Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-05-04
PRESIDENT WILL
INVESTIGATE TO
PUNISH ALL CRAFT
Changes In Connection With
Aircraft Production Prin-
cipal Object
PENALTY WILL FOLLOW
IF GRAFT Is SHOWN
Wilson's Decision Is Climax Of
Charges Made by Gutzoni
BOrghum
By Robert ]. Bender

United Press Staff Correspondent
Washington, May 4-Presiden vii
son has decided to tear the lid oft
smouldering suspicion of graft in Amer.
lea s aircraft work.
He has determined upon military
investigation of the charges that lead
ing military men and civilians have
profited in expending the $640,000, 900
appropriation for the work.
The president has instructed Seere-
tary of War Baker-or will immediately
Ito open up the investigation with the
end in view of:
Court-martialing any American off
Ger found guilty of criminal work in
the aircraft production program.
Grand jury prosecution of any civilian
found guilty of criminal misapplication
of his aircraft work
Inquiry to determine ihe truth of Cir
responsible reports regarding the air
craft program with the object in view
of melting out proper punishment fol
those guilty of disseminating any such
reports.
The president IS purposes are two fold
First, he wants 10 see that any betrayal
Of government trust is punished, and
second, he wants to see that in the fu
ture the American army and patriotic
civilians who come into government ser
vice may be protected against irrespon
sible reports.
The president has determined upon 8
military investigation because he be
lieves it will be more rapid and thor
ough than if some other agency were
to undertake it. All facts developed will
be given prompt publicity. Military mer
are better acquainted with condition:
in aircraft work than members of con
gress are, it is believed although. thu
president would not object 20 congress
carrying on an investigation of its own
The president decision to probe the
aircraft work was reached as a china,
to published charges of Gutzom borgtnn
which since have been aired on the flool
of congress.
Ill JHlS COuucctiOil II utNGiOptu lOudN
that Borglum never had been asked BY
the presiden, to make an investigation
into the aircraft production program.
On the contrary, it was stated on higl
authority today, Borglum wrote the pre-
sident a number of letters telling o.
whaI Borgum suspected about aircraf
work, bringing certain charges and osk
ing an inquiry. The president is under
stood to have told him that the air
craft board was open to personal inves
tigation by anyone if Borglum believed
things were not as they should be h
might come down and look into it TO
himself.
/ Borglum did, and, it is added, in imat
ed he was the personal representative
of the president. Later he published hi
report--a sensational document, bring
ing severe charges against those VIII
had been engaged in the aircraft pro
duction work.
High officials today declared Borg
lum S report was cutter recklessness
filled wi 81 unfoundad charges, many 0
which were based "merely on hearsay.
| 1t is to sift the truth Of the charge
and get at any guilty parties, and a
the same time "protect honest me-
from irresponsible assault from with
oui" that the president now demand
a deep probe into the aircraft work.