper
men was done by man who proved
to be a representative of the water
power interests. The correspondents,
seeming story, in many instances
responded. Colonel Cooper merely
launched into trade against the Ford
offer. He is good engineer and can
discuss an engineering problem skill
fully. He compared Ford to p. I.
Barnum. He said Ford's proposal to
dam the Mississippi River was sufii-
cient in itself TO prove him crazy or
faker.
Finally, Cooper was asked whom
he represented in his expression of
views. Cooper explained that he be-
longed to the pro bono publico
group" which labors in the public
vineyard without hope of reward.
The truth of the matter is that
Cooper is identified with the Mellon
aluminium interests, which are
launching a great waterpOwer pro-
ject Of their own on the st. Lawrence,
while they fight to keep Ford out of
the hydro-electric field.
President Harding has come out
strongly for the ST. Lawrence project, |
although it is bitterly opposed by
Governor Miller, of New York, and
many other influential Republicans in !
that State. II. is understood the ,
President will shortly send special
message TO Congress urging approval
of the recommendation of the Inter |
national Joint Commission for this |
undertaking. He has declared that
the feasibility of the project is I'M
questioned, and its cost, compared
with some other great engineering |