New-York tribune., 1918-05-11
Say Borglun Sought Profit
By Using Name of Wilson

come any suggestions which would
furnish the design and power plant
for high speed scouts.
"Mr. Borglum and Mr.. Gibson were
very inslstcnt that ! call upon them
in New York OIL my way UP from
Washington, svhicn | did on Decem-
bcr Is, 1917. did not see Mr.. Borg
ium, but talked to him over the long
distance telephone at Stamford. lie
insisted that | see Mr.. Gibson at
once. did SO, and learned from
Mr.. Gibson Tint Mr.. Borglum had
certain confidential connections with
ths government, which would be TO
our advantage as we'll as to his own"
Describes Talk With Gibson
Mix then describes his talk with
letter he wrote 10 Mr.. Gibson giving
details of the capacity of the Dodge
rlant and again laying stress on the
fact that design and power plant for
type of plane was all the company
lacked to begin manufacturing. lie
then inserts the following copy Of
telegram from Borglum. dated Stam-
ford, Conn, December 81, 1917:
Like your suggestion to Gibson.
Write me fully part you and your
company can play. have staff of
experts with the best foreign eXpc-
ricncc, who can come close to de-
livery 100 per cent article. Neces-
sary can arrange finances also with
lngton is watchful but waiting over
time. Your idea and mine should
be rushed to the limit; we should
guarantee the boys in France 500
of swiftest machines in the world by
May ]; but not minute can be lost.
not minute during the next ninety
days. A happy New Year to you
Mr.. Mix states that the confidence of
Borglum and Gibson of their ability to
build speed scouts acceptable to the
government impressed him, and he con-
sidered extending his plans for manu-
facture. He attaches a copy of Il let
ter to Borglum dated January A, in
which the proposal for a new COM
pany composed of manufacturers of
component parts of airplanes appears
for the first time. Mix explains that
the Dodge people would not have cared
to share ownership in veneer patents
and processes any more than Borglum
and Gibson would have cared to share
permanently their interests in design
and power plants.
ever. Borglum wired, on January d:
Did you get my wire? Have you
replied? When are you in New York
or Washington Reply Stamford,
Conn"
More kilograms Sent
Mix decided not to send his letter,
but instead wired that he had just
bought the plant Of the Gillette Motors
Company, adjoining the Dodge veneer
plant. and he believed he had provided
for body and wing construction. for
10 RI nd III -
tings and accessories. He added:
III You can supply design, as men
toned in your wire, and propeller,
there seems to be no reason why i'm
mediate operations could not be
started
On January Borglum wired Mix:
u leave for Washingto on on serious
business. Can you see me there at
earliest possible date? Address me
Metropolitan Club"
The next day Borglum wired from
Washington:
Am here indefinitely. Bring draw
ings. photos or other portable data
on swift foreign planes. See Gibson
in New YORK.
son January ., 1913" Mix's state
ment continues, II called Mr.. Gibson
"t tie H,itish Ministry by telephone
and was instructed 10 meet him in
{he afternoon at the Office OF Mr..
Compton. an engineer on the eigh-
taenth iloor of the Hudson Terminal
Building II. IL. Suplce ACCOMPANIED
me Oh this visit"
Compton, Mix understood, was de-
s!gner III the employ OF Borglum and
Gibson, and at his Office there was also
y Lieutenant Roberts, of the British,
army, who said he was invalided out
Of the service and available for the
enterprise
Thc Mix statement continues:
"Mr. Gibson stated to me in this
conference that Mr. Borglums con-
nection was with the highest author
tiles i'll the American government.
and showed me a telegram from a
man by the name Of Nichols stating
that Mr. Borglum could put through
anything that had merit. MI. Glib
son also stated that Mr.. Borclum
could not in any way be dentird
with the new company only, and that
his interest would be represented hy
NJ. Harris. whom he wished me
TO meet on the following day. He
told me that Mr.. Borglur was do
ing big things in Washington, but
that it was up TO Mr.. Borglum to
explain for himself what they week"
II arrived III Washington January
10, AVIS, ana called upon Mr. Borg
lum in his rooms at the Albany
apartment house. Mr. Borglum's
first question to me was, .Mr. Mix.
do you know what / am doing in
Washington My reply was, Not
exactly, but / have a good idea
Whereunon Mr.. Borglum produced a
letter addressed to him and signed
by Woodrow Wilson, President Of
the United States, which extended to
Mr.. Borglum official permission and
authority to proceed upon some inves-
legations which had been mentioned
IN Mr.. Borglum's letter to the presi
dent and which was dated December
2. 1917, which letter was only mcr-
toned in the Presidents communi
cation shown to me.
Told of Discoveries
"Nr. Borglum then Informed me
that they had uncovered enough rot
tenness in the signal corps and in
the Aircraft Production Board to
make impossible the success of the
American air programme under the
present regime. lie informed me
that he had but to rcquisiton cor
respondence, orders. foundation
| plans. etc. from any department of