The Washington herald., 1918-05-13

OF this country has a group Of men
been given SO completely a nations
resources, together with the admin
istration and the peoples conf
dence, as have the aircraft group.
and never have such condolences
been more ,wantonIy abused. I re-
fer her to Maj. Gen. Squiers, How
ard E. Cofin, Col. Deeds and Col.
Montgomery. These civilian and
military members appear every
where in the program. planned TO
meet our military needs-and they
appear everywhere in the deliberate
and elaborate machinery that placed
and held the colossal contracts
among a few-they appear every
where in the fine network Of false
hood and camoufiage. and they in
cluded Mr.. Baker. as their partner
in the common statements to the
publtc-they deliberately lied to you
and framed up their statements,
particularly their failures-mislead-
ing Congress before the Senate Nil
itary Committee, and they directly
are responsible for no engines, no
planes, no propellers and our van
ished appropriations.
These men shaped the course OF
oAA pANodSNIOlls In6 pro-
ducers, created their agents, who
have tangled up and delayed pro-
duction. and they are responsible.
1t was this group who refused to
consider the emergency of what
every Informed man knows was i'm
possible to produce in time, the
aeroplane motor. 1t was these men
who refused. the opportunities avail
nhla q -
any Of many OF the tried airplane
engines OF Europe, and it was these
same men who have held themselves
aloof. uninformed as they are, from
practically experienced aeronautical
guidance. and in consequence we
find ourselves May IL. 1918. without
a single American-made plane ac-
tually fighting for us with the allies
in Europe.
Demands Open Investigation.
Had there not been this malicious
effort to discredit me with you and
impugn my honor on the floor OF the
Senate, 1 might have with the rest
OF America, thought with shame and
anger. still been holding my peace,
waiting and watching for the inter
minable shifting from one department
to the other Of responsibilities that
can lie only at the door OF the Ike
cutive members Of the Aircraft Board.
The scurrilous slander by Deeds
friend was a foul and an unfair blow
and in the circumstances Of its i'm
portance and its purpose to invali-
date me. discredit me, gave it abnor-
NAL public interest and unusual pub
licity. This. Mr.. President, ;Sompels
a.
by the Military Committee Of the
Senate shall be complete, exhaustive
in the matters relating to aircraft
production. But as these charges
have been brought before the Senate,
the Interference by the War Depart
ment under Mr.. Baker preventing me
from securing proper evidence, bully
ing and threatening witnesses by his
assistant Stanley King. together with
MiX's charges. must be openly and
publicly brought before Congress
know that you will agree with me
in this, that / have a right to de-
mand it, as you know no harm can
come to anyone but those who are
guilty, both for the delay. rather
complete failure and the loss Of our
air program. the wasting OF the funds
appropriated together with the per
sistent and malicious effort now to
suppress an open investigation. 1 do
not wish here to discuss the power
full and sinister forces which are
gratifled over every means that can
be employed TO produce disagreement
among ourselves. and therefore beg
OF you to believe that shall do any
thing in my power to establish har-
mony and confidence among good
Americans. You and I have dis
agreed on no single feature and the
angry and hostile attitude of those
in charge OF the aircraft program has
been created and melted entirely by
men whose interests and ideals are
alien to this nations immediate needs.
Il am loyal TO you as our Presi-
dent. and even better. / am loyal to
your thought as so often expressed
touching the state Of the world and
this nations mission, and shall re-
main so, but I am not loyal to nor
can support men or methods inrnic-
able to our country's good, planned
to deceive you and the Nation, and
discredit us in the eyes OF the world.
"GUTZON BORGLUM