The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-05-07
PROBE ALLEGED
FRAUDS I'm AIR
CRAFT MAKING
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE Is
AROUSED OVER THE CHARGES
FORMALLY CITED BY BURG.
LuM, THE SCULPTOR.

/ Washington, May Ga department OF
Justice investigation of the charges Of
graft in air craft production made on
| Burglum, the sculptor, was ordered to-
| day by President Wilson.
The presidents correspondence with
Borglum began last December when
the sculptor, after having first called
on Secretary Tumulty, who made re-
port to President Wilson, received
letter from the White House saying the
president was disturbed by his views
| OF the aircraft situation and asked him
| to be more specific in his criticisms.
| In January, the president after con-
| ferring with Secretary Baker, invited
Borglum to lay the Whole matter be-
fore the war department and give him
the advantage of having member OF
Secretary Bakers staff detailed to assist
him in looking UP facts.
/ Every facility of inquiry will be
placed at your disposal" the president
wrote the sculptor, adding that If diff
| ferences OF judgment remained, he
would be glad to have report from
Borglum.
In February, the correspondence
shows Borglum had made prelimi-
nary TeDOTL anu lIle u dhS-
mitted it to- Secretary Baker.
BY March. Borglum evidently had in
quired about the fate OF his report, for
the president wrote him saying the
whole aircraft situation was under
going thorough review" and that Borg
lum's report had been placed before,
the investigators.
In April evidently there We're letters
from Borglum TO the president, not
given out at the White House, for on
April is, the president wrote the
sculptor declaring he was under se-
rious misapprehension." Borglum ev-
identity had complained he was not sup
piled with expert assistance necessary
to an investigation.
Il never at any time constituted you
an official investigator" wrote the
president.
About the same time the president,
authorized Borglum TO make an inves-
, tigation. Borglums report was never
made public formally, although enough
of its contents became known to show
that the sculptor had made charges
against those in control and had alleged
there was graft in the production of
planes.
The senate became so stirred over
the situation that it demanded a Grim
! inal investigation and in debate on the
subject senators asked that the senate
military committee renew its inquiry
with a view TO learning if criminal
J prosecutions should be brought A ma
iority report by the committee some
weeks ago charged that government Of
ficials had kept the public in ignorance
OF the real state OF affairs and recon-
mended a one-man aircraft control
Later President Wilson put John D.
Ryan in charge OF production
The president wrote Senator Thomas
OF Colorado. today informing him that
he had ordered the department of jus
tice investigation following the sena-|
tors request OF Friday.
Every instrumentality at the dis
posal of the department of justice will
be used to investigate and pursue the
charges of dishonesty or malversation
Of any kind" wrote the president. "Only
in this way can the reputation OF those
whose actions have been perfectly reg
ular and blameless be protected and the
guilt. II there is any, definitely lodged
where il should be lodged"
At the same time the order for in
vestigation was announced President
Wilson's correspondence with Cutzon
Borglum, the sculptor who made ar
Investigation of the aircraft production
was given out at the White House TIL
disclosed that the president last month
advised Borglum he never considered
him an official investigator and prac-
ticallv disposed of his services