Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-05-13
BORGLUM INSISTS
FEDERAL PROBE co
TOBOTTOM0F DEAL
Writes Letter to President
Denying He Has Ever Be-
trayed Confidence.
CHARGES SECRETARY BAKER
SEEKS TO BLOCK INQUIRY
Declares Evidence Will Be Sub
mitted Showing Record a
Deliberate "Frame-Up."
WANTON ABUSES ARE ALLEGED
Blames Squicr, Coffin, Deeds and
Montgomery for Failure TO
Produce Aircraft.
CHARGES SECRETARY BAKER
SEEKS TO BLOCK INQUIRY
wANToN ABUSES ARE ALLEGED
Blames Squicr, Coffin, Deeds and
Montgomery for Failure TO
Produce Aircraft.

I iSy Associated Press
WASHINGTON. May l2.-Gutzon Bor-
glum. storm center OF the aviation
controversy. made public tonight an
other letter TO President Wilson. deny
ing that he had betrayed the Presi :
dents confidence. renewing his asser
tions of grave misconduct in the gov
ernment aircraft production organiza :
tion and Insisting that the Senate Mil
and thoroughly the investigation which
he says he was prevented from max
ing 'by the war Department. unde r
Secretary Baker" In regard to the
documents put into the Senate record
Friday. designed TO show that the
sculptor attempted TO capitalize his
friendship with the President by Sc
cretly organizing "A corporation 30 pro :
duce airplanes the latter says Sen
ator Brandegce, OF Connecticut will
submit to the Senate Tuesday or Wed .
nesday detailed evidence and andavi,S :
relating to this deliberate framc-up.'
1T is a matter of the gravest cor :
cern 20 me-" II adds. that credencc
could be given TO charges OF such a
nature. or that they could have been
in your possession. and ! have received
no intimation OF the falsehood until
Mr.. Marshall intimatcd that there was
some sort Of charge charges of
disloyaity to you. This is so un,h!nk :
able that ! dismissed and declined TO
even discuss them"
MIR. Borglum repeats his published
answer TO the charges, and continues:
IT is absurd to state that pro-Ger-
mans are clamorinE for Investigations.
while the Secretary OF War is Il party
to statements. untrue and unfcund-d.
issued TO deceive the nation and serv-
ing no other possible purpose exec ut
to warn Germany 10 hurry her own
airplanc production. as we are for
ever and forever Just at the peak OF
production.
Never. believe. In the history of
the country has group OF men been
given SO completely a nations re-
sources. together with the administra-
tion and the peoples confidence. as nas
the aircraft group. and never has such
confidence been more wantonly abused
refer here 20 Major-Gcnera Sqrier
Howard Z. Coffin, Colonel Deeds and
Colonel Montgomery.
MILITARY MEMBERS APPEAR
EVERYWHERE IN PNOGRAM "
These civilians and military mem
bers appear everywhere in the pro-
gram. planned to meet our militia ~
needs-and they appear everywhere in
the deliberate and elaborate machin-
cry that placed and held the colossal
contracts among 4 few-they appear
everywhere in the fine network of
falsehood and camouflagc, and they
included Mr.. Baker as their partner
in the common statements to the pub
lie; they deliberately lied to you and
framed up their statements. particu.
larry their failures and misleading
campaigns before the Senate Military
Committee. and they directly are re-
sponsible for no engines, no planes. nc
propellers, and our vanished appro-
priations. K.
Had there not been this malicious
effort to discredit me with you and
impugn my honor on the floor of the
Senate. l might have. with the rest OF
America. though with shame and an.
ger. still be holding my peace. await.
ing and watching for the intermina BILE
shifting from one department to The
other of responsibilities that can lie
Only AT inc QOOT CT the executive mem
bers Of the Aircraft Board The sour.
rilous slander by Deeds's friend wa.
foul and unfair blow, and in the
circumstances of its Importance anC
its purpose to invalidate me, discredi
me, gave It abnormal public interest
and unusual publicity. This, Mr.. Presi-
dent. compels me to demand that the
investigation by the Military Commit
tee of the Senate shall be complete
and exhaustive in the matters relating
TO aircraft production.
Il know you will agree with me ir
this; that I have n right TO demand 1t
as you know no harm can come to an,
one but those who are guilty.
II am loyal to you as ou,
President, and shall remair
so. but ] am not loyal to, nor can
support men or methods inimical tc
our country's good. planned to deceive
|ou and the nation, and dlscredit u.
in the ewes of the world"