New Britain herald., 1924-06-02
FORD'S BID fOR
 SHOALS ATTACKED
So Is Coolidge for Alleged Efforts
 in His Behalf

nounced in vigorous terms in the
 majority report of the senate agri-
 culture committee, which at the same
 time recommends enactment of the
 amended Norris bill fog government
 ownership and supervision.
 The report drafted by Senator Nor
 ris republican, Nebraska, chairman
 of the committee, makes repeated
 reference to what it terms MT. Ford s
 withdrawal as a candidate for prcsi-
 dent and his decision to support
 President Coolidge and assails in
 particular the plan to replace in the
 properties the Gorgas steam plant
 sold to the Alabama Power company
 for sS,472,4S
 When the sale of the Gorgas
 plant" says the report was made
 by the secretary of war. in which 1
 have said he simply carried out the contract made by his predecessor,
 Mr. Ford, who was at thai time can
 didate for president of the United states, became exceedingly angry and condemned the secretary of war, and
 through him the administration, in unmeasured discourteous terms.
 sNoItS
 "To appease his anger, a vacillat- ing administration publicly announced that-the amount received for the Gorgas plan would be credited upon the five million dollars which Mir. Ford agreed 10 pay for Muscle Shoals in case his bid was accepted by con gress.
 This kindly favor, perhaps super induced by ether considerations. so pleased Mir. Ford that his anger at tho administration was not only turned into love and admiration. but he became so violently friendly that hs himself withdrew as a candidate for president and announced his sup port 10 the executive who had made such liberal concession"
 The house hill, the report says car rics out inc idea of the president in reference 10 the sale of the Gorgas plant and directs inc secretary of war to construct A sieam power plant of 10000 horsepower on the Warrior river. on which the Gorgas plant is situated, upon land to be obtained by purchase or condemnation and 10 purchase or condemn a right t-ofway lhcrefrom 10 Muscle Shoals and turn it over to the Ford corporation.
 This additional gift ought to satis- ] fs Mir. Ford and keep him good na- | tured. at least until after election" l tho report adds. No one has ever | offered an excuse for directing inc ! secretary of war 10 condemn private i property and pay for If out of public 1 funds, in order 10 turn if over 10 a ] private corporation to be used for the i sole benefit of that corporation. As far as know, this Is the first time such thing has ever been attempted.
 This proposed new plant, like the old one at Gorgas. has no connection with Muscle Shoals. II will be, how ever very yslgable acquisition to the Ford corporation. II will, in effect, make him gift of steam power plant located at the mouth Of a coal F mine. It ought to go a great way in bringing satisfaction to any person [ who possesses mania for great wealth and commercial power" 't
 The Norris Bill
 The report points out that the Nor ris bill gives the secretary Of agrieul- ture. authority to lease nitrate plant number to any person or corpora ton, which, it cltts, would include Mr. Ford. for the manufacture Of fer- tilizer and directs that power .s' sup piled to operate the plant.
 "The secretary of agriculture, under the terms of the bill," it declares, would have authority to make such a lease, even without charging any rent for the same. This leaves the way open for anyone to enter the fer tilizor field on terms much more fav- ble than it is claimed by any of the bidders so far, they desire to secure"
 Propa gunda favoring Ford's bill, the report says. has been spread over the country from two qnarters--one ccn- tering in real estate speculation hnd the other being directed to the farm CTS. who. if asserts. have been led to believe that definite assurance has reen given that the price of fertilizer will he cut in half if Ford gets Muscle Shoals.
 "The Washington representative of one of the largest farm organizations in the United states has been from the very beginning actively engaged ( in spreading this propaganda" the I rcport alleged. adding. 'that while $ drawing salary from the farmers of I America, he is carefully feeding them ! f deceptive literature tending to mislead i them into Mir. Ford's camp
 ''It is not known that Mir. Ford !, himself is a part of this propaganda" ' i. continues. "by his ignoring the re- g 1uest of committees to come before n them and discuss his bid he has made n t impossible for anyone to question r him regarding any Of the questions ' involved. But it would seem that a \ man of his prominence ought not 10 ,f .tand idly by while In his name mis- are being spread over I, he country" H
 Fertilizer Trust H 4 favorite slogan of this propa- zanda. says the report. is that Mir. II Ford will save the farmers from the ' fertilizer trust" although the Ford d dotor company. it asserts, Is now en- Ia ged in the fertilizer business and he manufacturer either must be "a K art of the combine and following in t' heir wake. or he must be In a posi- s ion already 10 break it down by com q ,etifion." r The report sets forth that tHs Nor |. is bill contemplates the distribution f s1l power not needed for fertilizsd IT .roduction and would give the goH- rru7ens an important key to a giant .orer system that could cover the en- ire south. thus. # dellsres. prevent -~ rsou-nr r7ouuvoIv Fertilizer it II