The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-03-16
DEMOCRATS THINK
 MELLON IS HOSTILE
 TOFORD PROPOSAL
Prepare to Handle Secretary of Treasury Without Gloves. Pat Harrison Says Bid
 Will Be Approved
By HUGH ". ROBERTS Washington Bureau. The Age Herald.
 800 Davidson BuiIdir

Washington Bureau The Ago Herald.
 800 Davidson Building.
 Washington, March l5.-(Spe- cial. members of the House committee on military affairs advocating the Henry Ford offer for Muscle Shoals are preparing to han die the Secretary of the Treasury, Andrew N. Mellon, without gloves, if when called upon to advise the committee regarding the financial features of the several offers, he an- ,agonizes that of the Detroit manu- lacturer.
 puhout tangible reason. demo Cratic committeeman regard Mellon is dptagonistlc to the tord offer It nds been said repeatedly and once i-alniaied in writing by hord $ aseat' J. N. Mcrthington, that Mellon would oppose the plan Of Fora be- ,ause the Detroit magnate intended producing aluminium on the banks ot tue 1 ennessee and thus riVAlinS tne Secretary of the Treasury Tn such production.
 MT Mellon has not informed the eomnlittee when ne will appear. It t. understood, however, that he If
 
 elatie committeeman, and will pro ed against opposition Jast as ne i.ts been prosecuting bonus pro lossis in addition to the secretary, 0ne other cabinet officer will advise ,de committee. The Attorney General nas been asked to pass upon the ie- sal features Involved in the contract between the government and the Ala lama Power company, regarding the
 
 Attitude Not known
 one assistant to the Judge advocate general has declared that the con- tract was not binding. The commit tee does not regard such advice as conclusive. The attitude Of the Att torney General is not known
 The Senate committee on agricrl- lure will so to Muscle Shoals inn mediately after the fight on the trea- ties is concluded There is danger that the House committee on military affairs will not go. The rules com mittee has declined to report rule giving the resolution containing au- lhority for the trip right of way and it is regarded as improbable that unanimous consent for it's consid- eration could be secured.
 In the meantime, Georgia, South Carolina and Virginia are reporting x v thusiastic support of the Ford offer. They are represented as being as strong for the Detroit manufacturer as Alahama and Tennessee
 Bitterness Develops
 There is considerable fear among southeeneFs that Congress will post pone final action regarding Muscle shoals Indefinitely. Considerable | 'aitiS lx ss rQ1as bsscsss >1 e4 sHrpfps ael -1ffrere IS evidence of politics. rae Alabama delegation has been espef cially severe on the Alabama Power company and the president of that company, Thomas W. Martin, rel .ored in kind today
 Tn filing for the military commit ,ee,s record an answer to the reso.u- lions adopted by the MontgomerS mass meeting and to the oral argu- inents of representatives Oliver and Nimon MT. Martin used great force n stafing his case. By excerpts from 4swspapers large and small, in Ala oama. he made it appear that prior io ihe present controversy Alabama 1,as as strong for the power coni- any and its proposed development r, Muscle Shoals as today IL IS Tor ord
 Harrison Confident
 But the general pessimism based t,ii forebodIngs of inordinate delay is hot su,trcd by all southerners. Sem aior Pat Harrisoi Of Mississippi de- t.aaed ton.ght that he felt confident nat Congress within reasonable line would accept the Ford offer. In that connection he said;
 "Congrcss would be most derelict ir it should fail at this session 10 pass legislation accepting the Ford plans touching Muscle Shoals. It may be that some slight amendment should be made, but in the main the offer is most admirable one and ;he development if undertaken by Mr. Ford along the lines written in bis proposal, will mean much to the south. Ot course it will not be con fined to the south because chearer fertilizers will help the farmers in every part of the country.
 Benefit to Farmers
 rI know of no pending measure that will be of greater and more last ing benefit to the agricultural classes than the acceptance of the Ford of fer For three years our committee has been giving this matter thorough consideration and the hearing when once begun should not require great deal of time. I have not the slightest doubt that favorable action will be taken by the agricultural committee of the Senate and whom the measure is once before the Sem ate. while 1t might provoke long dis cussion when the vote is taken, it will most assuredly be adopted.
 Those of us who are chAmpionirg this legislation are not unmindful Of the strong opposition, however. by many selfish clements that are an tagonistic to the Ford offer. The de- velopment at Muscle Shoals Is of such great importance and the Ford offer is so fair that in the end their selfishness will be revealed and the