The Washington herald., 1918-05-08
WILSON ANXIOUS ON
AIRCRAFT SITUATION,
ASKS CLOSE PROBE
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at the White House more than an
hour after other Cabinet officers had
departed to get the Presidents in
structions. The Attorney General was
the last to leave. He said:
The Department of Justice will
probe the charges until it has been
definitely determined whether OF not
a crime has been committed in any
branch of the aircraft division. My
instructions are from the President.
who is the commander-in-chief of the
army and the navy.
Authority Unlimited.
The Attorney General was asked II
h" would have authority to call army
or navy officers who might be needed
as witnesses.
My authority is unlimited: / shall
call everybody and anybody whom
think can aid with the work / am
20 undertake." was the answer.
will you cooperate with the Sen
ate and House Investigations?
The Department of Justice will
gladly accept any evidence the Con-
gressional committees may develop"
said the Attorney General
After returning to the Department
of Justice, Attorney General Gregory
announced that Assistant Attorney
General Frierson had been elected to
represent him in the investigation.
Presidents Message.
This official statement was issued:
The Attorney General has received
letter from the President in regard
TO aeroplane construction. The pur-
pose of the investigation by the De-
partment of Justice will be to deter
mine whether there has been any dis
honesty or malversation of any kind.
In case either is developed. neces-
sary steps to punish the guilty will
be taken. The investigation will be-
gin at once and Assistant Attorney
General William L Frierson will be
in immediate charge"
1t was explained that IL there should
develop a need for technical study of
the problems involved, an aviation ex-
pert would be detailed as an assistant
to the investigator.
Handles Commerce Matters.
Mr.. Frierson has been handling in
rate cases, safety appliances, the
eight-hour law and pure food mat
ters. He was appointed last August
and comes from Chattanooga, Tenn.
Secretary Baker, by reason of his
position as the executive head of
the War Department, is under the
hottest fire he has yet experienced.
He appeared anxious, however, that
1AI oI,-
like a threatening cloud over his
administration be thoroughly ven
tilated.
Gutzon Borglum, the sculptor
whose charges have been made an
exhibit to the Snowden Marshall
report on aircraft. has already been
in conference with members of the
Senate Committee. and will be ask
ed to bring forward witnesses to
prove his charges. President Will
son has characterized Borglums
charges as most sweeping and
most vague"
There is wide difference of opinion
concerning the unsubstantiated state
ments made by BorgIum. His critics
say the charges he has made are
hardly to be credited. He is accused
of obtaining certain matter included
I'm his charges by unethiCal methods.
Press Club Incident.
The incident occurred at the Ma
tional Press Club. Col. Deeds. as as
sistant to Howard Coffin. then the
head of the aircraft board, made an
address, at the club. Borglum was
guest. Lectures such as that de-
Iivered by Col. Deeds are always re-
cared as confidential and only for the
guidance Of newspaper men.
Borglum was detectede taking notes
and was requested to desist. He per-
sisted in his purpose to take DOWN
certain parts of Col. Deeds talk and
carried the memoranda away with