Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-05-09
People Entitled to Facts

THAT there is something radically wrong
with the program for aircraft production
is conclusion that irresistibly forces itself
upon the public mind. With an appropriation
OF S740.o00.o00 made Immediately available.
soon after the declaration of war for carry
ing out the program in accordance with csti-
mates submitted 10 Congress, the country
was encouraged in the belief that early in
the present year thousands OF airplanes would
be- ready for use by American forces on the
western front. This expectation has sigually
failed Of realization. bringing bitter disap-
pointncnt both TO our people and our
allies.
In face OF accommodating evidence Of the
failure Of the program, charges Of scnsa-
uonal kind in connection with the causes
that are responsible for the failure are daily
heard. These charges even go to the extent
Of imputing wholesale corruption. President
Wilson previously had taken notice Of
these rumors. and TO get AT the truth of the
matter. some time ago appointed 4 special
commission headed by United States District
Attorney H. Snowden Marshall, TO conduct
special inquiry and report its findings. Now
he has instructed Attorney General Gregory
to proceed with an inquiry into charges Of
graft and acknowledgement. The report OF
this special committee will be placed in the
hands OF the attorney general. as we'll as the
individual report of Gutzon Borglum who
has made sweeping charges of graft, for such
use as can be made of them by the attorney
general in his investigation. In the mean
time, the Senate Military Committee proposes
10 conduct an investigation of its own. "to
put its finger on men responsible for condi-
tions in aircraft production" to quote the
language Of its chairman.
As tending to discredit the various rumo!s
OF corruption and ineficiency as causes for
failure of the program. the House Military
Committee hearings on the 100000 900
aviation estimates in the army $4,000. OOO-
200 appropriation bill for tho next fiscal year.
III which the testimony Of William c. Potter
chleI OF the equipment division of the signal
corps. and other officers. giving detailed re-
ports as to what has been done with the
Si4OOO0.0cO Congress appropriated last
year apparently has convinced tho committee
that this money has been satisfactorily spent
and that no criminality attaches to any part
oil It's expenditure. the delay in the program
resulting chiefly from changes in plans and
from refusal OF cobClligercnts TO agree upon
them promptly.
Whatever the causes responsible for these
delays. which amount TO nothing less than
failure OF the entire program of promised
achievement. the public is entitled TO know
just where the blame lies. The Impression
that something is wrong somewhere with the
whole undertaking will persist until tho Sit
uation is fully cleared up If the Senate
Military Committee can probe deeper irto the
matter than the Department Of Justice the
American people willing that it should
conduct the most searching Investigation
within its power and lay bare all the facts.
regardless Of how many Official regulations
suffer from the disclosures. If the entire svs-
tom i aircraft production is a. fault thcv
want the Whole truth 10 be revealed without
further delay, that the remedy may he an
hl'' promptly ana American purpose in The