The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-04-28
SAY COOLIDGE
BACKSH. FORD
: SHOALS OFFER
Declaration Made That Tele-
:. gram Sent About Time Ford
"Changed His Mind"
SEC. WEEKS is CALLED
War Secretary Would Not
Make Any Agreement on
Shoals Transfer

Washington, April 2a. (By the A.
PD-President Coolidge was quoted
4 in a telegram proou.ed TODAY at
the Senate Muscle Shoals hearing as
ihaving stated that he was trying to
l"Geliver" Muscle Shoals to Henry
y Ford.
y The telegram was sent by James
q Martin Miller to the Dearborn lnde-
8 PENDENT, Ford's newspaper, on Octo-
I. ler IL, 1928. In offering the tele-
= gram Chairman Norris said the
L White house records showed that
], miller had an interview with the
*President that day.
II The telegram was addressed to
s " Nilliam J. Cameron or Ernest W.
stLiebold, in care of the Independent.
4 %L,ebold, is Ford's secretary. The
6 message was one of those subpoe.
raed by the committee.
Ill Secretary Weeks was on the stand
when it was offered but declared ne
a didn't know Miller. When the War
z Secretary took the stand the first
u REQUEST put to him by Chairman
Norris was for an explanation OIL
s"why Ford got over his anger toward
President Coolidge and the admin
i istration after an interview at the
tWhite House"
4 "That is evidence that he is
sensible man. Mr.. Weeks replied.
That is also evidence that he had
some reason for changing chair
man Norris reported.
The telegram read: "In private in
erview' with President Coolidge this
4 morning he said incidentally i am
riendly to Mr.. Ford but wish some
ne would convey to him that 1T
) my hope that Mr.. Ford will not
or say anything that will make it
,fficult for me to deliver Muscle
hoals to him, which I am trying to
} o. While the President did not
ty so am sure Secretary Weeks
as been in consultation with the
resident this morning in view OF
r. Ford's reported interview in to-
ay's papers"
The War Secretary said he confer
cd with the President on state
ent replying to Ford several
onths. ago.
'''' He Saw Ford 70
Before Ford interviewed the
resident" he said, "he called at my
flee with his secretary and said
=. had to pay hA respects and did
OF at that time talk business in
J pnnection with Muscle Shoals.
Secretary Weeks said Ford's anger
as aimed at him and not at the
resident because of the sale of the
orgas power plant, a unit of the
uscle Shoals project, to the Ala
INA Power Company. He added
aat he took full responsibility for
,'e statement made in reply to Ford.
"I am interested in the Muscle
n hoals," he said, "only from the
tandpoint of my official capacity,
dding that he opposed the Tord bid
est offer.
Naturally" he said, 81 felt grey-
that any insinuation had been
iade that ! was interested because
; special interest"
In reply to question by Senator
,cNary, Republican, Oregon, Mr..
jeeks said he had studied the Hook
r-Wihite-Atterbury proposal in a
eneral way and he would be glad to
ave the chief of engineers study it
nd make recommendations.
WOULD GO SLOW
II think the government can dis
ose of Muscle Shoals under better
erms than any of the present con-
tracts," he added. II am osed
o government operation and think
&c could enter into limited part
'ership with some private enter
rise"
The witness said he doubtea the
5isdom of entering any binding con-
ract for 30 years. Later Chairman
'orris explained that Miller was en-
,loyed by Ford's Dearborn Indepen-
lent. Decision to put the telegram
the record was made at an exc
cutive meeting of the committee be-
fore the public hearings were open
cG.
Secretary Weeks, after concluding
rs testimony. went to the White
6ouse to discuss with President