The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-03-28
|QUIETI)S PUT ON l. EFFORT TO AID
 AN7I-FORD BIDS National Hysteria' Reso- lution Starts Fireworks
 At Luncheon |ADAMSON DEFENDS
 FORD'S ADVOCACY Robertson Precipitates A Scene At Community Club By Resolution

An effort of W. V. NJ. Robertson, Jr., to put through the Community club resolution asking the Unitel States Senate to stem national hysteria," !" which agitates acceptance of Henry Ford's offer for Muscle Shoals collapsed before opposition at meet ing of that body Thursday noon.
 A motion to table the resolution for one week, that members might consider the action, carried over minority fac ton headed by Robertson.
 Robertson's arguments against the national hysteria" ran from an at tack upon the sincerity of Oscar Under wood to comparison of. the Alabama Power .company's bid with that of Ford's. He was supported by Lonie Munger of the Continental Gin com pany, whose accusation that Ford had no intention of manufacturing fertilizer at Muscle Shoals brought storm of protest.
 Adamson Answers
 An answer to Robertson,s arguments was made by Reese Adamson who minutely bisected the discussion against the Ford offer. Another supporter of the Detroit manufacturer was Rowan Oden of the Oden Lumber company.
 At. all odds, the meeting was one of the stormiest held by the Commu- nifty club for some time. Toward its termination when the two factions reached the climax of their dispute no less. than four motions were on the floor at the same time; one for ad- journment; one for tabling of the res olution one for a vote on the same ; and a fourth drawn from previous con troversy over, the clubs stag banquet which came in for its share of the dis cussion earlier in the meeting.
 Robertson started things by the read ing of the. resolution which he ad- yOcated. This, in part, had to do with national hysteria," which leads people from the paths of true wisdom and happiness" and closed with the statement:
 ssEe it further resolved, that this club raise its voice against any pro- posaI urged by the clamor of national hysteria, such as the agitation for ac- ceptinR the Ford offer for Muscle Shoals, and does hereby urge the mem- bers of the United States senate to make their decision on this critical mat ter in the light of reason and for the lasting good Of the people and moi nndeE the pressure Of tenapoEary
 One Ok the high lights of Robertson's n's arguments for the motion was his of. fensive against Senator Underwood.
 While Underwood, and other sena- tors, have openly gone on record in support of the Ford bid, I believe that down in their hearts they are against this giving away of our na. tional water power," he said.
 No Comparison
 'It is not my idea," the speaker continued, Ito make a comparison of the Alabama Power company bid with that of the Ford offSf." He added, how ever, that it was easy to see the ben eft of the former"
 Tt is crisis in national affairs" Robertson declared, "and a chance for the Community club to show 1t had a group of thinking men who are not swayed by national hysetria.
 Robertson further stated that the ac- ceptance of the Ford offer would be in violation to the Federal Water Pow CT act and it would be vesting more power with Ford than had ever before been given an American citizen"
 Adamson's reply follows, in part:
 At Troy, N. T., the Hudson river has been damned by the United States government, and in 1921 it's power was turned over to Mir. Ford. An auto mobile spring plant is now in operation. This factory is operated by Henry Ford, and thousands of men are em- ployed at a wage which brings pros perity to that community. Navigation on the upper Hudson river has been opened and the ultimate consumer profits by 6 lower freight rate.
 The Mississippi river has been har- messed at St. Paul and the government dam built in 1917 has been turned over to Mfr. Ford. A 23-acre factory is now under construction on a 1S7-acre tract of land. Industrial development and have been handed to Mime sota on a silv~.. tray.
 Dams Are Cited
 "The Hudson, Mississippi and Ten nessee are listed with ihis country's krCAt IANCEbs H AL IlAAS AOI A4CuEy Ford to develop these great rivers in New York and Minnesota, see no good reason why the Tennessee river power in Alabama should not be turned over to him.
 ''Mr. Ford has already built three dams on the River ROuge:. Valves are principally at these plants, and they operate during the winter months, employing farm hands who cannot work at that season on the farms. He has also built dam on river at Iron Mountain, and $12,00O,000 has been invested in the largest sawmill in the world.
 ''The question before us today is we will receive Mir. Ford with open arms as New York, Minnesota, Michigan and other states have done, or whether we will strangle the in- dustrial growth of the south by keep ing him away. The south has been married to an old hag by the name of cotton, while the north has diversified crops and encouraged factories, This enables the farmers to earn money in addition to that which crops bring.
 Vision Of Plant
 "When Henry Ford had the vision of the River Rouge plant, the surplus of the Ford Motor company was $60,000, : GOO. Dodge Brothers demanded by suit that this money be paid over to the stockholders instead of being invest ed in new plants. Instead of complying with their demand, Mir. Ford bought out all the other stockholders of the com pany, and proceeded to make his dream true. Today, 42,000 men draw good wage at this River Rouge plant, which never would have existed had MT. Ford to the money-mad stockholders of the Ford company.
 '9The Rouge plant is three-fourths of a mile wide and one and one-half mile long. Fifty miles of railroad tracks are within it's gates. Approximately 200,- 900 people are supported by the River