The Washington times., 1918-05-11
GIBSON ASSERTS
BORGUM AVOIDED
BUSINESS DEALS

NEW YORK. May 11.-Hugo C.
Gibson, named in connection with the
charges against Gutzon Borglum.
makes a stnunch defense OF Mr.. Borg
lum- Mr.. Gibson is an assistant in the
purchasing department of the Brit
ish Military Mission. with Offices in
the Equitable building.
In a formal statement he defended
the parts played by him and Mr..
Borglum in the proposed Lirplane
corporation. Informally he told the
entire story of the affair. including
the method by which the Dodge Man
ufacturinE Company entered into it
He said:
Mr.. Borglum Immediately sew
cred all connection with the scheme
the moment President Wilson gave
him authority TO investigate the air
plane situation.
ION several occasions after he received
that authorization I mentioned the pro
ject to hint was never more than
project, not having been definitely or
ganized-and he said:
81 don't want to talk about IL !
don't want TO have any business deal
ings while am doing what am doing.
II I am going to clean up this scandal
Gus situation in any way or help to do It
can't have business interests Of my
own
Gibson's Formal Statene1t
Mr.. Borglum felt very strongly about
the aircraft production situation. He
considered It a scandal and rotten.
think when these charges are shifted
good financial reason for their being
made win be discovered"
In his formal statement Mr.. Gibson
said:
.sMr. BorgIum, in December, in
tended to engage in a commercial
enterprise in which I should have
been interested.
After he had received authority
from President Wilson to Investigate
the aircraft situation, he withdrew
entirely from any of the tentative
ARRANGEMENTS being made for that
commercial enterprise, giving as his
reason, to me, that he considered
dual activity as entirely incompatible
with the position he then found him
self in.
"Since he made that statement TO
me he has not even discussed the
proposed commercial undertaking,
and, in fact, has consistently avoided
any discussions on such occasions
when I have touched upon the sub
ject in conversation.
surprIsed BY suPIee.
Il do not understand the object OF
the statement purporting to come
from Henry Harrison Suplee- met
him on not more than two occasions,
and had neither authority nor oppor-
tunity, nor did say could or might
influence orders for aerOplanes.
"In reply to a question: have
some patents which would have been
one OF the basis OF that commercial
enterprise.
an reply to a question as to the
Mix affdavit-Mr Dorglum had no
connections with the
that l knew OF at the
time.
In reply TO a question as to why
Mr.. Borglum was valuable in con-
nection with the commercial enter
Borglum wa interested in
a propeller design OF his own. or a
suggestion, and discussed it with me
because 1 know something about pro /
pellers-
Admit Talk with Mix.
IN reply to a question. Did Mr.. |
Borglum come to you? He did net |
come TO me; / did not go To him; a 1
mutual acquaintance introduced us. /
Our commercial relations ceased |
when he told men that he had the /
letter from President Wilson"
Going into the genesis OF his deal /
ings with Mr.. Borglum. Mr.. Gibson 1
said:
''Our mutual friend knew OF our
similar interests in aeroplane pro-