The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-16
PAT HARRISON
TOREVEALHAND
OF POWER TRUST
Will Grill Witnesses Who
Appear In Opposition
To Ford Bid
UNDERWOOD is SURE
OF FAVORABLE VOTE
Will Assume Leadership
In Fight AS Soon AS Of
fer Leaves Committee
washington Bureau)

WASHINGTON. d. O.. April 49,
The determination of the strategists
in behalf of the Henry Ford offer for
Muscle Shoals to refrain from the con-
sumption of valuable time in presenting
testimony favorable to that offer, may
have been an error from psychological
standpoint, it is indicated today.
The opposition, as heretofore indi-
Gated, is preparing to take quick ad-
vantage of its opportunity. The anti
Ford propaganda constitutes the entire
atmosphere on the eve of the initia-
ton of hearing before the Senate COM
mittee on agriculture tomorrow. That
it will be effective is confidentially as
serted by Senator George w. Norris,
chairman of the committee, one of the
bitterest opponents of the Ford pro-
posal.
Following on the adverse comments
of Newton D. Baker, former Secretary
of War, Representative Theodore Bur-
ton Of Ohio, conservationist demand
ing attention of the country, today is
sued statement for publication tomor-
row. 1t is divided into three parts,
each of which contains pointed criti-
cism of the Ford offer. He challenges
the assertion that Ford will produce
fertilizer unless such production is at
a profit to Ford He challenges the as
sertion that the majority of the farm
ers support the Ford Offer And, third
", he appeals to other SOUTHERN states,
contiguous to Alabama, to prevent Ford
concentrating power, belonging to all,
In one section of one state.
Grill Witnesses
He admits that the Ford offer, if
accepted, would precipitate an unprec-
edented industrial boom in north Ala
bama, but suggests that south Ala
bama, Mississippi, Georgia, South and
North Carolina would be so greatly
handicapped as to suffer permanent
detriment. Senator Pat Harrison of
Mississippi, leading the fight before the
committee for the Ford offer, does not
intend to sits supinely indifferent to
the procedure of opponents of the Ford
offer. This afternoon he declared an
intention of subjecting all anti-Ford
witnesses to gruelling eross-examina-
ton, and expressed the opinion that be-
hind every movement win be disclosed
the sinister shadow Of the Alabama
Power company. 4t Is his opinion that
as soon as the Alabama Power com.
pAny is revealed, the effect Of the ties.
timony will be instantly discounted BY
the American public.
The hearings to begin tomorrow will
be terminated at the conclusion of one
week ''if practicable" That "joker''
will give the committee chance to
extend hearings indefinitely, it is point.
ed out. That that result might not
obtain, Ford is dependent on his
friends; included among whom are Sen.
at1rs Harrison of Mississippi, IIefiin
of Alabama, Caraway of Arkansas,
Smith of South Carolina, Ladd OF North
Dakota and others. The former has
promised to ask the Senate to discharge
the committee if he is convinced that
it is employing delay for the purpose
ultimately of defeating the offer.
Underwood Is Optimistic
Senator Oscar w. Underwood of Ala.
bama, who will assume leadership of
the fight as soon as Senators Harri-
son and Helm bring the offer out of
the committee, stated tonight his con-
Viction that there would be a vote and
a favorable vote. He believes, it is
apparent, that the President will as
sert himself, and that as result enough
regular republicans, inherently opposed
to the Ford offer, will support it to
put it across.
Gray Silver, Washington represent
alive of the American Farm Bureau
federation, indicated tonight that he
would not be estOpped by the statement
of Representative Burton regarding the
powerful" lobby behind the Ford of
fer, and added that he intended to make
it apparent to the most callous repub.
lican that the farmers of the country
are active in their support Of that Of
fer.
He is entirely optimistic, it is gath
cred, that the committee will render a
favorable report on the offer, and that
it will be put through the Senate.