The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-25
G.O.P.LEADERS.
ARE CENSURED
MERC|LESSLY
Blocking of Ford Proposal
Brings Bitter Speech by
Congressman ByrnS of
TenneSSee-Demands
House Test Vote
WASHINGTON BUREAU
THE AGE-HERAID !
Washington. II, c., Feb. "a

Following rapidly on the heels
of this bureaus dispatch Friday
that a spokesman of the Henry
Ford offer for Muscle Shoals would
denounce the republicans for their
refusal to permit that offer to come
to a vote, Representative Joseph
Byrns of Tennessee took The floor
in the House this afternoon. AS
far this session of Congress is con-
cerned, no other swan song ever
contained more punch and more
kicks.
Among those to whom Byrns
paid his respects were the President
of the United States, the chairman
of the rules committee, Representa-
tive Campbell of Kansas; the re-
publican leader, Mondell of Wyom-
ing; the Alabama Power company
and other interests, and alleged
Hobbies which he de claret did ex-
list. Byrns praised Acting Chair
man Mckenzie of the Military COM
mittee, and Chairman Madden of
the appropriations committee, who
openly advocated the Ford offer,
and spoke in highly complimentary
terms of the late Representative
Mann of Illinois, former republican
leader, who had urged highly de-
veloped Muscle Shoals from the be-
ginning of the long struggle.
Power Company Lobby.
The Tennesseean referred to the
A 10 l,a Do
ganzation of British capital and de-
clared that it had retained, in an
effort to lobby the Ford proposition
to death. a former member of con-
gress with great influences" Sub
sequently Byrns made ii known that
he had reference to James Good of
Iowa, who formerly was chairman
of the appropriations committee.
Asked directly he declared that
he had not had in mind former Rep
resentative C. II. Dent, Jr of Mont
gomery, who appeared before the
military committee with legal ar
gument in support of the company's
claim to the Gorgas steam plant.
1t was the alleged duplicity of re-
publican leaders which came in for
the bulk of the Byrns diatribe. In
that connection, it was noticeable
that he made no complimentary ref
eTence TO the conversion OIL long
and bitter enemies of Muscle Shoals.
Representative Longworth of Ohip
and Representative Graham of llli-
nois, rival candidates for the repub-
lican leadership. 1t was not denied
subsequently that Mr.. Byrns regard
ed their conversion" as a "conver-
sion of expediency" and therefore
not one for which Ford advocates
should be grateful.
Scores Alleged Hypocrisy.
1t was alleged hypocrisy, as a
matter of fact. which the speaker
chiefly scored. He also spoke of the
alleged Incompetence of an "over-
whelming republican ma jority which
could not within space of eighteen
months dispose Of a single piece OF
legislation" That majority" ac-
cording 10 Byrns. did not even have
the courage to do what obviously il
desired to do, namely. call it up and
kill it,"
He scored the President for quick
iy according assistance to those in
need of rubber, and ignoring The
pleas for assistance from practically
every distressed farmer in the United
States"
Byrns concluded with a prediction
that the next Congress would
promptly pass the Ford bill.