The Washington times., 1924-05-06
FORD s FRIENDS
BLOCKED BIDS,
CHARGE
Bitter Row Develops at Sem
ate Committee Hearing
on Shoals

A bitter row between the Ford
and anti-Ford supporters for MrA-
Gle Shoals broke out afresh before
the Senate Agriculture Committee
today.
Senator Norbeck R) of South
Dakota charged that the people
OF Alabama and Tennessee have de-
layed congressional action on Mus
Gle Shoals for one year in an eff.
fort to block bidders other 'thsn
Henry Ford from getting the pro.
ject."
Action Blocked, He Says.
"Ford's friends have blocked all
action" Norbeck fairly shouted at
w. @. Waldo, secretary of the Ten
nessee River Improvement Associa.
ton; who wes testifying in favor
of the Ford offer. {
CT don't think that is true" re.
turned Waldo.
are delaying action, and you are
doing it In an attempt to get Mus.
Gle Shoals for Ford" said Norbeck.
"And while you are stalling, thu
farmers OF the country are crying
for fertilizer"
Waldo who has been on the stand
three days. declared that If Ford is
not given Muscle Shoals there Is
only one Government
operation"
FOrd's Offer First.
II don't think any other bids are
entitled to consideration by a fair
minded group of men," Waldo
added. "Ford's bid has been before
Congress for three years and I don't
think any other. bidders should be
allowed to come in here at the last
minute when their ultimate pur-
pose is to delay indefinitely a de.
cision on Muscle Shoals"
"Ford's friends, especially in
Alabama and Tennessee have de.
layed action" interrupted Norbeck.
do you think we shouldn't consider
any other bid just because Ford's
offer was made first?"
well, / think it looks like a
reflection upon the sincerity of the
other bidders for them to come in
now and string this thing @out for
ever" replied Waldo. They've had
ample time-three years-and they
aren't entitled to consideration
now"
Norris Aids N0rbeck.
Joining with Norbeck in charging
that "Ford's friends have DELHI
erately delayed action" Senator
Norris, Republican, of Nebraska,
chairman, informed Waldo that the
committee would give equal con.
sideration to all bids.
Waldo said there was no place
In America where the conditions
are more suitable to the production
Of cheap fertilizer than at Muscle
Shoals.
Norris declared he was ready to
let Ford or anybody else have
Muscle Shoals for a million years
or forever If they'll agree to go
there, complete the dams and use
all the power. solely in producing
cheap fertilizer"
Magnus Says Go Slow.
Senator Magnus johnson F..Ll
of Minneapolis urged that the com.
mittee proceed slowly In disposing
of the Muscle Shoals question,
IT think all this talk about cheap
fertilizer Is sop to get the farmers
to back up certain propositions. !"
said johnson. Ford has done won.
derfully we'll, but that isn't any rea-
son for giving him the whole
United States. In the past, we
have given away everything for
nothing to the big trusts, and now
we're going to lock things up until
we get a good price,"
johnson said the farmers of the
northwest, who are all going
broke, aren't anxious to hurry
about helping the people of the
South unless they help us, too
"The farmers are opening up
their eyes about the Ford PROPOSE.
ton, and I think what we ought
to do is to look into 1t a long time.
raise less products and not work
80 hard" Johnson said.
johnson thought, too, that Ford
is charging "a mighty good price
for his car"
The illegal" wholesale price If
-. ,,,,noa ~ VoVs,d0vaH ,,,nv.p.l.a... a.