The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-02-02
FORD BID BEST OF ALL, DECLARE
 Z CONGRESSMEN
Alabama S0lons Reiterate Stand In Behalf Of
 Detroit Man

MOBILE, Ala, Feb. 1.-(special Leased Wire )-Telegrams from Sena- tor Oscar W. Underwood and seven members of Congress from Alabama declaring that the Ford offer for Mus cle Shoals remains the best of any yet made and reiterating their intention of supporting the proposaf or the De- troit manufacturer, were made public here today by City Commissioner Harry Hartwell.
 umdofsupportingeroHani 7S90S.. .. |.
 The messages were in reply to tele- grams sent by Mir. Hartwell earlier in the week informing the Alabama rep resentatives that the appearance of Mayor R. V. Taylor before the House military affairs committee at Washing ton last Saturday was not authorized by the city commission and pointing out that the city board. which indorsed the Ford offer several months ago, had never changed its attitude.
 Mir. Hartwell has also received mes sages from the Chamber of Commerce at Florence, Ala, and from Edward O'Neal, president of the Alabama Farm Bureau federation, with regard to the appearance of the mayor of Mobile against the Ford offer and in favor of the proposal of the southern power companies.
 UnderwOods Telegram
 The telegram from Senator Oscar Underwood is, as follows:
 "In- my judgment the Ford offer is the best proposal that has b-~n made regarding the Muscle Shoals. I expect to support it."
 The message from congressman were along the same lines The telegram of the Florence commercial organization expresses Surprise" at the attitude taken by Mir. Taylor, but declares i've are gratified to know that the mayor was not speaking for the city of Mo bile.'
 The message from Congressman Lister Hill denies the argument made by Mayor Taylor in his statement to the Mobile Chamber of Commerce yes terday that the Ford offer has been greatly -changad and-.Rot in the public interest Mir. Hill says:
 ''The Ford offer is to all intents and purposes in its original form and is the only safe, comprehensive and con- structive offer before our committee. Will fight to end for Ford offer"
 Congressman w. B. Oliver, who has taken much interest in the port of Mobile and the inland waterways of the state since he has been in Washington, yays:
 ''In my judgment Ford's is the only offer promising anything reliable for the American farmer. The power and fertilizer companies are banded to- gether to defeat the Ford offer and are primarily interested in securing a water power monopoly at any cost
 "Is Far Better"
 Edward E. Almon, representing the Eighth congressional district, wires
 ..'Ford's offer is far better than any other. No other in its class"
 Congressman George Huddleston of the Ninth district sent the following:
 "My opinion Ford offer incoznpar ably better than any other. Believe real motive back of other offers is to keep out competition without real desire to develop" =
 w. B. Bankhead declares: II have favored Ford offer since it was made and am still for it against all others"
 Congressman Lamar Jeffers sets out as his main reason for his support. of Ford as being that it is the safest pro- posal before Congress with respect to national protection in time of war, and for fertilizer in time of peace.
 H. B. Steagall, who represents the Third district, says:
 '"Of course l am for Ford offer for the Shoals. I fully believe he will de- velop the property in way to bring vastly increased progress and prosperity to Alabama and the south."
 Agitation for public meeting to get an expression of the people on the act of Mayor R. V. Taylor in appearing in Washington as mayor of the city of Mobile and attacking the Ford offer for Mucle Shoals grew in strength to- day following the meeting of the. Cham Der of Commerce directors, when they decided the mayor did not purport to speak for the Chamber of Commerce" and that, therefore, the chamber direc- tors ''deemed it unnecessary to take any action"