The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-05-10
GUTZON BORGLUM WITH PRONlOTN

additional meeting with Benjamin
Harris developed the fact that as Mr.
Borglum's agent he was not sure OF
the part Mr. Gibson or Mr.. Compton
were to play in the organization (Oi
the new company although he seem
ed reasonably certain Of the ability
OF the Dodge Manufacturing Company
TO deliver as represented
Signed by President.
Il arrived in Washington January
is. 1918, and called upon Mr.. Borg
lum in his rooms at the Albany apart
ment house Mr.. Borglum's first
question to me was. Mr.. Mix. do you
know what I am doing in Washing
ton?' My reply was, Not exactly,
but ! have a good idea Whereupon
Mr.. Borglum produced a letter ad-
dressed to him and signed by Wood
row Wilson, President OF the United
States. which extended to Mr.. Borg
lum official permission and authority
to proceed upon some Investigations
which had been mentioned in Mr..
Borglum's letter TO the President and
which was dated December 2, 1917
which letter was only mentioned in
the Presidents communication shown
TO me
"Mr. BorgIum then informed me
that they had uncovered enough rot
tenness in the signal corps and in
the Aircraft Production Board to
make impossible the success of the
American air program under the
present regime. He informed me
that he had but to requiSitiOn cores
pondence, orders, foundation plans.
etc, from any department of the sig
nal corps. and they would be forth
with placed in his hands. He stated,
however. that he was having consid-
cradle difficulty in getting this mate
rial. owing to the reluctance OF army
officers to let him see it
Condemned Deeds.
"He seemed to particularly con
denim Col. r. A. Deeds, making vari-
Gus extreme charges against him
and also Colonel Montgomery. He re-
ferred to conferences had with Major
General Squier. and went on to say
further in connection with this gen
tleman that he had found nothing
against him in his investigation.
"On the evening OF Tuesday, jan
uary IA, 1918, Mr.. Borglum, Mr..
Nichols, Mr.. Suplee, and myself dined
at the Metropolitan Club, and after
ward remained in the library of the
club for conference.
''AIr. BOrglum stated that he did
not know at that time how to build
scout planes or any other aircraft
which could be depended upon TO sur
pass those now being constructed,
but that through his friendship with
the White House and acquaintance
with Mr.. Gibson, the engineer in the
employ OF the British Ministry Of
Munitions, he would have access to
the best foreign and American de-
signs and practices. He then asked
me to make suggestions as to new
personnel for the aircraft board AID
to suggest such men as l thought
would be able to carry through the
program rapidly and efficiently.
"SOmethIng Wrong"
AT this point l became suspicious
not OF Mr.. Borglum's methods, but
Of his ability to aid the country by
working along the lines he had suE-
Cested during the afternoon and even
ing conference. 1t was a mystery to
me why a man vested with this high
authority should make confident OF
me in matters of such extreme i'm
portance and secrecy. and why he
should desire my opinion which must
OF necessity be a weak one upon the
personnel OF a new aircraft board. 1
decided something was radically
wrong.
such a method, to my mind, would
be fatal, particularly II 1t became pub
lie property and through the medium
OF gossip our aircraft program became
known to the enemy.
"T discussed this matter with
Mr. Suplee and stated to him on the