Evening star., 1924-04-28
PRESIDENT QUOTED
AS VO|C|NG HOPE TO
GIVE FORD SHOALS
Telegram Read Before Sen
ate Committee Ascribing
Words to Executive.
MESSAGE FOLLOWED
VISIT, RECORDS REVEAL
Employe of Auto Magnate Says
Coolidge Announced Intent
"to Deliver

President Coolidge was quoted in
telegram produced today at the
Senate Muscle Shoals hearing as hav
ing stated that he was trying Ito
deliver" Muscle Shoals to Henry Ford.
The telegram was from James
Martin Miller to the Dearborn In
dependent, Fords newspaper. on Oc-
tober IL, 1923. In Offering the tele-
gram Chairman Norris said the White
House records showed that Miller
had an interview with the President
that day
Text of Telegram.
The telegram read:
Washington, October y, 1923.
ITO William j. Cameron, or Ernest
G. Liebold.
Care Dearborn Independent,
Dearborn, Mich.
In private interview had with
President Coolidge this morning nc
said incidentally: I am friendly to
Mr.. Ford, but wish some one would
convey to him that il is my hope
that Mr. Ford will not do or say any
thing that will make it difficult for
me to deliver Muscle Shoals to him,
which ] am trying to do"
while President didn't say so. am
sure Weeks has been consultation
with President this morning in view
Mr. Fords reported interview today's
papers.
JAMES MARTIN MILLER.
National Press Club.
washington, d. c.
weeks on Stand.
When Secretary Weeks took the
stand Chairman Norris OF the Senate
agriculture committee asked the Sec
retary if he could explain TO the COM
mittee why Ford got over his anger
toward President Coolidge and the
administration after an interview at
the White House"
That is evidence that he is a sensi-
BILE man." Secretary Weeks replied.
THAT is also evidence that he had
some reason for changing" countered
Chairman Norris. ....
Il am opposed to the Ford offer be-
cause / do not believe 1t is the best
offer. l have not been familiar with
1T for q year because IL has not been
in my hands" said Weeks.
Secretary Weeks declared he did not
know Miller.
Weeks said he conferred with the
President before he issued his state
ment replying to Ford's letter.
Before Ford interviewed the Presi-
dent he called at my office with his
secretary and said he had come to pay
his respects. and did not at that
time talk business in connection with
Muscle Shoals" the Secretary de-
clared.
Aroused Ford's Anger
For DIS anger was aimed at me be-
cause of the sale of the Gorgas plant"
Mr.. Weeks continued IT take the re-
sponsibility for the statement issued
after Ford made his statement to the
press.
IT am interested in Muscle Shoals
only from the standpoint of my Off
cial capacity. Naturally, I felt grieved
that any insinuations had been made
that l was interested because of spe-
cial interests"
In reply to a. question by Senator
1IcNary, Republican, Oregon Weeks
said he had studied the Hooker
proposal in a. gen.
eral way and he would be glad to
have the chief Of engineers study the
offer and make recommendations
Terms of Contract.
The chief of engineers will be
heard Wednesday, Chairman Norris
Il think the government can dis
pose of Muscle Shoals under better
terms than any of the present con-
tracts" Weeks said.
"I am opposed to government oper-
alton and think we could enter into
a limited partnership with some pri-
vate enterprise" He said he doubted
the wisdom of entering any binding
contract for fifty years.
I'm three years you will be able
to carry power anywhere east or
Transmission lines"
he said. IF by reason of drouth some
needed power. a telephone call would
spring it. This whole question re-
wolves around nitrates and it will
take four or five years 10 find out
whole industry is in it's infancy
Employed by Ford.
Later Chairman Norris explained
that Miller was employed by Ford's
Dearborn Independent. Decision to
put the telegram into the record was
made at an executive session of the
committee before the public hear
ings were opened.
Secretary Weeks, after concluding
his testimony, went to the White
House to discuss with President Cool
idge the Miller telegram previously
read into the committee record.
Morris L. Cook, director of the
General Power Service,
followed the War Secretary on the
stand and said, 1T is a great mistake
to lock upon Muscle Shoals as simply
a power plant"
$50, Muscle Shoals" instead of be-
ing regarded simply as a site for
power, can be made a social inf1u-
ence by radiating power over great
he added.
Chairman Norris said W. B. Mayo,
Ford's chief engineer, was in the city
and would testify this week.
Gov. Pinchot of Pennsylvania will
testify tomorrow.