The evening world., 1918-05-06
PRESIDENT ORDERS
PROBE OF BORGLUM
AIRCRAFT CHARGES
Correspondence Reveals Will
son Never Considered Sculp-
tor Official Investigator.

wASHTNoTON. May "a Depart
mont OF Justice Investigation OF tho
charges Of graft In aircraft produc-
tlon made by GutEon Horglum, soulp-
tor. was ordered to-day by President
Wilson.
Borgium's charges OF pro-oerman
influence also will be Investigated.
Demand for criminal investigation
was made in tho Senate recently.
investigation by tho Department Of
Justice was asked OF tho President
by Howard Conn, formerly Chairman
OF tho Aircraft Board. who declared
ho requested It that tho reputation Of
innocent men might not be ruined by
charges that have boon made.
At the samo time the ordor for tho
investigation was announced. Prosi-
dent Wilson's correspondence with
Borglum was given out at the White
House. II disclosed that the Presl-
dent last month advised Borglum he
never considered him an official in
vestigntor and practically dispensed
with his services.
The correspondence follows:
Dec. 8. 1917.
MY dear Borglum Your letter OF
Nov. 20 10 Mr.. Tumulty he was kind
enough 90 show mo and I had meant
TO write you sooner about II. or
course, what you say disturbs me
not a little and / write 10 ask you
II you will not do mo tho great favor
OF Indicating as specifically as pos
sible the weaknesses you see In our
present organization in the matter OF
aeronautics.
81 would also appreciate II very
warmly II you would tell me what
men OF practical gifts not now con-
nccted with the service OF the Gov
ernment you think could be service
able TO us in working toward a sue
cessful result.
Cordially and sincerely yours,
WOODROW WILSON"
Then followed the letter which
Borglum construed 10 bo one OF per-
sonal investigation for the President:
Jan. 2, 1918.
my doar Mr.. Borglum: l have
your letter OF Dec. IS. Knowing
the earnest Of loyal purpose with
which you have written mo I have
conferred with the Secretary OF War
and at his request and my own hearty
concurrence | urge you to come at
once 10 Washington, lay the whole
matter frankly and fully before the
Secretary and by your own invcsti-
cation discover tho facts OF this bust
ness. The Secretary OF War assures
mo that no will be delighted to clothc
you with full authority 70 get to the
bottom OF every situation and that he
win place at your disposal the SER
vices OF Mr.. Stanley King, n member
OF his own personal staff II you de.
sire to have his counsel in your
Inquiries.
THE Secretary further says that
he will bring you into personal con-
tact with Gen. Squier. whom you
doubtless already know personally,
and will direct that every facility Of
inquiry be placed at your disposal
"when you have thus investigated,
II the other experts whom you sug-
gest in your letter OF Dec. e5 sul
seem desirable 10 be appointed, You
can say so to tho Secretary; and in
the event OF any difference OF iudg-
ment between you which seems 10 me
impossible, would be most happy TO
have n report from you personally TO
mo on any phase OF the matter which
remains In the slightest degree doubt
full in your mind. Cordially yours.
WOODROW WILSON"
Borglum. after conducting his in
qulry. wrote the President. to which
tho President replied March rs, say
ing tho whole aircraft matter wac
undergoing careful review
Owing to the fact that the Borglum
letters were regarded as ISLANDER
GUS" they were not made public.
Complaints from him. however, that
he was not getting all the intorma-
tion he sought brought the following
/ from President Wilson on Apru 10:
My dear Mr.. Borglum am
afraid that for some time YOU have
been under serious mlsapnrohcn-
sion. You call my attenticn 20 the
fact that you were not supplied with
suitable expert assistance In the in
yestigation which you Of your own
motion undertook OF the aircraft pro-
duCtiou.
"You viii remember that AZ the bo-
ginning YOU wrote 20 me saying that
you feared and believed that there
were very serious errors not only, but
serious bad practices in the aircraft
production. and, after consulting with
tho Secretary OF War I wrote YOU
that IL that was your impression you
were, Of course, at liberty to examine
any evidence that was in our pOsarR,