The Omaha morning bee., 1922-11-06
ny GUTzON BORGLUM.


quainted with the national situntior
and concerned In tbs welfare Of ouI
country. permit me n few words re
gardlng the service of one Of Nebras
ka's senator who Is attempting 10 re
tain that great office.
had planned and promised Il
speak In Nebraska for Mr.. Howell
but II has been impossible for me e
leoye my work, nor shall at thii
range argue that the local polltlca
questions that need national aid, yei
II seems ludicrous that progressive Ne
brnska should In this year OF nationa
political awakening even think Of re
turning reactionary, nonprogresslv,
Hitchcock. man who from his schoo
days has been sidestepplng, retrogrcs
slye and the reverse of liberal.
Nebraska, the west yes. America
needs men OF the type and mind oi
Brookhardt. Borah and your splendid
Norris, and Norris needs more associ
ntes OF their kind and mind. Here n
the east Howell Is rated with The
above. and feared by the very inter
ests who need the reactionary Hitch
cock, regardless OF party.
On January 2, 1918, Presiden VIII
son requested me 10 come "at once
to Washington and TO go to the bot
tom OF the troubles IN the aircraft de
| partment." That commission gave
me access to all the records Of expen.
ditures, personal and Of production
and It will beremembered my report
became a national issue.
Charges Hitchcock IDterfered.
Although ordered by the president,
Immediately began TO reveal the
truth about the department--the co.
lossal distribution Of hundreds Of mil.
lions and no production whatever In
sight--every conceivable trick was re.
sorted to 20 stop. muzzle. deny. and,
falling In these, dscredit me person.
ally. and in this your democratic sena.
tor. chairman Of the military commit.
tee, played a discreditable part.
Through Chamberlain's disfavor
with the president, Hitchcock rose to
leadership and head OF this very Inn
portant committee.
Knowing me from my Omaha days
he undertook Ut later became appar.
ent, in order to favor certain inter.
ests) to stop my inquiry The first
step In this was to call at my office
and discuss the general condition Of
the airplane production and possible
results OF my inquiry.
He remained. and at my request
agreed the sergcantat-arms OF the
senate should travel north and west
from Washington with my confiden.
tial aid, armed with blank subpoenas
and under scaled instructions not to
II was agreed these extraordinary
precautionary measures were neces'
sary TO prevent information reaching
the banks and companies in possession
OF irregular paper, contracts and other
records. that no information regard
ing the mission should be known to
anyone until the details sought should
be In our possession.
| declined TO give Hitchcock the
names OF cities, banks, companies or
individuals involved, which he accept
ed as a wise precaution. AS agreed,
the day following I sent my Eepre-
sentative to his senate office witWfull
instructions and transportation for
himself and the sergeant alarms. also
a letter to Senator Hitchcock.
Belittled Borglum's Evidence.
In about two hours my representa-
tive returned with the statement that
Mr.. Hitchcock would not let the SER
geant-at.arms go. nor issue any blank
stlbpoenas unless the names OF com.
panies. banks, documents and indi-
vlduals involved were all given before
hand. My representative had instruc-
tions 10 have no discussion in case OF
any change Of plan. so the matter
rested for a short time.
Within the next week. Senator
Hitchcock. as chairman OF tho senate
military committee, rose on the floor
OF the senate and replied TO queries
Borglum's charges In the
investigation that he had
seen his evidence and 1t was OF little
Il
This reply was petty. partisan and
evasive one and an utter falsehood,
for he had not seen my evidence, !
had never shown him or any other
than the president, the evidence.
! was a. my homo in Stamford NJ
the time a code phone message from
Informed me of Hitch.
cocks statement wired az once 20
Dayton aud Detroit for two chief vii.
~ sses TO meet me IN a. hours IN
They were thcrei We
y a. tasted together. reviewed the
situation and developments 90 date.
told them Hitchcock was blocking
ihe investigation he was personally
someone, believed, be
.ause the administration was Htill sup
nortlns me ~ | Hurmised Ills interest
sas not political
informed MY Witnesses I intended
"a fsge him IA the committee room
nd gct results ~ make ehaFgsa
against him I warned them % a.
'wvF nply ssnsrsl aatstIans Ell 9th
srs Including names, Places, tanks