The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-05-12
GUTzON BORGLUM
 ISSUESSTATEMENT
 DENYING CHARGES
Sculptor Says He Is Victim of a Frame Up"-NO Open Developments
 in Washington
By Associated Press

Washington. May 11.-There were no open developments in Washington to- day in the aircraft situation, in which
 renewed interest was aroused by the
 war departments disclosures yesterday
 of the activities of Gutxon BorgIunI.
 Officials read Borglum's statement ix-
 sued in New York in which he de-
 nied he had been guilty of anything
 improper. but declined to comment.
 Meanwhile, both the department of ius-s
 tice and the Senate military committee proceeded with preparations for search
 ing investigations of the manner III
 which the aircraft production has been
 handled. In their inquiries, both will go
 to the bottom of Borglum's charges
 against aircraft officials as we'll as the
 charges that have been made against
 Borglum himself.
 The army intelligence service, 1t was
 indicated today, is by no means through
 With it's own investigation and will con-
 tinue to gather information concerning l.
 the activities of Borglum and his asso- ciates, which, it is charged, took advan- tage of Borglums commission from
 President Wilson to investigate the air craft programme to further their own ends.
 President Wilson is determined that
 the entire situation shall be sifted to the bottom. that all the facts may be estab- l lished
 | The Senate subcommittee, named to
 conduct the investigation for the military
 committee. probably will start hearings ! n nnNyf asxi- whether hearings will be public BORGLUM ISSUES STATEMENT New York. May u.-Gutzon Borglum.
 accused of having sought secretly to cap
 ltalize his friendship with President Will son by undertaking to promote pri- Vate airpiane company. issued a formal l statement today denying any connec-
 ton now or at any time with any air plane production concern, or any plan to 1 organize such a company. He declared further that the war de-
 partment mad systematically directed
 the opposition" to investigation of air.
 craft production, in which "a billion dol
 lars in eleven months has provided us
 with no planes and charged that "cv-
 cry supterfuge had been resorted to to
 gain time"
 The sculptor termed the accusations made against him in revelations yester- day of documents in possession of the
 army intelligence bureau as charges raised by Decides former agent. MIX, and Mx's engineer" Colonel Deede's chief signal officer of the army and Ken yon w Mix of the Dodge Manufacturing lcompany). He denied that he had used
 the Presidents authority improperly. and
 in manner unthnkable between men
 in mutual confidence"
 ! Regarding his statements which re- suited in a decision of the Senate mil- itary affairs committee to conduct a l general investigation into airplane pro duction, Mir. Borglum says he received informant ton sometime ago from con- fidant of the President, that the admin istration now possessed a club that
 would put me out of business, if I did not quit"
 Borglum asserted that if the gov 1 ernment does not desist in whitewash- ing this entire business" Mix would be compelled to appear as party with Dedds in matters Mix himself designat- ed as crooked.
 Calling attention to affairs of the war department. the sculptor said that every investigation. and there have been many. has been instituted with a prayer and
 hope that clean bill would be se- ! cured and it is now clear that this final ! frame-up' was deliberately planned and laid in preparation to destroy the value and validity of my nvestigation The nation demands to know, de- clared Mir. Borglum, why H.0Oo. .000,0o0 in II months has provided us with no planes. There has a Sraver question arisen Who is it so powerful and where are they that mako it impossible and dan gerous to the character and honor of mcr who dare to ask this question?