The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-14
MIR. oLIvER's REVELATIONS

Opponents of Henry Ford's bid for Muscle Shoals have laid stress on the Gorgas steam plant, claiming that Ford's insistence on having this plapt showed his lack of good faith, and as- serting that 1t was unnecessary for the development of the proposed fer tilizer industry. Yet this plant may prove to be the battle-ground over which the great contest between self ish interests on the one hand, and the public welfare on the other, may be waged. Recent developments have revealed much as to the motives be- hind the fight for Gorgas. MT. Ford asserts that when Secretary of War Weeks sold the steam plant at Gorgas, Che pulled the first stitch in unravel- ing the greatest single prospect ever held out to the American farmer and manufacturer"
 Now comes the remarkable revela- tion made by Congressman w. B. Oliver, published elsewhere in today's Age-Herald, that the secretary of war deceived the president and the attor- ney general about Gorgas by withhold ing important facts. MT. Oliver charges that if all the facts had been presented, the attorney general could not have given it as his opinion that the government was morally bound to sell the plant to the Alabama Power Company. "It is important to bear in mind," says Mir. Oliver, "that the pre- vision of the contract authorizing the notice to be given is predicated on the failure of the government to take any energy from the Warrior extension.' |" Yet, he continues, "the Alabama Power Company, after the default oc. cured, as it alleges, in July, 1921, en- tered into written contract with the government whereby it was obligated to furnish current to the government at Muscle Shoals" This contract was first made in 1921, renewed June 30, 1922, for twelve months, and again renewed June 80, 1928, to June 30, 1924, with the stipulation that the gov ernment should have the right of yearly renewals thereafter. This con- tract, says MT. Oliver, was in force prior to, during and since April 4, 1923, when the power company gave it's notice to vacate, and he adds: "The government has been regularly taking and paying for current under this con- tract with the power company since the contract was first made"
 These facts were not brought to the attention of the president and the at torney general, according to MT. Oli- yer, and they constitute an evidence of the bad faith so apt to develop when selfish interests are involved. An other matter which has never been brought formally to the attention os the authorities in Washington is the claim of half ownership in the site upon which the Gorgas plant is built i by H. B. Mccormack. If his claim proves valid, it is asserted that the original agreement made with the gov ernment by the Alabama Power Com pany for the construction of the Cor gas plant would not be binding, be- cause the company would have ex. ceeded its authority in making such contract without the consent of the other half owner of the site.
 Now that the fight is coming into the open all these and many other in- cidents may be laid before congress, in which event the Go1gas steam plant may be the salient upon which the battle is conducted.