The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-05-11

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO
USE EVERY MEANS TO PROBE
CHARGES OF DISHONESTY.
Coffin Had Asked for Investigation
and Squicr Had Demanded Military
Inquiry.


airplane construction heard for
months in senate debate and capitol
lobby gossip eliminated today in
presidential order for an investiga-
ton by the department Of justice. AL
most simultaneously it became known
that Major Gen. Squier, chief signal
officer, and until recently in direct
charge of army aviation, had de-
manded military court Of inquiry.
The White House In announcing
President Wilson's action made pub
lie telegram received Saturday
from Howard Coffin, former chair
man Of the chief board, urging an Of
fetal inquiry that regulations of in
nocent men may not be ruined" and
series of letters and kilograms ex-
changed between the president and
Custom Borglum. the sculptor, to
whom Is attributed responsibility for
statements that corruption in the ex-
penditure of funds and pro- German
intrigue has hindered airplane pro-
duction.
There also was a letter written by
the president today TO Senator Thorn
as. or Colorado, member OF the
senate military committee, assuring
him that every instrumentality Of the
department Of justice will be used to
pursue charges of dishonesty or NAL
versation Of any kind IL Mr.. Borg
lum's allegations are found worthy of
serious consideration. Senator Thorn
as laid before the president last week
assertions made to members of the
committee by the sculptor.
The exact status Of Mr. Borglum
as an investigator. which until now
has been more o. less of q mystery to
the public, is cleared up by the COR
respondence. 1t develops that after
the sculptor had written to Secretary
rumulty last Novempe, In regard to
alleged defects in the aircraft organ
ization and the desirability of having
certain experts called in, the presi-
dent asked him to present his ideas.
Later on January 2. the president
wrote a letter to Mr.. Borglum, ask
Ing him to come to Washington and
lay the matter before the secretary
of war, and with the aid of q mem
Der of the secretary's personal staff
discover the facts by personal inves-
tigation. Borglum did this and on
February 1 the president sent q pre-
liminary report from him to Sec re-
tary Baker with this note:
Here is Mr.. Borglum's preliminary
report. Is not there some one entirely
disconnected from aeronautics and
from those who are prominent in
carrying out the airplane program
whom you can ask to go over this
thing with an unbiased mind and give
us his native impressions Of it?
There may be something worthy
OF consideration. and suggestions
worthy to be adopted"
On March 20. after an exchange of
kilograms with Borglum. the president
wrote that he had placed the mater
tal the latter had furnished at the
disposal Of men to whom he had com
mitted the task Of making a systema-
'ic inquiry into the whole aviation
system. These were the special COM
mittee headed by H. snowden Mar
hall. of New York. whose prelimi-
nary report preceded the recent re-
organization of the army aviation SER
vice and the appointment of John d.
Ryan as director general.
Apparently the sculptor resented
not being allowed to carry out the in
auiry himself. In response to a COM
plant that he had not been supplied
with suitable expert assistance. the
president on April IS Informed him
that he feared he had been under n
'''S~'PPi OF MS status
L never at any time constituted YOU
an Official Investigator" wrote the
president. II merely gave you the
right to look into the matter of your
own motion, and am sure the letter
which the secretary of war provided
you with, he gave you with the same
purpose and idea"
The president closed by expressing
the hope that Mr.. Borglum would
feel 1t his duty to turn over to off,cio,
investigators any evidence in his pos
sion. 1t has been reported that since
the sculptor refused to deal with the
Marshall committee.
Mr.. Borglum had a. conference to-
xtftf h 49,.