Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1922-07-20

the Senate Agricultural Com
mittee. Neither Senate nor
Administration wanted Ford to
have that plant. Fertilizer
makers didn't want him to
have il either. Various other in
terests didn't want him to
it. This decision will make
some Republican Senators and
others do a good deal of think
ing around election time
Arthur Brisbane in Hearsts
Chicago Examiner.
Why not be honest in stating this
case?.
% Ford never offered to "pur-
chase" Muscle Shoals in any true
sense Of the word He asked the
Government TO GIVE him $l23,000,
600 worth Of Government property
(the cost Of two nitrate plants, plus
the expenditure already made on
power dams) for $5,0O0,O00 payable
in five years. When a man offers
four cents on the dollar for vast re-
sources, belonging to the people, it
may technically be an offer to 'pur-
chase" but in reality it is an offer to
salvage" at a giveaway price. AT
least, of certainty it is no thunder
ing bargain for the people.
.(2) Ford never promised TO use
"the power" to make fertilizer.
His fertilizer proposition covers on
| ly one of the two nitrate plants and
only about 100000 out of 100000 po-
tential horsepower water units. In
other words, the major values at
Muscle Shoals are not dedicated
even in Ford's own proposal-to the
manufacture of fertilizer.
CD Ford never promised, furth-
ermore, to produce cheap fertilizer.
| He promised to TRY-with a portion,
| only, of Muscle Shoals-at 8 per cent
| profit to himself. This 8 per cent
profit should not be entirely over
looked as an element measuring
| "philanthropc" intent. In addition
! to other demands listed above, Ford's
proposition requires the Government
to complete these power dams with
some $50,000,000 more Of public
money upon which Ford agrees to
pay the Government but per cent.
These are the real facts as near
| ly as we are able to epitomize them.
If any Senator finds himself unable
to approve any such proposition as
| this, he should be credited with
| "horse sense" and a correct appreca-
ton of public values. AT the very
least he should NOT be charged with
less they be the real "interests" of
the people AS matter of fact Con-
| gresham Mondell of Wyoming was
entirely right when he said that if
any such proposition as this had
been offered by Rockefeller il would
have been howled down as the most
stupendous grab the Interests ever
aimed at the public Treasury.
Instead of calling Names those
| who want TO see Muscle Shoals used
to make Cheap fertilizer for the
farmers should get down to brass
tacks. If it is possible TO dedicate
this vast Government property to
the cheapening of fertilizer, most
certainly it ought to be done. The
farmer needs cheaper fertilizer. If
there is any way to get it to him,
record us with a hearty "Amen."
But if Muscle Shoals representing
potential values running towards
5000, 100000 of the peoples money
is turned over to Henry Ford for S5,-
|
Lutte ASSURANCE that out of this
stupendous sacrifice of public money
will come a GUARANTEED AID
VANTAGE for the farmer, and not
a mere promise to try to use a minor
portion of these resources to make
fertilizer at 8 per cent profit for Mr.
Ford. Let's not farm the farmer
There's nothing to gain for the
farmer or the country in chasing
will-o-wisps in this matter, or in
working up sweat over Arthur
Brisbane's sophstries. When a
Ford contract is proposed which
GUARANTEES some of the happy
results which the country wants the
farmer to enjoy, we shall look upon il
less critically. Mr.. Fords far-adver-
tised promise to turn his war profits
ESTIMATED at $4,000, 000O back into
the public Treasury does not as yet
seem to have been liquidated. Wher
some S200,000,000 Of public property
at Muscle Shoals is involved, we arc
disinclined to take any further pro
Uses" at face value. We want to 'set
it in the contract"-and we want tn,
Nation t. be GUARANTEED AIDE
quate value received" for such ;
slaughing giveaway. In lieu thereof
we should prefer to see Muscl,
Shoals operate under Government
ownership (much as we shun tina
phrase) in an attempt to produc,
"cheap fertilizer for the farmer
with ALL the Muscle Shoals propert.
used for this purpose, and without al
SO per cent profit" on the side. Gran,
Rapids Herald.
l BANK CLEARINGS
l The First State Bank report