The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-01-17
HOW NEW YORK WORLD REGARDS
 THE FORD OFFER


 The New York World is noted for the ability of it's editorial writers to say ali there is to say on a subject in few words. Frank Cobb gets the credit for most of these masterpieces of condensation, but whether he is the writer or someone else, the World enjoys a unique dis tinction among American newspapers because of the clarity of it's thought. Discussing Henry Fords offer for Muscle Shoals, in the follow ing editorial, the World sums up the situation accurately:
 The United States government cannot escape taking into account the obvious disadvantages at tending Henry Ford's Muscle Shoals proposals. But when all the disadvantages have been weighed what alternative is left for the government con sder7 It has been waiting long and received other offers worth serious attention.
 Mir. Ford has submitted bid to take the plant fairly definite terms. If 1t is rejected for cause. is the property to be abandoned and allowed to to ruin7 If the only other to the administration would be to through the Muscle Shoals project and oper- ate the plant at government expense. For an industrial enterprise of that sort the United States government Is plainly unfitted to admit of argument It might keep spending money endlessly and footing growing losses if the taxpayers interests were of no importance After its experience in other directions. there can be excuse for its entering upon new ventures even less promising.
 By the operation of the Muscle Shoals plant the government would engage in manufact turing. From that sort of commercial undertaking 1t needs to steer clear. Once it goes in for producting ni- trates for sale. there is end to similar in which it may become involved. Congress would not need second invitation to commit it to other plans to invest money in other classes of industry for the benefit of certain sections or interests.
 Instead of going deeper into business the gov ernment should far possible withdraw from business The Ford proposals offer way out The World might have added that the Ford proposals offer the only way out. It is ad- mitted that there will be hard fight in Con gress over Muscle Shoals, but if the Ford offer is rejected what will become of project on which the government has already spent ap- proximately $100,oo0, ,O0O? Ford may not be the only industrial captain in the country cap- able of making something out of Muscle Shoals, but he is apparently the first to see that it has great possibilities and he is the only man who has made an offer for the property that will enable the government to get rid of an incubus. What excuse or justification could opponents in Congress give to the American people if the Ford offer is rejected?
 The west and the south want Ford to have Muscle Shoals. Objection that comes from the east is due to selfish interests. It is unfortu- nate that a proposition by which the whole country will benefit should be made political and sectional matter, but the united strength of the south and west should be able to pre- vent Muscle Shoals from being scrapped.
 
 The late Senator Penrose knew that Tantalus suffered. He left cellar stocked with $250,- 900 worth of choice liquors, but his doctors held him down to three drops" day.
 II
 If all the paragraphers have rung the changes on the name of the new senator from Pennsyl. vania we are in favor of giving him chance to make good.
 The American people, we are told, are giv- ing prohibition good-natured trial. Where does the good nature make itself felt?
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 One literary critic admits that he tries to be smart at the expense of people who write books. Such candor is refreshing
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