Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-05-10
PRESIDENT EXACTLY
QUOTED ON SHOALS,
DECLARES WITNESS

WAoE1LNOTlON, May I.-JdlDSS
Martin Miller, who, in q telegram,
quoted President Coolidge as saying
he was trying to deliver" Muscle
Shoals to Henry Ford, told the sen
ate agriculture committee today that
he had correctly and truthfully stat
ed the facts in the message which he
sent to Ford's secretary within TWEEN
ty-five minutes after an interview
with the president.
The president, Miller said, did not
deny the interview had taken place.
Mr.. Coolidge, he insisted brought up
the subject Of Muscle Shoals.
1.-THE branding of the telegram as
a lie is a gross political dissemina-
ton" he said.
Miller told the committe the gov
eminent had no secret service or
propaganda organization greater than
that of Fords.
Before Miller took the stand Chair
man Norris inserted in the record the
letter sent to the committee by Hen
ry Ford, in which the manufacturer
said he would not be represented
further before the committee, Civ
ing as one of the reasons 1.-The recent
efforts of Chairman Norris to reflect
upon the integrity Of the president
of the United States in connection
with our offer for Muscle Shoals"
Norris Denies IIl-Feeling
At the same time the chairman is
sued a statement declaring Fords
letter was IAN attempt to shift the
attention of the public from the real
question at issue and adding that
he would continue his course in try
ing ito save for the people" the "val
liable inheritance of our national re.
sources"
II have no i'll feeling toward any
one in connection with Muscle
Shoals" Chairman Norris said.
'Mr Fords statement, published
in the papers, that I have been try
ing to reflect upon the integrity of
the president is simply an attempt
to shift the attention of the public
from the real question at issue. [
am sincerely endeavoring to save
for the people of the United States
the valuable inheritance Of our ma
tional resources, and I will continue
to do this regardless of results and
regardless Of who may be involved.
I do not want controversy with
the president or with anyone else,
but I will not deViate from what /
believe to be my duty in bringing
out the proper evidence before the
committee, regardless Of what the
effect may be, either upon me Or
upon anyone else.
1.-The evidence stands undisputed
that the president did have an inter
view with Mr.. Miller on the 18th Of
October, 1923, and it is undisputed
that Mr.. Miller sent the telegram
printed in the record, and that such
telegram was received by Mr.. Ford's
private secretary. 1t is also undis'
puted that following the telegram,
Mr.. Miller went to Detroit and talk
ed the matter over with Mr.. Ford's
secretary and with Mr.. Ford him
self.
Denial of President
1.-The president has not denied
that the subject of this interview
was Muscle Shoals. He has simply
stated that he has not made an at
tempt to turn Muscle Shoals over to
anybody. [ read the presidents
statement into the record so that
all sides of the controversy may be
heard. The committee and the sen.
ate as we'll as the public, can draw
their own conclusions"
Obert, Jr., president Of the nation
al fertilizer association. He said his
firm manufactured SO per cent Of
all fertilizer used in the country.
Obert discussed the production
and varieties of fertilizer and the
effect of mixtures on soil and said
fertilizer manufacturers had gone
as far as the agriculturists would
iY, tpo frat az
tilizer
He said there is no fertilizer
trust" adding that competition had
become so great several concerns
| had gone out of business.
Obert said fertilizer material is
| bought in France and Germany and
elsewhere and that the potash mon
opoly Of Germany has been broken,
resulting in establishing a potash
| industry in this country.
Another result, he said, was to
| put the price of potash in this coun-
| try at it's pre-war level.
The present equipment at Mus
Gle Shoals" he said, lis only suit
able for the production Of am
monium nitrate, and, althoug1 it
is proposed to produce ammonium
| suIphate, 1 see no reason for in
| creasing it's production as we are
| now exporting 1875 900 tons Of this
! material annually.
II think what you will get at
! Muscle Shoals is a new fertilizer
| ingredient, but 1 do not believe it
! will substitute for the present ma
terials. 1t will be a benefit but not
a panacea"
Political Plot Blamed