The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-10-15
.FORD'S HACKERS
DECLARE WIZAp.
YET IN p ga
Withdrawal OF Offer For
Shoals Branded AS
Political Hokuin
POWER co. READY
TO RENEW OFFERS
Optimism Is Expressed
At Meeting Of Tri-
Cities Citizens

Excepting the Alabama Pow
err company, interests most VI
tally concerned with Musc.e
Shoals Tuesday refused to
count Henry Ford out of the
bidding. The latest develop
ment in the controversy, an
| interview published in Col
lier's to the effect that the
Ford offer has been with
drawn, was characterized as
political hokum.
Even the acceptance of this
report as Ford's final word,
Muscle Shoals property oper-
ators expressed themselves as
encouraged" over a statement
emanating from the power
company's office. The state
ment issued in the absence of
Thomas w. Martin, president,
but asserted to voice his senti-
ments, was taken to 'substan-
tate beliefs that the nitrate
plants of the district would be
placed in full operation. Re-
gardless of the management,
brokers' said, this would mean
an insurance Of the future Of
| Muscle SHOALS.
Advices reaching BiEninsbain tate
Tuesday stated that meeting Of bus
/ mess leaders in the Tri-Cities, Shelf
field, Tuscumbia, and Florence, over
the recent turn in events had been held
and considerable optimism preyadea.
| s'InformatiOn from inside sources fails
to give any cause for alarm, said
wire from John J. NyhOff, one OF the
largest realty dealers in the district, to
his headquarters here.
/ Among those hanging the published
interview on politics was Dan Watts,
advertising counsel for the Nyhon or
ganization. Watts asserted that the al
legged close association between Cool
| idge and the Detroit manufacturer had
been giving La Toilette too much p0-
litical thunder and for the best inter
tests of the Presidents candidacy, Ford
authorized the statement inferred as
withdrawal of his bid.l
Operation Is Seen
"Our company, however" he con-
tinued, 'has never boosted Ford Ope-
ration Of the nitrate plants as the sole
argument for property investment there.
IL the nitrate plants are operated and
they apparently will be, because Of the
vast amount already invested there,
the future Of the district is just as great.
Personally, / would rather see Ford
get it because il would likely mean
quicker action, and / believe that Is the
way most people feel about it"
Ralph Saliba, another real estate
operator in the district, also stated he
| saw a political aspect in the matter.
II do not consider that Ford is out
Of it by any manner Of means" he said.
IF you viii notice in the interview
Ford says it is now up to the govern
| ment to make him an offer and frank
ly believe this will be done since the
federal authorities after weighing bids,
will decide the Ford offer the best.
| Ford says be could decide in five min
utes and l think he can, but he win not
necessarily determine against the propO-
sition."
'Saliba further agreed with Watts
that the acceptance of the Ford offer
was not necessary to the future sue
cess Of the district as an industrial
center, but admitted that withdrawal
of the Ford offer might create a ''tem-
porsry dizziness in the property mar
ket."
Power To Statement
According to members of the organ
| Al. M ssyaH NJ
taken unaware by the dropping Of the
Ford offer although they had no off
ciaP intimhtion. Last week Collier" q
carried a notice that they would an
nounce. with their next issue, the most
imDortant interview Ford has ever
given. and this coupled with story
published by q downstate paper which
evidently Jumped" the release date on
the weekIy's Associated Press report,
gave officials good idea of what would
occur.
follows:
Ford for Muscle Shoals does not az
feet the position Of the Alabama Power
company and its associates who sub
mitted an offer in good faith with q
view TO the production of nitrates for
war and fertilizer and for the genera
tons of power for industry. 1t was
made without reference to or cOnsuita.
ltiOn with any other bidder. we stand
ready to carry it out or to. cooperate
with the government in any way that
!. we can be helpful in whatever plan con
! gress may decide is best.
! National safety and fertilizer de
3 serve first consideration. This hai
: been the attitude of the Alabama Power
E company. If the Muscle Shoals power
il co-ordinated with power resources il
other sections by which its output vii
be more than doubled, there will remain
, abundant sources for industry not onll
in the Muscle Shoals district but in sec
tions in Mississippi, west TENNESSEE
J. and elsewhere now without cheap anC
b reliable power"
!, !, ACTORS WE'D