Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-05
|ExPERTSCALLEDDOWN
Truxtun Beale's Visit Had
Good Effect.
MORE COURTEOUS NOW
NEWSPAPER MEN RECEIVED AT
CLUB HOUSE.
Prof. Langley Apprised Of the Visit
and Its Purpose-Latter Is
in Boston.
MORE COURTEOUS NOW
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.

Cpeclal D1Spatcn 10 i ne Evening star.
Underwater. Va. August b.-When
seen by a reporter for The Star at the
club house on Quantico Island this morn
ing, Chief Assistant Charles r. Manley OF
the Langley airship expedition declined to
make any comment upon the criticism OF
Mr.. Truxtun Beale of Washington in re-
gard to the Of the Mount Vernon
Ducking Association club house as head
quarters for the Langley flying machine
experiments.
fast that two correspondents had landed
on the island for talk with him. He sent
word that he would be out soon, which was
regarded as a considerable concession. as
he had previously rigidly declined to hold
any interviews with newspaper representa-
tves. Meanwhile the correspondents were
treated politely, though their first appear
ance excited suspicious glances.
Heretofore such visit would have result
ed In trouble to somebody, for the orders of
the scientists to their men were not to al
low correspondent to place foot On the
island during the pending airship trials.
One caught there would have been uncere-
roniously elected. But the attitude as
sumed yesterday afternoon by Mr.. Beale
put an entirely new phase on the situation.
Mr.. Manley Declines to Discuss Mr..
Beale's Visit.
When Mr.. Manley finally appeared, about
o'clock, he responded politely to the salu-
tation, but declined to make any statement
in reply to Mr.. Beale. Mr.. Manley said he
had read the remarks attributed to Mr..
Beale In the newspapers. He did not see
the latter at the club house yesterday
afternoon, as he departed for Washington
before the party of scientists returned to
the club house from the ark. Mr.. Manley
said he did not know whether or not Prof.
Langley had been directly notified of what
transpired at the club house yesterday He
could not state where the professor is now
staying, nor would he say when he was ex-
pected at Whitewater.
Mir. Manley made no comment when in.
formed that Mr.. Beale had extended to
the newspaper men an invitation to visit
the club house, nor did he say anything
when assured, that there was no tesite TO
intrude extensively upon the privacy of the
scientifc party as long as the stay on
Quantieo Island is continued. He had
nothing to; say about the prospect Of an
carly test of the airship.
Return to the Ark.
"A little later Mr.. Manley, with DR., Man.
ley. Mr.. Smillie and few others entered
boat and were conveyed to the tug ID. M.
Key, on which they steamed to the house
boat for the days doings From all ap.
pearances at the club house this morning
no preparations have yet been made to find
other headquarters. The party will prob
ably remain at the island for several days,
II a change Is made at ALL
1t Is reported here that Prof. Langley has
been apprised of the opposition among GER
tain members of the Mount Vernon Docking
Association to the daily entertainment at
the club house of the members of the Lang
ley airship expedition. A telegram from
charter member of the club Was sent to the
professor at Boston last evening suggesting
that 1t would be the part of good form, al
least, to see that the privileges of clue
membership were not stretched to the limit
by having as guests for an indefinite period
lot of mechanical experts and others who
were there for business rather than social
reasons In a word, the professor was
given to understand that he could no,
transform the Mount Vernon Club from
social to scientific organization.
Surprised Prof. Langley.
1t is the general opinion here that this
information was great surprise to Prof
Langley.
Since he became member Of the club,
several years ago, he has been conducting
experiments in aeronautics on the Potomac
river using the club house as a basis of
operation. The sensitiveness with regard
to giving newspaper prominence to his in
ventions and experiments was well known
by the club membership and generally what
was considered in the professor a weakness
of genius was tolerated If not sanctioned.
But the present protest has put a new
phase on the situation. AS declared by
Mr.. Truxton Beale. the one man domination
and censorship of the visiting list of the
club, whereby newspaper correspondents
were absolutely excluded. while the pro-
fessor's tests are pending will be thing Of
the past.