, 1922-06-20
FORD OFFERFOR
NITRATE PLANT
ASSA|LED AGAIN
House Military Committee
Members Fire Broadside in
Report Dealing With
Real Facts"

WASHINGTON. June 2o-Honry
Fo-d's offer 10 purchase and lease the
governments power and nitrate pro
jects at Muscle Shoals. Ala. was at
tackled today in a report 20 the house
prepared by Representative Kearns,
Republican, and signed by Representa-
lives MORN. Pennsylvania; Parker,
New ersey; Crowther. New York
FrothinEhom. Massachusetts, and R.n
sley, Pennsylvania. all Republicans
members Of the house military com
mittee. The report declared dissatisfac-
ton with opinions already presented
20 the house by other members Of the
committee and announced that the
signers were determined TO tell the
people'' the real facts about Muscle
Shoals and the ~ro-called Ford offer
Representatives Kearns said Repre-
s~entat1ves Parker aHd rockingham
signed the report although previously
had endorsed another minority opin-
ion. He expected two other commit
teemen would sign later. he said max
ing a total Of eight Republican sigma
lures on the report
Declaring the belief that "the coun-
try little understands what It is that
Mr.. Ford is offering to do, or what,
IL anything. he IS offering for this
great plant the siEnatorles first de-
rounce what they describe as zone OF
the most insldious propagandas that
The nation has witnessed for many a
day"
Many of the Ford advocates the re-
port says. are honest and conscien-
tious, but have been mislead as to
facts OF the offer made. In this con-
nection. it points to the provision by
which fertilizers would be manufac-
tured and say that despite persistent
report tina he VIII compel the fertil'
i-er manufacturers of the country to
sell their product at one-half of what
they are now selling it." Mr.. Ford
docs not agree 70 make fertilizers at
all unless he can make them with a
profit to himself"
The committeeman declare this is
n hollow promise made to enlist the
support of the farmer and not found
cd on any fact either contained in the
contract or existing outside the con-
tract and charge that propaEandists
fail to tell the people hat tho prin-
cipal business OF Mr.. Ford. should he
get this gigantic plant. would be the
manufacturing OF other articles, which
he would be allowed to sell at n
price he might sec fit"
THE only thing that is kept before
the public" the report continues, sis
that he is to make fertilizer and sell
st cheaDly TO the farmer. only charg-
ing for himself a profit of S per cent
on the production. No m has ever
suggest he could make fertilizers and
sell them cheaply or what means he
would employ. The bold claim is
made. and congress and the country
must take the statement rs absolute
truth or be forever condemned by this
crowd of wicked propagandists."
Propagaudists also ave attracted
the unemployed. the report says, add
ing tina the do not only try to thus
bribe the sympathy OF the farmer. but
try thus to elicit the attention OF the
unemployed by painting a rosy pic
ture of the great activity that is to be
started overnight at Muscle Shoals
where they promise a million men VIII
be given employment
After explaining their attitude in
opposition to the Ford offer. the com
mitteemen declare they are not be
levers in fables nor have faith to
believe in the pranks OF fairies nor
do they think that Mr.. Ford is the
-reincarnation Of Aladdin plus his
lamp"
The properties for which Mr.. Ford
offers the government IS. oOo. 900 the