The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-21
HOW WILL FARM VOTE GO, QUESTION
Believed Ford's Political Strength Would Weaken
 McAdoo's Campaign
By ROBERT J. BENDER Wire to AEe-Herald)

NEW YORK, Dec. 20.-How great will be the ultimate benefits derived bv President Coolidge through the snnnort of Henry Ford will hinge very largely on what Congress ooes with Muscle Shoals.
 For the moment, Ford's announced preference for Coolidge would seem largely to promise local advantages In that Senator Hiram Johnson now stands scant chance to carry tns Michigan primaries which ne swept in 1920. no doubt in the minds of politicians and political students that Coolidge would win the republican nomination next year-probably on the first pal lot-there has been some doubt as to whether a strong progressive demo crat carrying an appeal to the mia de classes. farmers and labor, might not nose him out Tn the 1lnal race for the presidency.
 Al nresent the democratic nomina- ton looks like a sure thing for Me Adoo. Unless there is an organized rift in the democratic ranks causing the conservatives to unite behind Senator Underwood or Senator Jim Reed of Missouri. for example nothing would seem likely to Keep the nomination from McAdoo.
 The Campaign Outlook.
 Then, with McAdoo against Cool idge, it would be largely campaign in which the President, following his custom, would probably stick for the most part to his work in Washing ton, while McAdoo, essentially a fighting campaigner, would carry his
 al dC rrh IF a he thought he could do the most good.
 McAdoos campaign. if he is nomi- mated, will be directed at the progress sive element, at the middle class workers farmers and labor. His policies will center on reduced taxa tion, benefits to the farmer and bet terment of railroad conditions so as to help all classes. He would count on carrying the great agricultural sections of the far west.
 It Is hero that Ford. as a potential presidential candidate up till now, possessed his greatest strength. There was widespread support for him in that territory because he al- ready has done much for the farmer in cheapening transportation and ma chinery. He promised cheaper fer tilizer produced at Muscle Shoals-if he got Muscle Shoals.
 Ford Feared By Republicans.
 Ford until now, has been frankly feared by republican leaders. Whether or not that had anything to do with refusal to accept his terms for Muscle Shoals cannot be stated. Now he Is definitely out of the race against MT. Coolidge and whether this will have any effect on the ad- ministration attitude toward Ford s purchase of Muscle Shoals remains to be seen.
 There are many who profess to see a direct connection between Ford's announcement and the ultimate dis posal of Muscle Shoals. If Ford won Muscle Shoals with the aid of Cool idge. these people say. he could say to the farmers that Coolidge had aided him in getting them the cheap lies the ultimate benefits to Coolidge of Fords support A republican ma jority in Michigan alone, achieved through Ford's support, would mean nothing, Us Michigan generally is re- publican anyhow. A lineup of the agricultural sections back of Cool idge, however, as result of Ford s assurance that Coolidge's election would mean cheaper fertilizer, would mean much.
 1t would require all of McAdoo's ingenuity to make telling inroads in the farm vote under such circum- = stances. For that reason 1t will be interesting to follow developments in Congress having to do with Muscle Shoals.