The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-06-02
.ASSAIL F0RD'S,
SH0ALS0FFER,
ALSO COOLIDGE
Majority of Members of Agri-
cultural Committee Sign
Norris Report
URGE u. S. OPERATION
Government Ownership and
Operation of Huge Plant
Is Proposed
URGE u. S. OPERATION

Washington. June 2.-(By the A.
P)--Henry Ford's Muscle Shoals bid
and the attitude of the administra-
tion toward it are denouncing in
unmeasured terms by the majority
report Of the Senate agricultural
committee which at the same time
advocates the amended Norris bill
for government ownership and oper-
alton.
The report, drafted by Senator
Norris, Republican, Nebraska. chair
man Of the committee, makes re-
peated reference to what it terms
Mr.. Ford's withdrawal AZ candl-
date for President and his decision
to support President Coolidge and
assails in particular the proposal to
replace the Gorgas steam power
plant sold to the Alabama Power
Company for $3,472,4S2.0O.
"When the sale of the Gorgas
steam plant" the report says, was
made by the Secretary of War in
which have said he simply carried
out the contract made by his pre-
decessor, Mr.. Ford, who was at
that time Il candidate for President
Of the United States, became ex-
feedingly angry and condemned the
Secretary of War and through him,
the administration, in unmeasured
discourteous terms.
"To appease MS anger, vacillat-
ing administration publicly an
nounced that the amount received
for the Gorgas plant would be Gre
dited upon the $5,000,000 which Mr..
Ford agreed to pay for Muscle
Shoals in case his bid was accepted
by Congress.
"This kindly favor, perhaps super
induced by other considerations, so
pleased Mr.. Ford that his arGer at
the administration was not only
turned into love and admiration. but
he became so violently friendly that
he himself withdrew as candidate
for President and announced his
support of the executive who had
made such a liberal concession.
Carries Out Idea
The House Bill, the report says,
carries out the idea of the President
in reference to the sale of Gorgas
plant and directs the Secretary Of
War to construct a steam power
plant of 10000 horsepower in. War
rior river, on which the Gorgas plant
is situated, upon land to be obtained
bN purchase or condemnation and to
purchase or condemn a right of; way
there, to Muscle Shoals, and turn it
over to the Ford corporation.
"This additional gift ought to sat-
isfy Mr.. Ford and keep him good
natured, at least until after election.
No one has ever offered an excuse
for directing the Secretary Of War
10 condemn private property and pay
fbr it out of the public funds, in
order to turn it over to private
corporation to be used for the sole
benefit of that corporation" says
the report. Gas far as l know this
is the first time such thing has
ever been attempted.
"This proposed new plant, like the
old one at Gorgas, has no connec-
tion with Muscle Shoals. 1t will be,
however, very valuable acquisition
to the Ford corporation. 1t will, in
effect, make him gift of steam
pewer plant LOCATED at the mouth Of
a coal mine. 1t ought to 60 great
ways in bringing satisfaction to any
person who possesses mania for
great wealth and commercial power"
Charge Propaganda
Propaganda favoring Fords bid, the
report says, "has been spread over
the country from two quarters-one
centering in reals estate speculation
and the other being directed to the
farmers who, it asserts, have been
led to believe that definite assurance
has been given that the price Of
fertilizer will be cut in half if Mr..
Ford gets Muscle Shoals.
The Washington representative of
one of the largest farm organiza-
tions in the United States has been
actively engaged in spreading this
propaganda, the report alleges, add
ing that while drawing a salary from
the farmers Of America he is care
fully feeding them deceptive liter
allure tending to miSlead them into