The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-13
FORD STAYS IN THE FIGHT

6o9 SNCohA PA@At, anu AAS iSSuGO d statement which rings in clarion tones to friends of Muscle Shoals to rally and save the project for the people and prevent the piece-meal disinte grafton of the gigantic enterprise. His statement is the most heartening development in connection with Mus cle Shoals for months. It convincss advocates of his bid for the develop ment that he has no intention of giving up, but that he expects to fight with all his force to prevent a victory over the farmers and people of the country by sinister interests which from the outset have sought either to get con- trol of the project for themselves, or to keep it from others who might give to the people the resulting benefits that would come from competition in power production on so large a scale.
 MT. Ford charges that selfish and sinister interests, with the connivance of the secretary of war. John W. Weeks, hope to sell Muscle Shoals in driblets until there is nothing left, and no possibility of demonstrating how cheaply fertilizer can be produced, thus leaving the farmers to bear in- definitely the burden of present mo- nopolistic and extortionate prices for a vital agricultural need. "The plan twas, formed by John w. Weeks" he says, "for the purpose, as he thought, of injuring Henry Ford, which shows Fhow much a Boston bond broker, in politics for pastime, knows about i:1- dustrial problems. But the injury has shot past Henry Ford, and has landed on the farmers" This is ti.e situation which impels Mr. Ford to carry the matter to congress for de- cision. My offer is still before con gress," he says; q shall not with draw it."
 Mir. Ford's attitude promises to open what may be one of the greatest fights in the nations industrial history. Ee says that it would be we'll worth while for the water power and fertilizer financiers who control the situation to pay one hundred million dollars, if thereby they could retain the end less millions which they now make from exorbitant prices of power and fertilizer. "The demonstration which we could make at Muscle Shoals" he says, "would be a death-blow to all such exploitation" "Thereii is noth- ing that John W. Weeks can explain" he continues, though he should tall, from now until he leaves public life, but I want to say this: If I get Mus cle Shoals, we shall run power lines 200 miles in every direction from Muscle Shoals. We have been work 4 ing and have learned how to send power long distances without loss by leakage. I say this now for the beae- fit of the international financiers wko, with the Alabama Power Company, have Muscle Shoals almost hopelessly in their grasp. It is not. to me that John W. Weeks has anything to ex- plain. I know just how much value to attach to his explanations. Let him explain to the farmers"
 MT. Ford has drawn the issue clearly, and congress, even though there be important committees, some of whose members are influenced by secret influences, will not longer be able to delay action upon subject which vitally affects. the farmers of the nation. Are the peoples wishes to be thwarted by selfish interests2 Are exploiters so powerful that the will of the nation can no longer fird expression through it's lawmakers at Washington? These. are the questions which Henry Ford has submitted for answer. Neither MT. Weeks nor those with whom he is affiliated will be able to obstruct action. The people now know what they have believed-that private interests have been working under cover against the Ford develop ment. The coming battle before con
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