Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-10-16
CAPITAL OFFICIALS
AWAIT DIRECT WORD
FROM FORD ON BID

WASHINGTON. Oct. 14.-Official
Washington today was considering
what effect the Golfers Weekly an
ncuncement Of the withdrawal OF
Henry Ford from the bidding for
Muscle Shoals would have on the
political situation and the develop
ment of gigantic government prop
critics.
Apparently the Detroit manufac-
turer, after occupying the center of
the stage in a heated controversy
that consumed the attention OF con-
gress for two years, has voluntarily
withdrawn and announced his posi-
ton through the magazine. AS Tar
as can be learned, the White House,
war department and congressional
committees dealing directly with
Muscle Shoals have received no Off
cial information of the withdrawal.
Washington was equally interested
in Ford's reported advocacy or the
administration proposal to create
an impartial commission to study
the Muscle Shoals question and sub
NIT recommendations to congress
and also in his quoted statement that
he believed the army engineers could
carry the work forward il unham.
pered. During the committee hear
ing the Ford supporters opposed
both of these proposals and charged
they were merely measures to thwart
the Ford bid.
If Ford has retired from the bid
ding, members of congress favoring
his bid will probably establish af-
filiations with other groups before
December, when the Muscle Shoals
issue will come up on the senate cal
endar as the first order of business.
Officials said no steps would be
taken until it was learned officially
that Ford had definitely withdrawn
from Muscle Shoals.
CAN'T WATT ON POLITICS,
SAYS FORD. CANCELING BID
NEW YORK, Oct. 14.-By the AS
ISOLATED Press. Henry Ford has
withdrawn his bid for Muscle Shoals
and according to an interview with
him in the current issue of Golfers
titude by putting it up to the gov
eminent to make the next move if
he is to take any future action in
the matter.
The transaction, chara cterized by
Mr.. Ford as "a simple affair of bust
ness which should have been decided
by anyone within a week. he de-
clared, "has become a complicated
political affair" and the bid was
withdrawn because productive bust
ness cannot wait on politics.
Muscle Shoals?" Mr.. Ford is
quoted, that is not a, live issue with
us any longer. More than two years
ago we made the best bid we knew
how to make. No definite action
has been taken on it. A simple af
fair of business which should have
Teen decided by anyone within a
week has become a complicated po-
litical affair. We are not in politics
and we are in business. We do not
intend to be drawn into politics.
Can'tIWait on Politics
1--WE haVe8bean and still are deeply
interested in Muscle Shoasl S a. ma
tional asset. There is small prom
Use now that it ever will be a national
asset-mOrc than likely it will be
only an expense. That concerns
every one of us as citizens. In the
Ford business, once We make up
our minds to do anything, we go
right ahead and do it with the least
possible waste of time, energy or
money. If we cannot do what we
want in one way, then We find an
other.
eve are moving so fast and the
settlement of Muscle Shoals futu e
seemed so far away that we had to
lind other means to do the things
we could have accomplished at Mus.
Gle Shoals. In fact, we have passed
Muscle Shoals. Productive business
cannot wait on politics. Therefore,
we are withdra wing our bid
Asked if that meant Withdrawing
absolutely from Muscle Shoals and
everything that pertains to it, Mr..
Ford replied:
Yes, We have made our bid: now
let them make us a bid. And they
Will not have to wait three years
for their answer. We can tell them
in five minutes
After discussing the government
investment in Muscle Shoals, which,
he said, was much larger than it
ought to be, but which could not be
helped because it was rush work
done in war time for war purposes,
Mr.. Ford said:
"Our bid was intended to develop
a method by which the public's
money could be made productive and
eventually returned to the public
treasury at a profit, while at the
same time we should produce nitrates
at a sufficiently low cost to sell
them to the farmers a t a fraction of
what they now have to pay. Also,
we intended to create plant which
would not only make US independent
OF Chile for nitrates for explosives,
put would give US an independent
supply possibly equal to that of all
the rest of the world put together
Finds Cheaper Method
Mr.. Ford said his company had
completed the purchase of 160, 900
acres of coal lands in Kentucky, and,
after relating some of the expert.
ments conducted at the River Rouge
plant, said:
We find from Or experience at
River Rouge that we can generate
electrical power in these coal lands
to any extent that we may need and
at a cheaper rate than we could
under our bid at Muscle Shoals. And,
also, we can generate in our own
way, entirely outside of all political
influence or political meddling. That
Is why we ave lost our interest in
Muscle Shoals"
Asked what he thought ought TO
be done with Muscle Shoals. Mr..
Ford replied:
In any event, the public must not
permit it to be broken up, for,
through its nitrate production, it
can be our greatest guarantee for
peace on the one hand and for the
farmers on the other. I believe the
army engineers could Garry il