The Washington times., 1918-05-13
CART BEFORE HORSE,
.AVERS BORGLUM OF
AERO BOARD PLANS

STANFORD, Conn, May 15.-The
Governments aircraft board was
again subjected to strong criticism
here today by Gutzon Borglum, the
noted sculptor. He charged the
members with putting the cart before
the horse, saying, in part:
THE big mistake the aircraft
board has made is in trying TO build
an engine around the airplanes TO be
used by our forces abroad. They
must get their engine frst and then
build their planes around II.
The Liberty motor is an incom-
pIete experiment. But 1 regard the
Bristol fighting plane as success
Assistant Attorney General William
1, Frierson, who will conduct the De-
partment Of Justice aircraft invesu-
CATION, this afternoon designated {.
5. Coffey, OF Chattanooga. Tenn as
his chief assistant. Coffey has been
chief office assistant to Frierson
since last August.
The bitter language used by
Borglum in his charge that the war
Department was the chief party to
a frame up" designed to discredit
him and thus block an investigation
of the failure OF the aircraft program
was said by his friends here today
70 be only preliminary TO charges
that will astonish wnen all are pre-
scented TO the Senate. Borglum In
lends TO reply, his confldants here
said today, to every charge MADE
against him by Administration lead
ers and read into the records OF the
Senate by Senator Thomas last week.
RraBdexee silent.
They say that Borglum will pre-
sent, through Senator Brandesee to-
morrow or Wednesday a series Of
facts and figures which Will make II
roandatory for Secretary OF War
\ Baker and his subOrdinates to eN-
| main The Connecticut Senator, Sc
| iected according to Borglum to pre-
| sent his side Of the case to the peo-
| nile has declined to indicate whether
he will do this or when. It Is be-
i Iieved however, that he will carry
! out the wishes OF the noted sculptor
as soon as possible to make the rec
/ ord for the general investigation
| which is TO be pressed.
| II was considered significant toddv
that senator Hitchcock, after consid
arinP a great mass of additional IN
formation compiled by Borglum' took
the position that at least a part OF
the facts submitted must be Invest
gated by the Senate. Previously
senator Hitchcock had said that ths
BorElum information was OF httle
material value, as IL was neither con-
elusive nor susceptible OF PROOF. NOW
II is believed that BorgluHi mas pro-
duced evidence which VIII support Al
least a part Of his charges.
Gfnnf
souareIy on the charges made against
RorgIum. They insisted that as they
were in the nature of documentary
proof all properly substantiated
| they showed that his motives must be
idiscredited. II also was declared that
the Administration had other essen
tiaI facts which would later on br
made public.
The allegation that pro-Germans are
interested in forcing the aircraft in
yestigation continues to be made In
influential quarters.
I'D 10 the present, however, no sub
stantIaI proof has been offered any
where that this is so. Certain Of
fciaIs OF the Department OF Justice
have quietly intimated that the Gov
eminent Is in possession OF certain
Information showing that much OF tbs
-rifation' against the aircraft board
as directly traceable to proGermar
.uurcc= and that at the proper tint
this will be proven.
II is believed now that, in view oil
The action OF BorglUm in making
Secretary OF War Baker a direct
marty To the charges that the Wal
Department has tried to hide thu
truth. and e." allegation that thu
agitation ~ insr TIE aircraft board
all is a part OF a German plot. thu
Ndr..nss-,atiou "ril make II plaiI
l,er. soon thar II believes all fact
dealing with the situation should b,
developed by sweeping Congress
sional inquiry.
Don't wish that you couId d. some