The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-03-15
SIDELIGHTS
 OF CAPITAL
WASHINGTON BUREAU

WASHINGTON, March 14-Rep- resentative Martin Madden of Illinois, in speaking before the House of Rep resentatives in support of the Henry Ford offer for Muscle Shoals, and at tempting to prove that the issue should not be regarded as sectional, fervently and with singular emphasis declared:
 ''Why, I have not heard single ob- jection in my own district against the proposed development in far away Ala bama."
 Nearly everybody laughed. And final ly, MT. Madden himself smiled, very broadly. His district is in the heart of downtown Chicago. It is referred to generally as the Old Hinkey Dink district, favorite resort of crooks and footpads. The majority of the voters of that district is composed of negroes
 MT. Madden could have proceeded further and declared that he had heard no comment regarding Muscle Shoals, favorable or unfavorable. Many resi- dents of his district never heard even of Alabama, it is possible.
 There were some features to that week of debate, however, which were not funny. It is recalled that some time ago, Representative Nicholas Longworth of Ohio, known principal ly because of his wife, the former Alice Roosevelt, and Representative William J. Graham of Illinois, were rivals for the post of majority leader.
 Mir. Longworth had previously pro- ceeded with singular bitterness against Muscle Shoals. MT. Graham had ren- dered a report regarding the expendi- lures of the war administration, in which strictures against Muscle Shoals were so severe as to suggest graft, and in which the representative had urged that for the good of the nation, the entire project be scrapped.
 By the time, however, the race be- tween Longworth and Graham had ap- preached q climax, Muscle Shoals, with the representatives of the farmers of the vest had become exceedingly popu- lar, and the clamor for a development by Henry Ford had assumed tremen- dous proportions.
 And one afternoon to the surprise of every other member of the House, Longworth solemnly walked down the aisle, and declared unequivocal for the greatest possible development of Muscle Shoals. His remarks were so clear cut and positive that adherents of the Henry Ford offer were assured that the pros pective leader of the republican ma jOrity had concluded definitely to sup port the bid of the Detroit wizard.
 Mir. Graham, apparently determined that his rival should not make head. way along q path which he could SC easily follow, succeeded Mir. Longworth on the floor. Very gravely he an nounced himself in favor of the great est possible development in north Ala bama, and led the House to believe that no man was stronger in his faith in Henry Ford than he.
 Time passed as time will. LongYorth was elected majority leader, and Ora ham, with appropriate committee as signments, was satisfied. When the Henry Ford offer for Muscle Shoals came to vote, Longworth and Gra- ham were found among the opposition
 They say that Harry NJ. Daugherty is q fighter because he will not resign his office as attorney general of tho United States, and because, ill one sense or the other, he apparently defies tht Senate.
 But on emerging from the executive offices the other day, the Attorney Gen eral was obviously shaken. The cor ITespondcnts who noticed the phenome non, declared the fVlowing morning that he was nervous. He was, indeed He was almost broken.
 But DaSgherty is bolder man when held before the condemning eyes of the public, than Albert E. Fall The disclosure, in it's first chapter sent lHal to hcd He impressed every body here with what appeared to bt moral cowardicc. He had previously been regarded as q swaggerer, n bold bad man who had used his gun witt deadly effect. But he went to bed. Ant when called to testify, he pleaded ill ness. But physicians found that he was not ill-unless terror is illness as of course, it is--and he was ordered Co the witness stand.
 Some said that he would walk in swear with awful voice, tell the com mittee to proceed post haste tO-,and walk out again. No. He trmebled, ap. peaed for mercy, and finding none, de. clined to testify for fear lest he might incrimnate himself.
 He is still ill.
 Now, F. L. Doheny, who is said to have 'lent" Fall $100000 on an un. secured note from which the signature has been torn, is of different variety
 He is a fighter in the sense that the