The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-05-04
President Has Decided on
Drastic Action.
Charges Against Aircraft Men
To Be Investigated.
INSTRUCTIONS TO BAKER
To Court Martial Any Army
Man i'm Middle.
Is OutgrOwth OF Charges of
GutzOn BOrglum.
BY ROBERT J. BENDER.

BY ROBERT j. BENDER.
Washington, May A. President
Wilson has decided to tear the lid off
smouldering suspicion of graft in
Americas aircraft work.
He has determined upon a military
investigation of the charges that
leasing military men and civilians
have profited in expanding the $780,
100000 appropriation for the work.
The president has instructed Secre-
tary of War Baker-or will imme-
diately-to open up the investigation
with the end in view of:
Court martialing any American Of
ficer found guilty of criminal work In
the aircraft production program
Grand jury prosecution OF any CIVIL
ian found guilty of criminal misap-
plication of his aircraft work.
Inquiry to determine the truth OF
| irresponsible reports regarding the
aircraft program with the object in
ment for those guilty of disseminating
any such reports
Wants to Clear Up Matter.
The presidents purposes are two
fold. First, he wants to see that any
betrayal of government trust is pun
| ished, and, second, he wants to see
that in the future the American army
and patriotic civilians who come INTO
government service may be protected
against irresponsible reports
! The president has determined upon
military investigation because he
| believes it will be more rapid and
| thoro than if some other agency were
to undertake it. All facts developed
will be given prompt publicity.
| Military men are better acquainted
with conditions in aircraft work than
| members of congress are, it is be-
! lieved-altho the president would not
object to congress carrying on an in
vestigation of it's own.
Climax of Charges.
The presidents decision to probe
the aircraft work was reached as a
climax to published charges of Gutzon
Borglum, which since have been aired
on the floor of congress
In this connection, it developed to-
day that Borglum never had been
| investigation into the aircraft produc-
| ton system.
| On the contrary, it was stated on
high authority today, Borglum wrote
| the president a number of letters tell
| ing of what BorgIum suspected about
| the aircraft work, bringing court
charges and asking an inquiry. The
president is understood to have told
him that the aircraft board was open
to personal investigation by any one
| ana II Borglum believed things were
not as they should be he might come
I, down and look into it for himself.
| Borglum Investigated.
| Borglum did, and it is added, init
| mated he was the personal represen-
| tative of the president. Later he pub
| lished his repOrt-a sensational docu-
ment bringing severe charges against
those who have been engaged in the
aircraft work.
| High officials TODAY declared Bor-
glum's report was utter recklessness'
filled with unfounded charges, many
of which were based merely on hear
say"
1t is to sift the truth of the charges
| and get at any guilty parties, and al
the same time protect honest mer
| from irresponsible assault from with
| out" that the president is now de-
handing deep probe into the draft
| work.