New-York tribune., 1918-05-07
Justice Department to In.
yestigate Graft and Mis-
management Charges
Gen. Squier Asks
Military Court
Borglum, in Open Letter,
Declare. President Didn't
Keep Promises


,jrpIane construction programme for
months in Senate debate and Capitol
lobby gossip eliminated to-day in a
Presidential order for an investigation
by the Department of Justice. Almost
simultaneously it became Known that
Major General Squier, chief signal of
scer and until recently IN direct charge
of army aviation. had demanded a mill
.ary court of inquiry.
Tho White House. in announcing
presiden. Wilson's action, made public
1 telegram received Saturday from
Howard Colin, former chairman of the
Arcraft Board, urging an official in
qrirJ, 'that regulations of innocent
men may not be ruined,'' and a series
of;letters and kilograms exchanged be-
tween the President and Gutzon Borg
um, the sculptor. to whom is attrib-
uted responsibility for statements
that corruption in the expenditure of
funds and pro-German intrigue have
hirdered airpiane production.
Mr.. Borglum, in an open letter he
made public tonight, rebukes the
President sharply for "refutinp his
authority" He makes severe charges
Of snismanagemen1, gross abuse and
srsft in the spending of S640,0J0. 900
without any results in fighting 'planes.
he mentions Stanley King and General
Squier as two Of those .yho persisrently
threw obstacles IL ,..s way. and saws
the President himse1 did not keen his
promises to him regarding the inves-
tgation.
Letter From President
There vas letter written by the
President to-day to Senator Thomas,
at Colorado, member of the Sen
ate Military Committee, assuring him
that egsrY instrumentality Of the
Department of Justice will be used to
punnn charges of dishonesty or NAL
ysfystion Of any kind if Mr.. Borglum's
Allegations are found worthy OF serions
ecnsideratfon. Senator Thomas laid
haisr the President last week asser-
CONS made to members of the commit
ses ~ the sculptor.
Ile exact Status of Mr.. Borglum as
~ Investigator, which until now h &c
oeen more or less of a mystery to Che
public is cleared up BY the CORE
sponoence. It develops that after the
seulptor had written to Secretary
inmuity last November in regard ia
alleged defects in the aviation organi-
sasien and the desirability of having
esftain experts called in, the Prasi-
uent asked him to present his ideas.
un December S the President wrote
(. Ny Dear Borglum: Your letter Of
november 22 to Mr.. Tumulty he vas
una enough to show me, and | hae
meant to write you sooner about it.
VI course, what you say disturbs
as not little and l write to ask you
y you will not do me the great favo,
" y indicating as specifically as possible
ne weaknesses you see in our present
orsanisation in the matter of seronau
ascs- would also appreciate it very
warmly if you would tell me what mer
q practical gifts not now connected
4mth the service of the government
!oa think could be serviceable to us
y Serking toward a successful result
.ofdlaliy and sincerely yours.
WOODROW WILSON"
Reply From President
Then on January the President
wrote:
/ NY Dear Mr.. Borglum: have your
'c.ser OF December %.
Anowing the earnest of loyal pur-
afsse ] Win winch you have written me
4, hnye conferred with the Secretary
war, and at his request and my
ssn W.. nearly concurrence | urge you to
w. syme AZ once to Washington, lay the
aaoie !, matter frankly and fully before
~ y.s.; secretary and by your own in
business. " ''''
me Secretary Of War assures me
Va. w. nc VIII be delighted to clothc you
nn iuii authority to get to the bot
y. sSu oi every situation and that he will
lisce 4 at your disposal the services of
-. c.aniey King. a member of his
NJ. NJ PERSONAL staff, if you desire to
-.ss ~, MS counsel in your Inquiries.
"a, ne Secretary further says that he
~. " erang you into personal contact
~ veneral Squier. whom you doubt
s;,s,. ,s n.ready know personally, and will
phs.a 'nas every facility for inquiry be
~ ~ at your disposal.
Il. Hnen xou have thus investigated, II
ya.. "ner experts whom you suggest in
~ letter Of December 25 still seem
4 o,e 70 be appointed, you can say
a. tne Secretary. and in the event
son ~ einerence of judgment between
re,,,, ,iich seems to me impossible, |
f,... fs.a De most happy to have report
i you personally to me on any phase
sl;.sass as matter which remains in the
~ degree doubtful in your mind
Scrcially yours,
WOODROW WILSON"
..: ~ borglum then conducted an in
~ ~ and his preliminary report was
~. ~ The President to Mr.. Baker on
snasry l, with this note:
,.s.s. sfe is Mr.. Borglum's preliminary
diseas. Is there not some one entirely
ifs~ ifsaneeted from aeronautics and
ea,.,.snose nose who are prominent in
sksss out the sirplane programme
ahm. @ you can ask to 60 over this
IL Win an unbiased mind and give
aAv - naive impressions Of IL? There
vs something worthy Of our con.
u S"ntn SVn and suggestions worthy ia
lss,srch March 20, after sn exchange OF
sscss 4ns ~ with Borgium, the Presidcn,
liS i.ttas tnas nc had placed Tho materja!
MAJ s - had furnished at tho dis.
s.nn;ss. gentlemen to whom he had
Sat;s TIE task Of making sys.
isaatsa. INQUIRY into tho whole aviation
eeisi y. inese gentlemen wcra the
Il. ,.n ,s.In.nnslttec headed By II. Snow-
ins - mai. n 81 New York. whose pre-
Sisasscgp sspors preceded tbs recent re-
.sss~s.s1sn Of the army aviation Scr
.SaaE5z Il " 3-isss
Al ks-y