The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-02-01
SPLIT OVER BID
 GROWING ACUTE

ls tCsetiausd 9 Paee I've. CsIuma oRs)
 Ford. II believe that plan is in the best interests of the state and nation. '' he declared. And believe a humber ' of others here will agree with me-" l.. Sevier. president of the Alabama Manufacturers association. said that he was not opposed to Ford leasing Muscle Shoals. but that he believed the interests of the state and nation should come first.
 Tt is government property declared Mir. Sevier. "aHd think it should be handled with view to promoting the interests of the people rather than pri- vate interests"
 P. A. Rossiter, president of the Fed erated Bank and Trust company, owned and operated by labor interests, said that the great majority of persons dis cussing the project didn't know. prob ably, as much as they should.'I T am in favor of a real. business like and intensive study of the matter by everyone interested. When we have made an unbiased survey of the ad- vantages of both sides then let the con tract be awarded the party who will do the best by the state of Alabama and the people at large. 'sThe disposal of Muscle Shoals is going to influence the lives of our children for generations to come we cap't afford to rush into it." NJ. F. NOrthington, former president of the Chamber of Commerce. reiterated the opinions, in substance, of Mir. Ros- sitter. T believe the Muscle Shoals question is one of the most important and vital questions with which Bir- mingham is confronted" he said. Tt is the greatest source of undevelOped power in the United States. 1 am in favor of getting down on business basis and studying the problem with a view to disposing it to the best ad- vantage"
 George Ward of Ward, Sterne & Go. would not discuss the question in any form. A number of others, including business men known to favor opposition to Ford's offer, while admitting that they held warm opinions on the sub ject, declared that " it is best not to stir up q matter on which everyone is strongly divided" Lindsay Strong For Ford One of the bitterest attacks on Mir. Ingalls, Washington speech testimony and incidentally of the Alabama Power company's bid for Muscle Shoals, was given by w. NJ. Lindsay, sausage man. ufacturer.
 Mir. Lindsay said that the Chamber of Commerce heads reported utterances were 'unthinkable from any man who stood for the betterment of Birming- ham," and the transfer of Muscle Shoals to the power company would be national calamity" ''I cannot understand how a man of MT. Ingalls, position could make such statements except for personal interest or that influence has been brought to bear" he said.
 Il assume that he was either mis- quoted or misunderstands the situation. If not, he places himself in the same classification as Mayor Taylor of Mo bile. who evidently has been playing politics. M
 No true Alabama citizen should ex- press himself against the Ford offer since it was he who resurreeted Muscle Shoals from the junk heap and to Ford, a clean,cnt American citizen, it's de- velopment should belong.
 If it is true, as l understand it, that the Alabama Power company is con trolIed by Canadian interests the trans fer of the property to them would be a national calamity. In case of a break between the United States and Great Britain it would be an easy mat ter to blow up the plant and thereby destroy very material portion of the cOuntrys s war resources