The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-10-26
BY ROBERT TALLEY


WASHINGTON, Oct. 26.-what.
ever the outcome of Henry Ford's
offer for Muscle Shoals ray be, il is
certain to be big political issue at
the December session of Congress-.
Ford's recent charges that Secre-
tary Of War Weeks is preparing to
sell the great project by piecemeal to
the power trusts are sure to find their
reflection in speeches Of members. For
Ford has friends in Congress-many
of them.
Congress alone can pass upon his
offer, which has been dragging now
for nearly two years, and his sup
porters are sure to try to get 1t up
for an early vote. SO far, 1t has never
been put to a vote because the Repub-
lican rules committee has carefully
lodged the test.
Is Anti-Ford
Plainly, the administration has been
anti-Ford. DESTROYS of turning him
down and svt reluctant Ito face the
storm Of popular disapproval that
would arise. the administration has
sought to evade the issue by trying
TO keep II quiet.
But with Ford looming up as a pos.
sible presidential candidate, election
year approaching and the Democrats
preparing to use Muscle Shoals as q
political weapon, continued evasion
may become impractical, if not i'm.
possible. The weighty accusation that
he Republican administration is stand
ing between the farmers and the cheap
fertilizer which Ford could produce
at Muscle Shoals may have to be an.
swered before election day.
Set Against Project
In political pressure lies Ford g
only chance for getting Muscle Shoals
and he seems to have recognized this
in his recent statement against Sec.
rotary Weeks, which carried lot of
political color. The administration
and the big interests that comprise
the invisible government" at Wash
ington are dead set against this great
project going TO Ford. It remains to
be seen whether, in an election year
test political expedieney will be con
sidered wiser course than selfish
HAONC$bAOtl VI BAiNdlo 1HGTGBLs.
The Governments recent sale of
the Gorgas steam power plant, which
Ford had made a part OF his bid. has
done much to complcate the situation.
IL was sold to the Alabama Power
Company under what was construed
TO be a moral, though not a legal,
agreement made when 1t was hurried.
AZ frfa Al Nv
the war
While Ford specifically stated in his
original offer his proposition must be
accepted In whole or not at all, he
has now, since the sale OF Gorgas,
added note of mystery to the
situation. He says merely MY offer
for Muscle Shoals still stands"
Nothing to Explain
Asked. in effect. what about the
effect Of the sale Of Gorgas. he makes
the rather puzzling answer that he
has nothing to explain
Ford's insistence on Gorgas has al
ways been more or less battling. This
steam plant is 80 miles distant from
Muscle Shoals and is 80 interlocked
with a companion plant Iof the Ala.
bama Power Company that little more
than line painted across the floor
divides them. It was built on Ala.
bama Power Company property.
Ford's preferred price and terms
have been attacked as low, but the
fact remain his ofrer Is the only one
that the government has chosen to
think worthy Of consideration. Many
Of his supporters think that the price
is Of small Importance when the great
est potential man-made water power
project in the world lies idle awaiting
only the touch Of brains and energy
to make 1t produce for the public good