The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1923-10-17
FORD PLAYING FOR
FAVOR OF FARMERS
HENRY CHARGES POLITICS WAS
USED IN BARRING HIM
FROM MUSCLE SHOALS

IN MS IlfSC puD1c statement mduS
since the sale of the Gorgas plant
to the Alabama Power Company,
Henry Ford says his offer for the
purchase of the project is still before
congress and will not be withdrawn.
Mr.. Ford charged that political in
fluence was brought to bear to keep
him from obtaining the plant and
these "same influences prevented a
vote in the house last spring" on the
sale of Muscle Shoals to the Ford Mo,
tor company.
Mr.. Ford's statement follows:
"The United States government,
through Major General Lansing H.
Beach, asked me to bid on Muscle
Shoals, not on a piece of Muscle Sho-
ais. l did so, and because my bid in
Guided all of Muscle Shoals it was the
only one thought worthy of reporting
to congress. But 1 have a very strong
conviction that while we have been
negotiating with Mr.. Weeks, we have
not been negotiating with the United
States government. John w. Weeks
repeated assertions that Henry Ford
would never get Muscle Shoals, nei-
Their with the Gorgas plant o with
out it, is evidence that the parties to
this matter are not the bidder and the
government, but other parties best
kr WI f tie roar who is at present
so-0tar- f W..
Long acc, Mr.. Weeks matured in
his mind the plan to break up Muscle
Shoals and dispose of it piecemeal.
When he sold the steam plant at Cor
gas he pulled the first stitch in unrav-
cling the greatest single prospect
ever held out to the American farm
er and manufacturer.
Sees End Of Project
"The next steps are so plain that a
child can see them. 1t only remains
to sell the giant nitrate plant number
one and then nitrate plant number
two and finally the Wilson dam itself
and that is the end of Muscle Shoals
as a possible demonstration of the
cheapness with which pawer and fer
tilizer can be produced.
"This plan was formed by John w
Weeks, for the purpose, as he thought
of iniuring Henry Ford, which shows
how much the Boston bond broker, in
politics for a pastime, knows about
industrial problems.
"But the injury has shot past Henry
Ford and has landed on the farmers
/ was willing to demonstrate at Mus
Gle Shoals that power and fertilizer
could be produced at much lower cost
than now and that the government
could be assured of an adequate sup.
ply of war ~nitrates. Muscle Shoals
intact would be the greatest munitior
plant on earth. Muscle Shoals in its
nitrate production is our greatest in
surance against war, or if wal comes
u greatest assurance of victory. Bu+
apparently that does not count with
the head of the war department. The
Ford Motor company yer had need
ed Muscle Shoals. We have water
power sufficient for all our purposes
The only thing I could do at Muscl,
Shoals which I was not able to d,
elsewhere would be to make fertilizec
for the farmer. And that is the sol
eason why John W. Weeks and score
of corporation lawyers have use,
their cunning to prevent me.
To Stifle Exploitation
"They may get other offers for 9th
er pieces of Muscle Shoals and tn
total sales price may compare favor
ably with the initial payment Gale
for under my offer, but the sale
price is the smallest item at Muscl
Shoals. Even if the friends of job
w. Weeks should pay the origins
cost, dollar for dollar, Muscle Shoal
would still be a complete loss to tn
people because John w. Week
friends will not develop its matches
possibilities and will not use it fo
the peoples benefit. 1t would be we
worth while for the water power an
fertilizer financiers who control TIL
situation to pay 500, OOO, 900 if there
by they can retain the endless mil
ions which they now make throug
exhorbitant prices of power and fe
tilizer. The demonstration which v
could make at Muscle Shoals wou'
be a death blow to all such exploits
ton
my offer is still before congress.
shall not withdraw it. There is not