The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-03-16
DEEP-RO ROOTED MOTIVE
 IN FIGHTING FORD BID
Rep. All go o d Tells Why Fertilizer Trust
 So Active>As Anti
WASHINGTON BUREAU)

WASHINGTON, March 15.-it re- quired an Alabamian, Representative Miles c. Allgood of the Seventh Alabama district, and formerly commissioner of agriculture of the state of Alabama, to point out concretely the object of the fertilizer trust in opposing the Henry Ford offer for Muscle Shoals. r, The fertilizer trust wanted to hold the great advantage it had gained over the farmers of the county. Mir. All good explained that the fertilizer bill of the United States in 1880 was only $2S, 100000 whereas in 1920, the fer tilizer bill of North Carolina, alone, was three times as great. The fertilizer bill of the United States in 1920, ac- cording to Mir. Allgood, was in excess of $500, 100000. In this regard, he said in part:
 Heaviest Bill Of Farmer
 "The fertilizer bill is one of the heaviest that the farmer pays. In the year 1880 the farmers of the United States spent only $2S.000,0OO for fer tilizer; in the year 1920 the farmers of North Carolina spent twice as much as all the farmers of the United States spent in 1880. Our natonal fertilizer bill in 1920 was more than $500, ,000,- GOO. The farmers were, the first to pay. this heavy burden, but finally some of it had to be borne by the consumers of farm products, who live in our towns and cities. Thus you see this is a ques- ton that has to do with the cost of living of practically every family in the nation. The fertilizer question is not sectional one. Formerly the southern farmer was the only one to buy com mercial fertilizer, but today the farmers of Ohio buy more fertilizer than do the farmers of Florida. Missouri buys more than Louisiana, and Michigan more than Tennessee. From 1909 to 1919 Alabama farmers increased their ex- penditures for fertilizer 30 per cent, while the farmers of Iowa increased 400 per cent: Oregon, 600 per cent {; Montana, 900 per cent; North Da- kota, 1000 per cent and Oklahoma, 400 per cent. It is estimated that, if the increase for the country dur ing the next 10 years is only 30 per cent of what it was for the last decade, our annual fertilizer bill will amount to more than $S00,O00,0O0 by 1880.
 hkUAhOh AuOM 1IUYC
 Tt is no wonder the farmers of the cepted. They wanted relief three years ago, when the offer was first made, and if accepted now it will possibly be some years yet before they will get re- lief from the fertilizer trust. It is no wonder that thousands of people who live in towns and cities, and who buy farm products. want their living costs reduced, and therefore favor Ford's of fer. It is no wonder to me, nor to any farmer in the country, that the fer tilizer manufacturers and fertilizer trust which have been reaping such rich rewards, have joined hands with other interests to prevent the acceptance of Ford's offer by the last Congress and now by this Congress or by any Congress in the future"
 During the final stages of the fight for the Ford offer, many members re- ceived floS&s of telegrams opposing the Ford offer ssnd protesting against criticism which had been leveled against the Alabama Power company. Repre- sentative w. B. Bowling. in a speech, referred to -ghose which had come from his district. As previously reported, the bulk came from Wetumpka, Dadeville. Alexander City, Anniston,s Selma and Union Springs. Some came from edi- tors of the smaller papers of the state, Howard c. Smith. the Union Springs Herald; T. F. Pruet, the Eufaula Daily Citizen; Ed O'Connor, the Mobile Times-News, and R. B. Vail, who edits papers in Bay Minette, Foley and Atmore.
 Some Editors Telegrams
 Representative Lamar Jeffers of the Fourth district, received number of pro-power company .ssages. Regard ng them, he said:
 Like other members of the Alabama