The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-13
SAYS MONDELL MADE) OUT CASE FOR FORD
Senator Duncan Declares Swan Song" Was An Argument
 srATB CAPITAL BUREAU
 THE AGE-HERALD NoutwoVnevv Ala March IF

When Majority Leader Mondell sang his swan song" in Congress at adjournment he unwittingly left cording to the declaration of sena- tor George W. Duncan of Limestone and Lauderdale coun.ieS today. "Mr Mondell declared that If any other American had made tho same prop osition it would have been smothersd in ridicule." Senator Duncan said that Mondell's statement was an ad- mission that Ford's offer Is the only enc which had been regarded as sut- ficient by the American people.
 Senator Duncan in commenting on the statement said Tn his little swan song as reported in ths press today. Majority Leader Mondell rn- willingly, no doubt, made a most succinct argument for the develop ment of Muscle Shoals when he said : If the proposition had been made by anyone but Henry Ford 1t would have been smothered in ridicule.' It is precisely because the Ford offer Is the only feasible and practicable proposition that has been made for the development of this great prop erty for the benefit of tho American people that has caused an almost universal demand that 1t be accepted
 His further statement that tho people favoring the Ford offer want to see great industrial center es- tablished Is also true because this would greatly benefit the great mass of people who consume fertilizers, farm implements-a other essential products of the great industrials There Is no other equal arrangement in the world combining in near prox- tmity and of the essential, basic raw materials for the development of a great industrial center. Here are al- most unlimited hydro electric power resources Iron ore, coal, limestone, cotton, timber-practically all of the great basic raw materials.
 Many years ago Comm odore Matthew F. Maury, the father of the United States weather service. to whom the geography of the world was an open book, while making a speech from the steps of the old bank building in Decatur, held out his arms. pointing up and down the Ten nessee valley. and said. This area of the Tennessee valley of north Ala bama combines all of the elements O. climate, soil, drainage and re- sources for the highest development of the civilization in a greater de- gres than in other like area in the world and will some day support the largest population of any equal area except some metropolitan center" !"
 CONSIDER TEXTBOOKS.
 Citizens of Alabama will inow some time Tuesday whether or not present contracts for school books used in the public schools will be re- neWed. Members of the state board of education this afternoon gathered Tor an important meeting, during which consideration will be given to the replies of the publishers. Pub ilsners holding the most valuable contracts have agreed to a renewal on the same basis, but several pub iishers who have been supplying books under contracts executed in 1913 and 1914 have requested in creases in the contract, prices. con tending that the heavy advances in materials since the contracts were executed have caused serious losses. All publishers are willing to renew the contracts. but holders of the old ones insist that the increases must be granted.
 During the meeting the board will award a contract for the C. ,struction or one unit of the Troy Normal schocs. Bids have. been submitko o Tor the construction of state traf h. ing school, an appropriation for which was made in 1919. The board aeciined to award the contract at the time the buildings were con tracted at Florence, Livingston and Jacksonville because of the bad To- cation at Troy. Citizens of Troy have provided a new location.