The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-05-10
Sensation Comes In
US. Aircraft Probe
BORGLUM is SILENT PART
NER IN PLANE CONCERN,
DOCUMENTS SHOW.

Washington, May l0-The flood
light Of publicity turned today upon
the activities OF Gutzon Borglum,
the sculptor, while he was investi-
eating the aircraft production sit
uation as the personal agent OF
President Wilson.
Letters, kilograms and sworn
statements placed in the hands OF
senator's from the official files OF
the war department show that Borg
lum's own inventions failed Of test
and that while acting as the presi-
dents agent he carried on negotia-
tions tor the formation OF an air
craft corporation in which he was
to be silent partner and which,
the statement declares, was to have
special advantages because OF Borg
lum'S association and friendship
with the president.
Washington, May l0Documents
made available today from the Off
cial files OF the government show
chat Gutzon Borglum, the sculptor,
whose charges against the aircraft
program have led to the impending
inquiry, had been connected with
negotiations for the establishment
of a new aircraft producing cor
poration in which he was TO be a
silent partner.
Negotiations between Borglum
and Hugo Gibson. connected with
the British war mission in the
United States, and Kenyon Mix of
the Dodge Manufacturing Company
Of Wisconsin began last Deem
bcr, the documents show. \
statement by Mix included in the
documents, tells how he withdrew
after becoming suspicious OF Bor-
gums activities and reported the
affair to Howard Coffin, then head
OF the aircraft production board.
Are Official Documents.
The documents which have been
supplied from the official files OF the
war department and are now in the
hands of senators most intimately
connected with the aircraft investi-
CATION, declare that Borglum CON
tinucd his negotiations after Presi-
dent Wilson authorized him to
make an inquiry into the aircraft
situation.
a summary OF the negotiations
signed by Henry Darrison Suplee,
who participated as a consulting en-
gincer for Mix, declared Borglum
was to be represented in the cor
poration by a Mr.. Harris and that
BorgIum's sole asset in the trans
action was to be first, his personal
friendship and association with
President Wilson, whom he stated
he could do anything he wanted
with
AS a further asset" Suplee's
statement declares, "Borglum gave
every one concerned in the matter
to understand that his position with
the aircraft production board and
the aerial section of the signal corps,
U. 5. A., was such that he could
obtain for their use plans and tech
nical details which this company
could use and thus save consid-
crably both in time and in money
i'm beginning operations
This statement, the documents
show, was made TO Mix after Borg
lum had shown his presidential au-
thority as Investigator and at this
point the suspicious Of Mix we're
aroused and he withdrew from the
negotiations.
The documents also declare Borg
lum told Mix that through his
friendship with the White House
and acquaintance with Mi. Glib
son. the engineer i'm the employ OF
the British ministry OF munitions,
ne would have access TO the best
foreign and American designs and
practices.
Suplec's statement further de
clares that Borglum gave him to
understand that the personnel OF
the aircraft board was highly dis
tasteful 90 him and that he pro-
posed TO change it by virtue Of
his friendship with President vii
son and asked Suplce to suggest
men for the places.